In a world where programs like UConn and Tennessee are sharks in terms of professional prowess, Northwestern women’s basketball historically was a tiny minnow in comparison.
Yet as Joe McKeown was honored
at the home football tilt on Saturday versus UCLA, it was a reminder of how far the program has come. McKeown’s résumé includes NCAA Tournament runs, Big Ten titles and perhaps most notably the fact that all four Wildcats drafted into the WNBA were coached by him. Two of those four, Veronica Burton and Nia Coffey, were both top-10 picks and continue to extend Northwestern’s pro legacy.
There wasn’t much expectation for either player heading into 2025. Burton, fresh off being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, was seen as little more than a depth piece. She had averaged just 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 12.7 minutes per game with the Connecticut Sun in 2024. On paper, there wasn’t much reason to expect a breakout.
But those who followed her overseas play saw hints of what was to come. In Australia’s WNBL, Burton won a championship with the Bendigo Spirit and captured the league’s Golden Hands Award, given to the player with the best balance of assists and steals compared to turnovers. She averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in the Grand Final series, evidence that with more responsibility, she could thrive.
By midseason in the WNBA, that potential was already becoming reality. Burton seized a full-time starting role in Golden State’s inaugural season, jumping her averages into double figures for the first time in her career: 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists on 34.5% shooting. She was the team’s offensive engine, ranking top-10 in the league in assists and flashing range with a five three-pointer outing in a statement win over the Indiana Fever.
Her upward trajectory never slowed down. Burton finished the season averaging 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 38.7% shooting and 34.5% from deep — all career highs — while earning the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award. She also became the only player in the league to lead her team in total points, rebounds, assists and blocks. Against the Washington Mystics, she scored 30 points, a Valkyries single-game program record. Golden State made the playoffs in just its first season, and although the Valkyries bowed out in the first round, Burton cemented herself as a cornerstone guard for the franchise. Her offseason plans include a stint in the Unrivaled League, signaling both confidence in her growth and intrigue in her next step.
After being inducted into the Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame in its 2024 class, Coffey’s year looked different. The former No. 5 overall pick maintained her spot as a depth piece on a competitive Atlanta Dream roster, averaging 3.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in just over 11 minutes per game. She had flashes, most notably an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double against Connecticut in May, but largely struggled to replicate her peak 2021 production with Los Angeles.
Still, Coffey contributed valuable frontcourt minutes as Atlanta secured another playoff berth. The Dream also bowed out in the first round, with Coffey’s lone postseason points coming in the team’s only win in game one.
The gap between Burton’s breakout and Coffey’s steady bench role highlights the different phases of their careers. Burton, just four seasons in, is trending up and establishing herself as a reliable starting guard. Coffey, an eight-year veteran, remains a role player but provides depth and veteran presence to a playoff team.
For Northwestern, though, the bigger picture matters. A program once seen as irrelevant in the national conversation has active alumni producing at the highest level of the sport. Burton’s rise in particular offers a new benchmark for future Wildcats aspiring to the pros.
Northwestern women’s basketball may still be a minnow compared to the sport’s blue bloods, but it has proven it can produce players who punch well above their weight in the WNBA.
