Photo – Adam Hunger/Associated Press
Veronica Burton was a two-time Globe All-Scholastic Super Teamer at Newton South and then played for Northwestern University. She was chosen by the Dallas Wings in the 2022 WNBA draft Monday evening. She’s made Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year three times and won the 2022 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Congratulation Veronica!
Veronica was an inspirational presence on the girls’ basketball team at South and a great kid overall. It was also a pleasure to see her father, Steve Burton, a terrific sports reporter, at the games in the role of loyal and supportive parent (along with his wife!). Friendlier, more decent people would be harder to find. Best of luck as Veronica pursues a career in the WNBA.
This is an amazing accomplishment! Congrats to Veronica and the Burton family (Steve is one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with in my years working in sports radio and podcasting). It’s such a rarity for Newton, especially one of our public schools, to produce a professional athlete. By my count, I believe Veronica is the first-ever WNBA player from Newton, and possibly the first professional basketball player from Newton in a major North American league. I don’t know if we do a “key to the city” here, but I feel it’s an accomplishment worthy of note and celebration from the city. I’m sure she’ll be a wonderful ambassador for Newton as she begins her career as a pro.
I hope Veronica has a fantastic career and as a Newton South alumni myself, I’m eager to get a Dallas Wings Burton jersey.
Congrats Burton family!!
It was electric to watch Ms. Burton play at South and such an inspiration to our young female athletes. It was such fun to catch her on TV playing college ball- this young woman is the real deal. Wishing her all the best.