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 skillset 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. 

“It definitely is a confidence, rhythm thing, and I feel like it has to do with our whole team and how we’ve been moving the ball,” Burton said. “You know the ball is going to find you, typically in rhythm and where you like it.”

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. 

“I think we did a great job overall, but for sure, we’ve got to be better in closing games,” Zandalasini said.

The Valkyries, firmly in the playoff picture at 17-15, next play in Chicago on Friday. 

Star-stoppers

Tiffany Hayes #15 of the Golden State Valkyries handles the ball during the game against the Washington Mystics on Aug. 13, 2025 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) 

Nakase’s defense has become well-known for shutting down star players, pressing full-court before dropping into a zone in the half-court.  

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

“At the end of the day, we have to rely on our defense, because that’s who we are,” Nakase said.

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

, Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini (24) takes a shot against Connecticut Sun’s Bria Hartley (14) in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)There may not be a shooter on a hotter shooting 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. 

“At home, the crowd gives us a lot of energy, but when we are on the road, we have to bring our own energy, and I think lately we’ve been doing a better job of that,” Zandalasini said.

Such stellar shooting is nothing new for Zandalasini, who also surpassed the 500-point milestone for her career. Golden State made 15 of 31 long balls. 

“Let it fly mentality, I think, has been working,” Nakase said.

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