Valkyries takeaways: Veronica Burton sets franchise record in victory vs. Mystics

Joseph Dycus, Bay Area News Group on Aug 13, 2025

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Veronica Burton is not a flashy player. She doesn’t have a varied repertoire of ankle-breakers or fancy moves.

But the Valkyries point guard who has started all 32 of the team’s games does have a complete mastery of Golden State’s offense, a skill set she showed in the team’s 88-83 victory in Washington as the visitors secured their third win in a row.

Coach Natalie Nakase recently advocated for her floor general to be the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award winner, and Burton showed why on Wednesday.

She piled up a franchise-record 30 points to go alongside seven rebounds and assists while controlling the pace of play. When she ran the pick and roll, the fourth-year guard always made the correct pass to the right target, or took the open shot when presented with an opportunity.

Cecilia Zandalasini benefited from her passes and scored a career-high 20 points, while Tip Hayes juked and drove her way to 14 points. Stanford alum Kiki Iriafen put up 14 points for the Mystics.

The Valkyries led 30-12 at the end of the first quarter, and by 25 at one point in the first half. But Washington cut the lead to just eight midway through the third quarter.

Burton made a triple, a layup and two free throws to help the Valkyries push their lead back to 20 by the 1:30 mark of the third quarter. The Mystics made a late push, cutting the Valkyries lead to 86-83 with 53 seconds left. Iriafen had a chance to cut the lead to one on a layup with under 30 seconds remaining, but Iliana Rupert’s contest at the rim forced a miss.

The Valkyries, firmly in the playoff picture at 17-15, will travel to Chicago next.

Star-stoppers

Valkyries coach Natalie Naskase’s defense has become well-known for shutting down star players, pressing fullcourt before dropping into a zone in the halfcourt.

In each of the Valkyries’ last two games, Golden State held LA’s Kelsey Plum (four points) and Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey (three points) to well under their prolific point per game averages.

Golden State did the same to Washington’s rookie sensation Sonia Citron for most of the game. She was 0 for 5 and went into halftime with more fouls (three) than points scored (zero).

Led by Burton and Zandalasini, with help from the rest of the team, Golden State kept the pressure on Citron until late, when the rookie broke loose and finished with 15 points.

Zandalasini scorches Washington

There may not be a shooter on a hotter tear than Golden State’s Italian sniper. She hit 6 of 8 from behind the arc, making four in the first half, as Zandalasini peppered the Mystic defense with shots from all over the court.

Far from a standstill shooting specialist, the wing banged in shots off the catch, layups on drives, and even splashed a step-back triple off the dribble.

Such stellar shooting is nothing new for Zandalasini, who also surpassed the 500-point milestone for her career.

The 29-year-old in the midst of a career year with highs in points per game (10.0) and effective field goal percentage (57.1%) entered the game with a 52.7% 3-point field goal accuracy rate over her last three games.

Golden State made 15 of 31 long balls.