Women's Health October 2, 2026 0 Comments

Veronica Burton’s Untold Mental Edge Powering the Golden State Valkyries’ Unstoppable Playoff Surge — What You Must Know Now!

Ever wonder what it feels like to step into the WNBA playoffs not just hungry for a win, but fueled by pure joy? That’s exactly where Veronica Burton finds herself—a 26-year-old dynamo from Massachusetts who’s leading the Golden State Valkyries as their top point guard, racking up assists and lighting up the scoreboard with ease. But here’s the kicker: she insists her success isn’t hers alone—it’s a symphony of teamwork, where every assist depends on a teammate’s shot falling through the net. I mean, how often do you see someone crediting their squad with such heartfelt laughter and gratitude in the heat of playoff pressure? Coming off the historic feat of being the first expansion team to make the playoffs and now settling into a solid No. 2 seed, Burton isn’t just playing—she’s orchestrating a campaign steeped in confidence, camaraderie, and, yes, joy. So as the Valkyries gear up in their aptly nicknamed “Ballhalla,” with a fanbase that keeps smashing attendance records, it’s clear this playoff run is about more than basketball—it’s about community, empowerment, and the kind of joy that could change the game forever. Ready to dive deeper into Burton’s inspiring journey and the Valkyries’ electrifying season? LEARN MORE

4 min read

Veronica Burton is coming into the WNBA playoffs with one thing on her mind: joy.

The 26-year-old Massachusetts native is at the top of her game right now. As point guard for the Golden State Valkyries, she leads the team in assists, in addition to being one of the team’s best scorers.

Ever the team player, Burton credits her teammates for her success.

“The beautiful thing about assists is that I can’t get them unless my teammate makes the shot, so I really believe that’s been the biggest thing, too,” she says, laughing. “My teammates have been incredible. They finish a lot of plays that get made.”

Before the team’s first playoff game, Burton spoke to Women’s Health about what she wants from herself and her teammates as they enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

The team made history last season as the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year. Now, they’re back for a second straight postseason.

Coming into the 2026 season, all eyes were on Burton after she had a breakout 2025 and was named the league’s Most Improved Player. Instead of letting the pressure affect her game, she used it as motivation and emerged as a leader among her fellow Valkyries.

“I feel really confident in where we’re at, and as a team, and I think we’re playing some of our best basketball,” Burton says.

The Valkyries opened the WNBA playoffs with a 104-80 home win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday, tying the franchise record with 18 three-pointers. Burton finished with 10 points, making both of her three-point attempts, and a team-high five assists. She picked up another five assists, two steals, and 11 points in game two Wednesday night, an overtime thriller that saw the Valkyries fall 108-100. They’ll play for their spot in the semifinals tonight.

“We’re just trying to be our best selves heading into playoffs,” she says. “We know playoffs is a whole different kind of setting—a whole new season, almost—and so we’re approaching it in a very serious way, but also a confident way that reflects just all the work we’ve been putting in.”

The team is focusing on being more intentional in execution on the offensive end. Burton says she does does her part by knowing her teammates’ tendencies as well as taking care of the ball in a way that sets her fellow players up for a shot.

“I always try, as a point guard, to set people up for success, but I think it has been more evident this year than ever,” she says.

The Valkyries play at the Chase Center in San Francisco, but the team and fans have nicknamed the stadium “Ballhalla” in homage to the team’s Norse mythology inspiration.

“We’re just trying to be our best selves heading into playoffs.”

The team’s fanbase has exploded, consistently setting league attendance records. At their most recent game, the Valkyries played before a sold-out crowd of 18,064—their 46th consecutive sellout.

“From a fan perspective, you come into Ballhalla, and you see the violet everywhere, and the love from our fan base, and it’s portrayed in what they wear,” she says. “I think it just brings and builds the community even more.”

Burton says the extra cherry on top to seeing fans in Valkyries gear is seeing the diehards that wear her gear—her number 22 jersey. The experience is something she says she will never get used to, nor take for granted.

“I grew up obviously loving sports, but for just the longest time, it was male athletes,” she says. “Those were the jerseys that you see, and those were the jerseys that I wore. But now it’s such a shift, and to be able to see fans not just wearing my jersey, but wearing any of our teammates’ jerseys, it is such a special feeling.”

In addition to rocking her jersey, fans now have the opportunity to don some of Burton’s favorite pieces from her partnership with Athleta. Athleta is the Golden State Valkyries’ new Official Off Court Apparel Partner and recently released the Off Court Edit, a new collection of lifestyle apparel.

“This partnership especially is just a reflection of being comfortable and being confident in who you are off the court,” Burton says.

Some of Burton’s favorite pieces include the Forever Fleece Classic Full Zip Sweatshirt and the Interval Stash High-Rise 5” Short. She says that no matter the weather, you can find her in the fleece. “On my recovery days especially, that’s when I’m rocking them,” she says.

Burton is a fan of the pieces, but says what she finds even more valuable is what the partnership represents. She’s been a longtime fan of Athleta and commends the brand for its continued efforts to empower women.

“For us to have this partnership, it means so much, because that’s what we like to do the most—empower women and show what we can do at the highest level,” she says.

With the rest of the postseason looming, Burton says she’s playing for her teammates and the Valkyries’ fans. Whether that means piling on the wins, or going home early, she wants one thing to be clear: how much she and her teammates enjoy playing together.

“Obviously winning is great, and we’ve done a really good job with that, and it helps, but at the end of the day, I would say the impact that we’ve had off the court and the level of joy we’ve been able to play with is the thing I’m most proud of.”

The Valkyries will continue the first round series of playoffs with game three against the Dallas Wings tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

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Alyssa Cruz is the social media editor at Women’s Health, where she drives social strategy and helps shape the brand’s voice across platforms. Prior to WH, she worked at CBS News and palabra. Originally from Toledo, she is a proud alumna of Ohio University, where she received two bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish. When she is not creating social content, you can find her trying different restaurants in New York City or planning her next trip.