Newton South Celebrates Veronica Burton’s WNBA Finals Run

Newton South High School turned its cafeteria into a watch party as the Golden State Valkyries faced Atlanta’s Dream squad during Game 6 of the league’s Finals. Students cheered on Veronica Burton, a former student and basketball player at the school. Atlanta won 80-69, forcing a deciding game in the series.

For students, Burton’s place on the Finals stage made the game especially meaningful. Basketball player Ruby Solomon called her an inspiration, while teammate Kelsie Harris said it was exciting to watch someone who had played at Newton South reach the professional level.

Coach Jesus Rodriguez, who has known and coached Burton for more than a decade, remembered her commitment as a young player. He said he would open the gym around 5:30 a.m. so Burton and her father could begin shooting at 6 a.m.

Burton’s route to the Finals included limited playing time with the Dallas Wings after they drafted her seventh in 2022, followed by a brief stint with the Connecticut Sun. The Valkyries chose her in the expansion draft after the 2024 season, and she has started every game in the franchise’s history.

Golden State and Atlanta will meet for Game 7 on October 31 at 8 p.m. in the Bay Area. The Newton South community’s celebration of Burton’s achievement continued despite the Game 6 loss, with students seeing her journey as an example of what dedication can lead to.