Chiney Ogwumike was thrilled to speak about Veronica Burton after the guard won WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year and impressed with the Golden State Valkyries in the playoffs
23:14 ET, 17 Sep 2025Updated 23:15 ET, 17 Sep 2025
Veronica Burton was named Most Improved Player as the star on a Valkyries team that represented one of the best stories in the WNBA(Image: Getty Images)
Chiney Ogwumike heaped praise on Veronica Burton despite the Golden State Valkyries falling to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1.
The Valkyries have already made history, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its first season. While scheduling issues mean the franchise has been forced to play its first home game away from home, Burton impressed even in the blowout defeat.
In the first round of the WNBA Playoffs, the Lynx dominated the Valkyries with Napheesa Collier scoring 20 in a 101-72 win. But Burton still impressed, and Ogwumike made sure the 25-year-old received her flowers.
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Picked in the expansion draft, Burton has gone from strength to strength since landing in the Bay Area. Despite losing, her 14 points led the Valkyries in scoring alongside Cecilia Zandalasini, while her seven assists were a game-high.
SportsCenter analyst and two-time WNBA All-Star Ogwumike is undoubtedly a fan of Burton’s game. Ahead of Game 2 between the Lynx and Valkyries, she shone a light on the former seventh overall pick after she claimed Most Improved Player honors.
“Golden State has a star guard!” Ogwumike declared. “Stop me if you’ve ever heard that before right, but this time it’s the Valkyries and Veronica Burton. You mentioned it, she tripled her scoring average, she won the award, and also she’s third in assists.
Ogwumike referred to Burton as “very cool, calm, and collected” while breaking down the guard’s game. She also highlighted how Burton has made herself key to the Valkyries’ head coach, Natalie Nakase.
“She is a floor general, she is a facilitator, and she is someone Coach Natalie Nakase has relied on,” Ogwumike added. “Now it’s interesting too because Coach Nat is like fire and she’s kinda like ice, and it works itself out.”
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Burton has impressed since arriving at Golden State. Across her first three seasons in the league, Burton averaged 2.7 points per game along with 1.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists — but these numbers have jumped.
For the 2025 WNBA season, Burton starred for the Valkyries, averaging 11.9 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. She became the first player in WNBA history to increase her averages by at least five points, two rebounds, and two assists per game from one season to the next.
It’s been an impressive debut season for the Valkyries. Alongside Burton’s success, Nakase took home Coach of the Year honors in her very first season as a head coach.
Her hire made history; Nakase, whose playing career was cut short by injury, is the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history. She knows what it takes to win the championship as a coach, working with Becky Hammon to help the Las Vegas Aces go back-to-back.
Nakase, Burton, and the Valkyries take on the Lynx in Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs on Wednesday, Sept. 17.