The Golden State Valkyries secured a commanding 79-60 victory over the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on Thursday, powered by an exceptional performance from Veronica Burton. Burton’s flawless ball handling and playmaking paved the way for the Valkyries’ decisive win, as she recorded 13 assists without committing a single turnover.
Burton’s Historic Playmaking Shines Amid Team Effort
In just 27 minutes on the court, Burton orchestrated 32 points for her teammates, posting a plus-17 rating that underscored her impact on both ends of the floor. Her statistical achievement places her among an elite group in the WNBA this season; she became only the third player to deliver 13 or more assists while maintaining zero turnovers. Even more impressively, she is just the second player ever to reach this milestone multiple times, joining Chicago veteran Courtney Vandersloot.
Yet, Golden State’s triumph was far from a one-woman show. Leading the scoring was Cecilia Zandalasini with 20 points, including four three-pointers that helped stretch the defense. Supporting her were Gabby Williams, who contributed 16 points with four triples of her own, and Tiffany Hayes, who added 12 points coming off the bench, reinforcing the Valkyries’ offensive depth.
The New York Liberty, on the other hand, struggled to find rhythm throughout the contest. Star guard Sabrina Ionescu faced a tough night, managing only seven points on 2-of-12 shooting and going 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. Overall, the Liberty’s offense faltered, shooting a mere 30.2% from the field, culminating in a season-low 60 points. This outcome snapped their streak of scoring at least 80 points in 16 consecutive games.