Let alone Veronica Burton, her family, including her grandfather, parents, and siblings, all belonged to the athletic fraternity.
Veronica Burton, a star guard for the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA, hails from an athletic family with a legacy that spans generations.
Veronica’s grandfather, Ron Burton, was a standout running back at Northwestern from 1957 to 1959, earning All-America honors and induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
He was the first-ever draft pick of the AFL’s Boston Patriots, playing six seasons professionally.
Ron Burton also founded the Ron Burton Training Village, a program for underprivileged youth that emphasizes physical wellness, education, and values like love and humility.
Whereas, Veronica Burton’s father, Steve Burton, is a well-known sports anchor and the Sports Director at WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Boston.
For over 25 years, he has covered major sports events and established relationships with New England sports legends, including Tom Brady and Paul Pierce.
His career also includes memorable moments, such as on-screen antics with an alligator that went viral.
Before his broadcasting career, Steve was a quarterback at Northwestern University from 1982 to 1984, continuing the family’s connection to the school.
His work often kept him up late, but he prioritized early morning workouts with his family to stay involved in their athletic pursuits.
Veronica Burton’s mother, Ginni Burton, is a former All-American swimmer at Northwestern University and a participant in the 1984 Olympic Trials.
After her competitive swimming career, she worked as a psychotherapist but later transitioned to a water-running instructor to accommodate her children’s busy sports schedules.
Veronica Burton Acknowledges Her Parents For The Life She Has Created!
WNBA player Veronica has often expressed gratitude to her parents for everything she has achieved today and for all that she hopes to accomplish in the future.
Out of many things, she credits her parents for instilling faith as a priority from a young age.
In a 2021 interview, Veronica said,
From a really young age my parents taught me the importance of having a strong relationship with God and how it needs to be the number one priority in my life.
After joining the Connecticut Sun, Veronica expressed gratitude for having her parents at her games, saying:
Being able to have my family come to so many games, I know it means so much to them and to be able to look to the stands at every home game and see my parents, it’s not common. I’m trying to just soak all that in.
Veronica Burton
Steve has always believed in Veronica, often strictly pushing her to exceed her limits. In 2024, he explained his tough-love approach, saying,
Everybody else is patting you on the back telling you how great you are, and I’m telling you you’re not even close to what you could be doing. I don’t want to be the overbearing dad, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it either.
Steve Burton
Although strict, Veronica appreciates her father’s direct way of handling things. In 2024, she remembered a time during her first year at Northwestern when Steve told her coach she should sit out for a while to help her regain her motivation.
She said,
He’s the first person to lift me up for sure, especially when I’m struggling. But he’s also the first person to be fair with me about how I am playing. I always knew where it was coming from.
Veronica
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Veronica Burton’s siblings all excelled in sports. Kendall Burton played basketball at Villanova, Kayla Burton competed at Lehigh, and Austin Burton played quarterback at UCLA before transferring to Purdue.
- In 2025, while playing for the Golden State Valkyries, Veronica achieved her first career WNBA double-double with 14 points and 12 assists against the Las Vegas Aces.
