![\"Veronica](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2235408746.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\nChiney 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<\/p>\n
23:14 ET, 17 Sep 2025Updated 23:15 ET, 17 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
Chiney Ogwumike heaped praise on Veronica Burton despite the Golden State Valkyries<\/a> falling to the Minnesota Lynx<\/a> in Game 1.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> its first home game away from home, Burton impressed even in the blowout defeat.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Netflix hires father-son duo for Christmas Day NFL games after Tom Brady banned<\/a>READ MORE: PGA Tour cancels 2026 season-opening event due to significant course issues<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n SportsCenter analyst and two-time WNBA<\/a> All-Star Ogwumike is undoubtedly a fan of Burton\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cGolden State has a star guard!\u201d Ogwumike declared. \u201cStop me if you\u2019ve ever heard that before right, but this time it\u2019s the Valkyries and Veronica Burton. You mentioned it, she tripled her scoring average, she won the award, and also she\u2019s third in assists.<\/p>\n Ogwumike referred to Burton as \u201cvery cool, calm, and collected\u201d while breaking down the guard\u2019s game. She also highlighted how Burton has made herself key to the Valkyries’ head coach, Natalie Nakase.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is a floor general, she is a facilitator, and she is someone Coach Natalie Nakase has relied on,\u201d Ogwumike added. \u201cNow it\u2019s interesting too because Coach Nat is like fire and she\u2019s kinda like ice, and it works itself out.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow us on X<\/a> for the best and latest in sports news<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 but these numbers have jumped.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been an impressive debut season for the Valkyries. Alongside Burton\u2019s success, Nakase took home Coach of the Year honors in her very first season as a head coach.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, working with Becky Hammon to help the Las Vegas Aces<\/a> go back-to-back.<\/p>\n Nakase, Burton, and the Valkyries take on the Lynx in Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs on Wednesday, Sept. 17.<\/p>\n