Two former Northwestern basketball standouts are making significant strides in the WNBA this season. As the regular season nears its conclusion, Veronica Burton and Nia Coffey have both hit important career benchmarks, giving Northwestern another reason to celebrate the ongoing achievements of its distinguished women’s basketball alumni.
Veronica Burton recently became the first player in Golden State Valkyries history to score 1,000 points, followed by surpassing 500 career rebounds later in the season. These accomplishments highlight how much Burton has progressed since her college days in Evanston.
During her time at Northwestern, Burton scored 1,536 points and was recognized as one of the school’s premier defensive guards. She earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award three times and led the NCAA in steals in both 2021 and 2022. In the 2022 WNBA Draft, she was picked seventh overall by the Dallas Wings.
Now in her fifth year in the WNBA, Burton is continuing her upward trajectory. In the 2026 season, she averages 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game for Golden State, shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc. She has established herself as a reliable two-way guard heading into the final weeks of the season.
Nia Coffey also marked a milestone earlier this year by passing 1,500 career points in the WNBA. Now in her 10th season, Coffey began her professional career as the fifth overall pick by the San Antonio Stars in the 2017 draft.
Coffey’s collegiate career at Northwestern was among the best in the program’s history. She finished with 2,287 points and 1,183 rebounds, becoming the only player in school history named First Team All-Big Ten all four years. She also holds Northwestern’s records for career rebounds, free throws made, and free throw attempts.
Currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx, Coffey continues to offer valuable production and veteran leadership. Across 40 games in the 2026 season, she averages 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while shooting an efficient 44.7% from the field and 38.8% from three-point range.
For Northwestern, Burton and Coffey’s ongoing success in the WNBA serves as a testament to the high level of talent cultivated within their program. Although their journeys to the league have differed, both have built lasting professional careers — with Burton evolving into a key guard for Golden State and Coffey providing seasoned support for Minnesota while reaching new scoring benchmarks.
With both players continuing to perform at a high standard, there’s plenty of potential for further accomplishments down the road. For Northwestern women’s basketball fans, seeing these two alumnae thrive on the WNBA stage is a rewarding reminder of the program’s impact on the sport.
Fan Take: Watching Veronica Burton and Nia Coffey reach new heights in the WNBA underscores the depth of talent developing in college programs like Northwestern. Their continued growth and success not only inspire future players but also help raise the profile and competitiveness of women’s professional basketball overall.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
