Sun lose Veronica Burton to Golden State Valkyries in expansion draft

The Golden State Valkyries selected Burton in the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft on Friday.

Burton is a Massachusetts native and has expressed that being able to play in front of her family and friends has meant a lot to her.

The Sun held the first-ever WNBA game at TD Garden in Boston against the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2024 season, and Burton was able to take part. She grew up watching the Boston Celtics play there and was able to have a “full-circle moment” while playing in Boston, she told reporters at the beginning of August.

“[It is] very exciting for sure, just to be able to have so many friends and family attend and play in an arena that is so idolized for a lot of us growing up there,” she said. “And there’s been so many championships at the Garden, so it is really cool to be able to have my own game there.”

Connecticut has felt like home to Burton as soon as she joined the team.

“From the moment I stepped into practice I just knew it was a family atmosphere,” Burton told The Next during the Olympic break. “How they helped me acclimate, the comfort level, all of that on the court and off. That’s a big thing especially in this league at any given moment you could be on a different team. That’s super important to me. I’m a really family-oriented person, and so I’m really grateful, and I appreciate that they took me in like that.”

Although Burton will miss her teammates, family and the Sun franchise, she is excited about the opportunity to play for Golden State. She took to social media to express her excitement and gratitude.

Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%

Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his latest book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.

If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.

Why wasn’t she protected?

As per WNBA expansion draft rules, each WNBA franchise was only allowed to protect six players. Since Burton was left unprotected, it is presumed that they chose to protect center Olivia Nelson-Ododa over her.

One logical reason why Burton remained unprotected by the Sun instead of Nelson-Ododa is due to the players they have entering free agency. The Sun’s big three — forward Brionna Jones, forward/guard DeWanna Bonner and forward Alyssa Thomas — entered the offseason as unrestricted free agents. 

In the worst-case scenario for the Sun (losing their big three), they want to be prepared. Nelson-Ododa would be their only post player if this were to happen, so protecting her was important.

In-house replacements

The Sun still have guards Tyasha Harris and Marina Mabrey returning on the roster next season, so protecting their backup point guard in Burton wasn’t necessarily their top priority.

Mabrey is also capable of bringing the ball up the floor and may be used to give Harris breaks from her point guard postion throughout the game. This was previously Burton’s role.

The Sun also have rights to unsigned draftees guard Abbey Hsu and guard Leila Lacan.

With Lacan’s French roots and playing for the French National team, new head coach Rachid Meziane may find a liking to her next season. Meziane has coached in and around the scope of French basketball where he has had success and led the women’s basketball club, ESB Villeneuve-d’Ascq, as a head coach since 2019.

He also was an assistant coach for the French Women’s National team from 2014-2021.

Possible free agency replacements

There seems to be a shortage of true point guards in the WNBA right now which Burton fits the mold for perfectly. She is a facilitating point guard rather than a scoring one like Harris.

There were a few free agents that stood out that would be good replacements for Burton, although Connecticut is a tough market to attract top free agency talent.

Las Vegas Aces guard Alysha Clark would be a good fit in Connecticut with her veteran experience. Clark is a three-time champion possessing two championships with the Seattle Storm and one with the Las Vegas Aces.

She has been able to learn from legendary guards such as Seattle Storm great Sue Bird. She has earned All-Defensive Team honors (2019, 2020) and the Sixth Woman of the Year Award (2023).

Clark has the ability to bring the basketball up the floor but also will fit right in with the defensive identity of Connecticut if it plays in that style again next season.

Los Angeles Sparks guard Kia Nurse would also be a good fit for the Sun as she explores free agency. Nurse may find a drive to head back to near where her professional career began at her alma mater, UConn. 

Nurse would provide the Sun with a reliable and solid guard to advance the ball down the court. At UConn, she would often handle the ball and has found herself in the same positions in the WNBA.

Additionally, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell would be a good fit, but it is unlikely that she will leave Indiana after they hired head coach Stephanie White from Connecticut. She’s also found herself missing the playoffs most of her WNBA career thus far, and the Fever are building a championship contending team.

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.

Why Burton?

Burton is having a successful season so far in Australia playing for WNBL team the Bendigo Spirit, averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Burton may have caught the Valkyries eyes with her success overseas. She was also a reliable point guard for the Sun and has the opportunity to grow as a player and a leader.

The Valkyries will need a solid point guard to help lead the team, and Burton fits the criteria perfectly.

Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase and the front office have picked players intentionally and have the chance to build a team from the ground up. 

“I am generally excited about every player that I picked,” Nakase told reporters. “And I can go down the line with the competitiveness, the way that these players will do anything it takes to win and their high character. So yes, these players are from my heart, they are very well selected to an extent that I really want them on our team.”

The Valkyries will be able to assemble their team more when free agency opens in February and with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.