Every team could protect six players in the expansion draft. That number left the Connecticut Sun with a big decision to make. They didn’t have to protect DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones because both were ineligible, but still had several other players worthy of protection—even though pretty much none of those players are with the team anymore by now.
Ultimately, the Sun decided to leave Veronica Burton unprotected. That decision was a blessing for the Valkyries and Burton alike. Golden State landed a young guard, who already had three seasons of WNBA experience and a lot of potential. For Burton, the move meant a chance to claim a bigger role and put the league on notice. She has used the chance to change the trajectory of her career as best as possibly could.
Being selected by the Valkyries was great for Burton’s career
Before coming to Golden State, Veronica Burton played a small role and produced little. In her first two seasons with the Dallas Wings, she only averaged around 15 minutes and two points per game in each season. In Connecticut, she was a reserve once again, averaging 12.7 minutes, 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in the regular season. Although she was a part of the playoff rotation, she didn’t play a significant role.
Things look quite different for Burton with the Valkyries. Burton is a full-time starter, playing around 27 minutes per game. She has used her increased time on the court well, dramatically increasing her production. Six games into the season, Burton is averaging 12 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and two steals per game—career highs all across the board.
Burton already scored more than twenty points twice this season. She never hit that mark before in her career. The 24-year-old was a major factor in both of the Valkyries’ victories, particularly the team’s first win, and looks like she established herself as one of the team’s young building blocks.
Coming to the Valkyries was an opportunity for Burton to showcase her skill in extended minutes and she is thriving in her new role.
The Valkyries have an interesting young core
The Valkyries currently have four players under the age of 25 on the roster: Burton, Janelle Salaün, Kate Martin, and Carla Leite. They also drafted Juste Jocyte, who is expected to join the team next season, fifth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
That is an interesting group of young talent. Burton and Salaün, in particular, have shown that they are ready to be big contributors to the Valkyries’ success for quite some time.