Northwestern’s Veronica Burton named 2022 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year

Veronica Burton of Northwestern University is the 2022 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year. The award honors the best defensive women’s basketball player in NCAA Division I.  

“Veronica Burton played an incredibly valuable role for her team on the defensive end of the floor this season. Veronica is a fantastic student-athlete who has demonstrated determination, intensity, effort, and teamwork at the highest level,” WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. “Veronica has been a consistent defensive force for her team and has earned the highest respect from opposing coaches and players. We celebrate Veronica and appreciate her contribution to her team as well as to the game of women’s basketball.”

Previously, she was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. She is also a finalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second season in a row. During the 2021-22 campaign she averaged 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals per game. Ahead of the NCAA Tournament, she led the nation in total steals and ranked second in steals per game. According to Northwestern, her 117 steals were the third-most in a season in program hisotory.  

She declared for the WNBA Draft on Friday.

This place has meant the world to me. Forever thankful? pic.twitter.com/Cu31lD6Sca

— Veronica Burton (@Veronicaab22) March 25, 2022