Veronica Burton: WNBL champion to WNBA star

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WNBL champion Veronica Burton is the 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player.

Burton, who won the 2025 WNBL championship with the Bendigo Spirit, doubled her numbers to lead the expansion Golden State Valkyries into the playoffs in their first year in the league.

The 25-year-old guard, who revealed she learned the Valkyries had picked her in the Expansion Draft while in Australia, averaged 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, six assists and 1.1 steals in 29 minutes per game.

Her selection was almost unanimous, polled 68 votes of a possible 72. Los Angeles Sparks Azura Stevens finished second with two votes.

"I remember I had such a mix of emotions," she told Khristina Williams on the iHeart Women's Sports podcast last week.

"I was over in Australia so I was already pretty far from home and then just didn't really know which way it was gonna go. And then to hear my name get called or to know that I was going to, to be a Valkyrie I was just, I was, the main emotion was excitement.

"I couldn't have asked for a better situation becoming into, um, big opportunity obviously was available and to have us be like handpicked, I think that was something that I really was grateful for and appreciative of because I knew the coaching staff in the front office saw value in me and, and wanted me there.

"That gave me a level of reassurance that I didn't always have in the league.

"I wasn't super comfortable with change and then I was on my third team in like three years. So the level of just maybe a little bit of doubt, a little bit of nerves but, definitely, I was excited for the opportunity."

Burton averaged 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists as part of a dominant, championship-winning Bendigo Spirit backcourt duo with WNBL25 MVP Sami Whitcomb, who played her first season with the Phoenix Mercury in 2025.

She was circumspect last week ahead of the award being announced.

"I'm not someone that gets very caught up on awards," she said.

"Whatever happens, whatever results that may end up being, I think it's more so just the process of, of being here right now and, and just getting to hoop like freely, confidently alongside some incredible people is what I'm grateful for.

"Obviously it's a blessing to even be mentioned in those, you know, it's a testament to the growth that I've been able to see this year.

"But (it) reminds me of the low moments honestly and how I was able to come out of them and how I was able to override it.

"This league can be really difficult and people get cut all the time, people get waved all the time and I know that the doubt that can creep in when that does happen.

"But just reminding people like all you need is, is one coach, is one team that believes in you, that finds value in you and if you're prepared, it'll come."

Burton's Most Improved Player award now sits alongside Australian Dyson Daniels' MIP for his outstanding growth in the 2024-25 NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks.

🏀 Veronica Burton's 2025 WNBA Regular Season

• Team: Golden State Valkyries
• League: WNBA
• Season (Year): 4th WNBA Season (2025)
• Position / Jersey #: Guard
• Height / Weight: 5’9” / 155 lbs
• Age / DOB: 25 (July 12, 2000)
• Nationality: American

Season Snapshot

• Games Played: 44
• Games Started: 44
• Minutes Per Game: 29.4
• Key Role: Lead guard — primary ball handler, playmaker, two-way engine

Regular Season Stats (Per Game Averages — 2025)

GMS: 44 I PTS: 11.9 I REB: 4.4 I AST: 6.0 I STL: 1.1 I BLK: 0.6 I FG%: 38.7 I 3P%: 34.5 I FT%: 87.8 I Turnovers: 2.1

Career Stats (Per Game Averages)

GMS: 151 I PTS: 5.4 I REB: 2.4 I AST: 3.2 I STL: — I BLK: — I FG%: 36.4 I 3P%: 32.5 I FT%: 89.0 I Turnovers: —

Team Performance — 2025 (Golden State Valkyries)

• Record (W-L): 23–21 (.523) — 8th of 12, playoff qualifier
• Home / Away: 14–8 / 9–13
• Conference Record: 9–15
• Points For / Against: 77.7 / 76.3 (Diff +1.4)
• Final 10 / Streak: 5–5, L3
• Playoffs: Qualified (notes in Highlights)

Player Contribution to Team Context

• Engine of the offense: Burton averaged six assists per game with multiple double-digit assist nights.
• Scoring balance: She also delivered six 20+ games; and was elite from the free throw line (87.8% FT).
• Impact: Win Shares 6.4 is All-Star level value for an expansion playoff team.

Highlights

• Regular season peaks:
  • 30 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST (Aug 14 @ WSH, 10-13 FG, 6-9 3PT).
  • 25 PTS, 13 AST, 4 BLK (Aug 25 @ DAL, 8-8 FT).
  • 13 AST (Sep 1 vs IND).
• Postseason note (kept within Highlights): 14 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL in 34 MIN (G1 @ MIN, Sep 15).

Performance Trends

• Hot stretch: Burton was cooking between August 10 and 25 with high-efficiency scoring and double-digit assists in multiple wins.
• Late dip: But she suffered a late dip in mid-September as he efficiency cooled (0-for from 3 in SEA, 2-11 FG @ MIN).
• Consistency: Her free throw shooting was elite and usage heavy without cratering AST/TOV (6.0 / 2.1).