Veronica Burton, the player Dallas waived just before the 2024 season, isn’t just a star anymore; she’s a certified clutch playoff performer, and she just punched the Golden State Valkyries’ ticket to the WNBA Finals. Her incredible performances in the semifinal series against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces solidified her status, turning a tale of adversity into a bona fide fairy tale for the 26-year-old guard.
From Underrated to Unstoppable: Burton’s Fairy Tale Rise
It’s truly wild how far Burton has come since being cut by the Wings. She’s found a real home in the Bay Area, and frankly, she’s one of the best players on the Valkyries, easily shedding that “underrated” label. This isn’t just fan talk either; the league has noticed. She grabbed the 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player award, pulled in a fifth-place MVP vote last year, and even got a fourth-place MVP vote this year! Seriously, she was in the All-Star conversation this season and probably would’ve been there last year if the game wasn’t so early in the schedule.
Her defense, which was legendary at Northwestern, has been nothing short of elite in the W, earning her an All-Defensive Second Team honor in 2025 and finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2026. But it’s not just D; her offensive game has come alive, too. Remember that night in August 2025? She dropped 30 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 7 assists, hit 6-of-9 from deep, and went 10-of-13 overall in 36 minutes! The woman is earning every penny of her nearly-max $925,000 salary, making her the second-highest-paid player on the Valkyries. Everyone agrees she’s a foundational piece for a squad that finished second in the standings this year.
Clutch Queen Crowned: How Burton Sealed the Finals Bid
As if her regular season glow-up wasn’t enough, Burton just showed the entire league she’s built for playoff pressure. In Game 2 of the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces, she absolutely delivered. With only 41.5 seconds left, she drained a huge three-pointer to give the Valkyries a 79-76 lead. Then, under immense pressure, she coolly knocked down 2-of-2 free throws, extending Golden State’s lead to 83-80 with just 6.4 seconds on the clock. That clutch play forced Jackie Young to intentionally miss a free throw, and Chelsea Gray couldn’t tie it as time expired. Talk about ice in her veins!
But she wasn’t done! In the series-clinching Game 3, Burton brought it again. She scored six critical points in the final 4:01 of the fourth quarter, helping the Valks force overtime. Four of those points came during a crucial 8-0 Golden State run that put them up 71-69 with 1:12 left. Her difficult layup at 1:12 was exactly what the Valks needed to stay in the fight, as the game eventually ended tied at 71 at the buzzer. This level of clutch performance in back-to-back semifinal games is no joke; it definitely signals the start of what could be a truly legendary playoff career for Burton.
The Valkyries are headed to the Finals, and with Veronica Burton stepping up in the biggest moments, anything feels possible. Get ready, WNBA, because the clutch queen is just getting started!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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