The Golden State Valkyries desperately needed a spark, and on Sunday they found it in two players who know exactly what it feels like to be overlooked.
Kaila Charles and Veronica Burton not only powered the Valkyries to a 90-81 victory over the Dallas Wings, but also wrote themselves into one of the season’s most surprising storylines by slowing down one of the WNBA’s brightest rookies.
For Charles, the night was personal. Waived by the Wings not once but twice, she had waited for the chance to prove Dallas wrong. Picked up midseason by Golden State after Kayla Thornton’s injury, Charles seized her opportunity against her former team.
She not only matched her career-high with 16 points but also played suffocating defense on Paige Bueckers, the Rookie of the Year candidate who had entered the game on a 30-game double-digit scoring streak.
“We matched [Kaila Charles] up with her cause Paige just had a 44-point game, we all watched it, we all saw her!” head coach Nakase said afterward. “She is an elite scorer in this league, rookie or no rookie, that’s impressive what she’s been doing.”
Charles rose to the challenge, holding Bueckers to just 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting, the first time all season the Dallas guard had failed to reach double digits.
Redemption stories collide
Veronica Burton, another former Wing, understood exactly what Charles was feeling. Drafted 7th overall by Dallas in 2022, Burton was cut before the start of the 2024 campaign.
But she has since rebuilt her career with grit and consistency, first proving her value as a lockdown defender in the postseason, when she frustrated Caitlin Clark into an inefficient outing, and now emerging as one of Golden State’s most reliable two-way contributors.
Burton saved her best for Sunday, posting 25 points, 13 assists, and 4 blocks in a dazzling performance. For a Valkyries team fighting through injuries and battling for the final playoff spot, her versatility was invaluable.
“I think some people may limit or not understand the challenge that can come from being cut,” Burton said of Charles’ effort.
“Her ability to come in and effect everything, not just offensively and defensively, but who she is as a person. It’s a major testament to come in back to the team that waived you this season and play 35 minutes and impact the game. That is a big testament to who she is as a player but also a person.”
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