SAN FRANCISCO – Veronica Burton never needed a championship to prove she possessed the heart of a champion. Because even when she was on the outskirts of the WNBA, Burton was at her local YMCA tightening her shoelaces, stretching her legs, and getting to work. Even when the league seemed to tell her she could be nothing more than a role player, Burton stayed the course, clawing, scratching, chewing, and willing her way back in, becoming not only the Golden State Valkyries’ fearless floor general but also their heart and soul.
But now Burton has the hardware. Now she has the bragging rights, the ring, the banner. So as the purple and gold confetti fell from the heavens and as Elle Duncan called her name to the thunderous applause of the 18,000 fans on their feet in Ballhalla, nothing could stop the tears from flowing down Burton’s face.
“I’m just so blessed. This is insane,” Burton said, cheers drowning out her waterworks as the celebrations of the Valkyries’ 68-63 Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream were just beginning…