That morning, Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft, veronica barton She received a phone call that would change her life instantly. of WNBAThe newest team in San Francisco planned to select her from the Connecticut Sun's list of unprotected players.
Barton was playing professional basketball in Australia when he learned he would soon have to move to the Bay Area, a place he had never been to. Her one-season stint in Uncasville, Conn., a small town a few hours from her hometown of Newton, Mass., was coming to an abrupt end.
The expansion draft, held on December 7th, saw 11 players selected and served as a means for the Valkyries to assemble their initial roster. Of the 11 players drafted, eight played in the WNBA last season: Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings and Washington Mystics guard. julie vanlooLas Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin, New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton, Indiana Fever forward Temi Fagbenle, Minnesota Lynx forward Cecilia ZandarasiniLos Angeles Sparks forward Stephanie Talbotand Burton, a guard who returned to his hometown to play for the Connecticut Sun last season after starting his career with the Dallas Wings for two seasons.
The rules were simple: each team could protect six players, but teams were not required to share those lists with the players themselves. All of these players were eligible to be selected by Golden State because they did not have the protection of a WNBA team.
Some knew in advance that they were vulnerable and could be drafted into the military. others were not.
Behind the scenes of the WNBA Expansion Draft
WNBA fans and media had a lot of fun making mock drafts and predictions (we at SB Nation joined in on the exercise). That's understandable. Expansion provides fans with a unique opportunity to serve as general managers. And given the fact that it's been 16 years since W's last expansion, there was a healthy appetite for doing so.
But for the players themselves, expansion is a reality.
So what does it feel like to have your fate decided by the draft?
“It's definitely a mix of emotions, but the No. 1 emotion is definitely excitement,” Barton told SB Nation. “It's a great opportunity and a true blessing to be a part of this draft and history. Being able to play in the Bay Area my first year is something I never dreamed I would take for granted. There isn't.
The process was made easier for Barton, a stalwart defender who had established himself as an effective backup point guard, as he was selected by the Connecticut Sun. We told her before the draft that she wasn't one of the six protected players.
“From a spiritual standpoint, it gave me more insight,” Barton said. “They were very transparent and clear about it, which I think helped. I knew it was a possibility. I knew it was a possibility that I could still stay in Connecticut or get drafted. I knew there was a possibility that I would be left in the dark. There was still some nervousness and anxiety, but it wasn't necessarily 'left in the dark' anxiety. ”
But not all franchises gave unprotected players the same attention. The WNBA did not require it, and the list of unprotected players was not made public.
Newly appointed Sun general manager Morgan Tuck told SB Nation it was difficult to decide who to protect (in the Sun's case, backup big man Olivia Nelson-Ododa was chosen over Barton). likely to be protected).
“There's a reason we have a limit on the number of people we can protect. It would be easier if we could protect everyone we don't want to lose,” Tuck said. “The people we ended up not being able to protect, that doesn't mean they're not wanted. It's tough when you have to exclude people or protect certain people more than others.”
Barton landed in Connecticut in June after being released by the Dallas Wings at the beginning of the 2024 season. Right away, it fit perfectly. In the 2024 playoffs, he played 19.3 minutes per game and averaged 4.9 points and 1.9 assists. In the first round game against the Indiana Fever, he was often assigned to guard Fever star Caitlin Clark.
“I’m very grateful to them,” Barton said of the Sun organization. “I found my rhythm and my confidence.”
If she had returned to Connecticut, she would have seen a dramatically different team anyway. Stephanie WhiteHe coached the Sun last season and is now the Fever's head coach, bringing his top assistants to Indiana. French professional basketball coach Rachid Meziane will likely bring a new staff member to Connecticut.
Still, it was a tenure that gave Burton a critical perspective.
“They're not there anymore. But they instilled confidence in me, which is something I struggled with at times at W,” she said. “They just valued me. They knew what I brought to the table and let me be who I was. The players were the same, and each player gave me It taught me something new.”
Tuck echoed Burton's sentiments.
“Obviously we were sad to see Veronica chosen. She was amazing,” Ms Tuck said. “I think everyone can see how great she was as a player and player.”
Veronica Barton was enthusiastic in Australia when she was selected.
The 24-year-old point guard is currently in the midst of an outstanding season with the Bendigo Spirit in Australia's Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is averaging 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in her first season in the WNBL.
“It's definitely a super competitive league. That's what I wanted to be here for,” Barton said. “It challenged me in many ways, but at the same time gave me my best. My team was amazing. It was a really smooth transition, especially culturally. No language barriers. So it's not that big of a change.”
There are two domestic women's professional basketball leagues for WNBA players looking to stay in the U.S. this winter, Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited, but Barton has chosen to play in a more traditional 5-on-5 league overseas. He explained that he felt that way in his first league. It would be most beneficial if it were one of the few offseasons of her career.
Looking forward to the next season of Valkyries
Veronica Barton hasn't had much of a chance to sit down with the Valkyries' new coaches and teammates, as they are currently scattered all over the world.
Julie Vanloo, Temi Fagbenle, Ileana Rupert and Cecilia Zandarasini are playing in Türkiye. Monique Billings is in China. Burton and Stephanie Talbot are in Australia, Maria Conde is in Czechoslovakia, Carla Leite is in France, and Kate Martin is in Miami. The Valkyries perfectly embody the globalized nature and current state of women's competition.
However, Barton was able to speak with Kayla Thornton, who he previously played with in Dallas, and new head coach Natalie Nakase. The message is clear. The Valkyries have assembled a highly competitive and hard-working group.
“We all have a chip on our shoulders and we're all ready to compete,” Barton said. “Everyone seems to be thinking, 'Let's see what we can do the first year.' Make the most of what you have.” I don't know when you have an underdog mentality or an underdog mentality, at least for me, but I have really high hopes for this year. It's going to feel gritty and there's going to be passion and excitement to play. ”
On the day of the expansion draft, Nakase explained that the Valkyries' next players will have a “ridiculous work ethic” and a “super competitive mindset,” which are non-negotiable qualities for all players selected.
“It really speaks to his noble character,” Burton said. “And I really think that goes a long way when it comes to winning. [establishing] A winning culture and a winning program. I'm excited to be a part of it and follow their lead. ”
This article is based on SB Nation’s new “WNBA explanation” series is a weekly column that takes a deep dive into a variety of topics related to women's basketball. You can read last week's column on Athletes Unlimited here.
