In a season full of firsts for the expansion Golden State Valkyries, guard Veronica Burton added another.

On Monday, Burton was named the WNBA’s most improved player, becoming the first Valkyries player to win a major regular-season award.

The 5-foot-9 point guard burst onto the scene in an increased role with the expansion Valkyries. Burton, 25, was the only player on the Valkyries to start in all 44 games with averages of 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

She is the first player in WNBA history to improve her per-game averages by over eight points, four assists and two rebounds compared to the prior season.

Burton, who previously played with Connecticut and Dallas, started just 20 of her 107 career games through her first three seasons.

“Opportunity is a big thing,

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