​How Veronica Burton’s Boston, Patriots Roots Led to WNBA Stardom with Valkyries originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Veronica Burton has turned into one of the WNBA’s best guards, an all-around talent shining out west for the Golden State Valkyries.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut when she points back to her roots, she can look to the Boston area, and even the New England Patriots, for part of her origin story.Burton really broke out in the WNBA in 2025 when she became a member of the expansion Valkyries. She’s the type of point guard who can chase triple-doubles and lock up the opposing team’s best player, too.She’s continued her strong play into the 2026 season, showing nothing about her growth as a hooper has been a fluke.And with that in mind, it’s worth revisiting where Burton came from and just how she got here.MORE: Could Harry Kane become kicker for the Patriots?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe roots begin in some ways with the Patriots two decades ago.Ron Burton, Veronica’s grandfather, played for the Boston Patriots in the AFL after starring collegiate at Northwestern. He was a running back.Veronica’s parents were both athletes, too. Her dad Steve was a quarterback at Northwestern, and her mom Ginni was an All-American swimmer for the Wildcats.The siblings all could ball, as well.Veronica’s brother Austin played quarterback for UCLA.Her sister Kendall hooped at Villanova, and her other sister Kayla played at Lehigh. Kayla now does work with NBC Sports Boston, as well.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBurton was a high school star at Newton South, averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game in a senior year that had her named Boston Globe Player of the Year.She was then named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year three years in a row while at Northwestern. In that final season, she led all of Division I with 111 regular season steals.The Dallas Wings took Burton seventh overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft, but her breakout came when the Valkyries picked Burton in the 2025 expansion draft.She was named Most Improved Player in the WNBA after averaging 11.9 points, 6.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.Latest Patriots newsTom Brady’s Patriots legacy: How legendary QB set new standardComplete history of Patriots championships