Veronica Burton (basketball)

Last updated
Veronica Burton
Veronica Burton.jpg
Burton with Northwestern in 2021
No. 12Connecticut Sun
Position Point guard
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (2000-07-12) July 12, 2000 (age 24)
Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight155 lb (70 kg)
Career information
High school Newton South (Newton, Massachusetts)
College Northwestern (2018–2022)
WNBA draft 2022: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Dallas Wings
Career history
20222023 Dallas Wings
2024–present Connecticut Sun
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg  United States
FIBA Women's AmeriCup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2021 Puerto Rico

Veronica Grace Burton (born July 12, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She previously played in the WNBA for the Dallas Wings. She played college basketball at Northwestern. She also represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup and won a gold medal. [1]

Contents

College career

During the 2018–19 season, in her freshman year, she started 31 games and ranked first in the Big Ten in steals (81), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), and tied for sixteenth in assists per game (3.6). She also led the team in assists (113) and steals (81). During the 2019–20 season, in her sophomore year, she ranked first in the Big Ten in steals (100), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), fourth in assists (152) and free throw percentage (.793). She also led the team in assists, steals, and free throw percentage. [2] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. [3]

During the 2020–21 season, in her junior year, she started 24 of 25 games and led the team in points (16.2), assists (4.9) and steals (3.8). Her 3.84 steals per game also led the NCAA. [2] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, first-team All-Big Ten and named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. [4]

On October 21, 2021, Burton was named captain for the 2021–22 season. [5] During her senior year, she averaged 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals per game. Before the NCAA Tournament, she led the nation in total steals and ranked second in steals per game. She also ranked in the top five nationally and led the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio, and ranked sixth nationally in assists per game. Her 117 steals were the third most in a season in Wildcat history and tied for the seventh most in a season in Big Ten history. Following an outstanding season, she was named a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and first-team All-Big Ten. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, joining Tanisha Wright as the only three-time winner. [6] She was also named the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. [7] She was also named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press, and an honorable mention by USBWA. [8] She became the first player in program history to be named to an AP All-America team. [9]

On March 25, 2022, Burton renounced her extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared for the 2022 WNBA draft. [10] She finished her career second-all time in program history in steals with 394, and third all-time in Big Ten history. She also finished third in program history in career assists with 575. [11]

Professional career

On April 11, 2022, Burton was drafted in the first round, 7th overall, by the Dallas Wings in the 2022 WNBA draft. [12] [13] On May 12, 2024, Burton was waived by the Wings. In two seasons with the Wings, she appeared in 76 regular season games, making 19 starts, while averaging 2.5 points and 2.1 assists per game. [14]

On June 5 2024, Burton signed a rest of season contract with the Connecticut Sun for the 2024 WNBA season. [15] [16]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

WNBA

Regular season

Veronica Burton WNBA Regular Season Statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2022 Dallas 36615.2.329.2791.0001.51.90.90.31.02.6
2023 Dallas 401313.9.294.271.9121.82.20.70.30.42.4
Career2 years, 1 team761914.5.311.275.9551.62.10.80.30.72.5

Playoffs

Veronica Burton WNBA Playoff Statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2022 Dallas 3328.0.400.300.8002.73.32.0°0.32.06.3
2023 Dallas 5011.0.154.111.8001.22.21.60.00.21.8
Career2 years, 1 team8317.4.286.211.8001.82.61.80.10.93.5

College

Veronica Burton NCAA Statistics [17]
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2018–19 Northwestern 313132.037.736.885.53.93.62.60.41.58.6
2019–20 Northwestern 303032.043.732.779.34.95.13.30.62.111.6
2020–21 Northwestern 252434.839.930.779.55.24.93.80.41.716.2
2021–22 Northwestern 292936.541.532.683.35.56.44.00.92.117.8
Career11511433.740.933.281.74.85.03.40.61.913.4

National team career

On June 6, 2021, Burton was named to team USA for the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. [18] During the tournament, she averaged 4.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, to help lead USA to a gold medal. [19]

Personal life

Veronica was born to Steve and Ginni Burton. Her father played quarterback at Northwestern, and is currently a television sports reporter in Boston, while her mother was an All-American and Big Ten Champion in swimming for the Wildcats. Her sisters, Kendall and Kayla also played college basketball, while her brother, Austin, was a quarterback at Purdue. Her grandfather, Ron Burton, played football for Northwestern and the Boston Patriots and is a College Football Hall of Famer. [2]

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References

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  3. "2019-20 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced On BTN". BigTen.org. March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  4. "2020-21 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  5. "Burton, Satterwhite, Wood Named 2021-22 Women's Basketball Captains". nusports.com. October 21, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  6. "2021-22 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  7. "Northwestern's Burton Named 2022 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year". WBCA.org. Women's Basketball Coaches Association. March 28, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  8. "USBWA Names 2021-22 Women's All-America Team". sportswriters.net. March 17, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  9. "Veronica Burton Named AP All-American". nusports.com. March 16, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  10. "WNBA Announces Initial List of Players Renouncing NCAA Eligibility to Opt-In for Consideration for 2022 WNBA Draft". WNBA.com. March 29, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  11. "Veronica Burton Declares for WNBA Draft". nusports.com. March 25, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  12. Costabile, Annie (April 16, 2022). "Veronica Burton is ready to earn her spot on Dallas Wings' deep roster". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  13. Assimakopoulos, Lia (April 18, 2022). "With WNBA draft behind her, Veronica Burton's back in the gym, ready to prove herself with Wings". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  14. "Dallas Wings Waive Veronica Burton". wings.wnba.com. May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  15. "Connecticut Sun Signs Veronica Burton". sun.wnba.com. June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  16. Healy, Emma (June 5, 2024). "Newton's Veronica Burton signs with Connecticut Sun after being cut by Dallas Wings". The Boston Globe . Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  17. "Veronica Burton College Stats". Sports-Reference . Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  18. "Burton Named to USA AmeriCup Roster". nusports.com. June 6, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  19. "USA Women Claim FIBA AmeriCup Gold with 74-59 Win Over Host Puerto Rico". usab.com. June 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.