The Chase Heart crowd went ballistic as the ultimate buzzer sounded. However for the primary time, the applause wasn’t the results of a Golden State Warriors win — this time, it was the Golden State Valkyries who had been victorious, the WNBA’s latest growth group.
It solely took the Valkyries two tries, however head coach Natalie Nakase and a scrappy Valkyries roster received within the win column on Wednesday night time with a 76-74 win over the Washington Mystics.
And, maybe the best a part of the victory was the fact that it was spearheaded by a participant who was out of the league only a 12 months in the past: Veronica Burton. Burton racked up a team-high 22 factors on 6-11 capturing, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, hitting the dagger three-pointer with 29 seconds to play. Within the win, she set new career-highs in factors and rebounds.
Kayla Thornton added 18 factors, Carla Leite and Janelle Salaun every added 10, and the Valkyries overcame a 30-point efficiency by Brittney Sykes to return away with the win.
A 12 months in the past, Veronica Burton was out of the WNBA
The 5’9 guard had a circuitous journey to Valkyries’ glory; final Could, the Dallas Wings waived Burton, and he or she discovered herself out of the WNBA.
The Connecticut Solar picked her up midseason, and he or she emerged as a dependable backup level guard who additionally served as a high-quality guard defender, taking part in 19.3 minutes per sport within the 2024 postseason.
Then, whereas taking part in abroad in Australia within the offseason, Burton obtained the information that the WNBA’s latest group had chosen her of their December growth draft.
“It’s an unbelievable alternative, and only a blessing, to be part of this draft and of historical past,” Burton informed SB Nation shortly after she was chosen. “Having the ability to play within the inaugural season and within the Bay Space is one thing that I might have by no means even dreamed of. It’s one thing that I don’t need to take as a right.”
Only a few months later, she’s established herself because the Valkyries’ start line guard and as a essential element of the franchise’s first win.
The primary-year expectations for the Valkyries are low — the franchise wasn’t capable of recruit many prime free brokers, and not one of the group’s 2025 draft alternatives are at present with the group. Most predict the Valkyries will likely be one of many worst groups within the league.
However Burton and her teammates are able to defy expectations.
“All of us have a chip on our shoulder, and we’re all able to compete,” Burton stated in December. “Everybody type of assumes, you already know, ‘first 12 months, we’ll see what they’ll do. Simply benefit from what you could have.’ However when you could have simply type of the mindset that you just’re hungry and the underdog mindset — at the least for me, I don’t know, I’ve actually excessive expectations for this 12 months. The grittiness will come out and simply the fervour and pleasure to play.”
On Wednesday night time in San Francisco, all of it got here collectively in entrance of a fanbase keen to observe historical past.
