Veronica Burton went from averaging 14 minutes a game over her first three WNBA seasons (2022-24) to putting forth a near-All-Star-level display in 2025 that earned her near the max ($925,000) when she re-signed with the Golden State Valkyries this offseason.
She was also a member of champion Mist BC in her first season of Unrivaled. Plus, it was recently announced that her dad will be inducted into the MA Broadcasters Hall of Fame,
her college head coach Joe McKeown announced his retirement from a legendary career and her hometown Boston Celtics, the team for which her sister runs the pregame show, are primed to make a run at the NBA championship.
So, it was the perfect time to interview her!
Here are some highlights from her conversation with Swish Appeal:
On winning WNBA Most Improved Player:
Obviously last W season was something that I’ll never forget, just for a number of reasons. Winning Most Improved is something that I don’t take lightly, and I’m definitely happy about, and something that I definitely worked for.
But I think just being able to experience what it meant to be a Valkyrie in [their] first year and just being able to make the playoffs and compete and all the people that I got to do it alongside—I think that’s kind of the bigger takeaway for me in the last year is the opportunity and the blessings that I’ve kind of been able to experience, rather than just the award itself or whatever accolades that have come.
On seeing her sister fulfill her dreams as a broadcaster covering the Celtics:
It’s awesome. Kayla will be the first to tell anyone just kind of the ups and downs that she’s experienced in the workplace, and how it’s not easy. I think it’s been really neat to see her thrive in that role, in that profession. It’s not surprising—I think she can talk to anyone, she just has such an amazing personality, and I think she’s great at her job. And so to see her just continue to get better at it and work at it—I see her put so much time into it. And growing up watching my dad be a sports broadcaster, I think it’s been really neat to see her follow in that, while also paving her own way.
But also being a Black woman in the sports broadcasting industry is something that I don’t take lightly, and I know she doesn’t either. So I’ve just been really proud of her, and really it’s been incredible to see her just continue to grow.
