You will be missed, Miss Kayla Thornton

Kayla Thornton, a prominent player on the WNBA Championship New York Liberty has been drafted to the Golden State Valkyries.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, there are a million of them in this picture. Kayla Thornton, New York Liberty forward and defensive juggernaut, is celebrating their championship over the Minnesota Lynx at the end of the fifth and deciding game of the 2024 WNBA finals.

To say this team, this city, will miss her is an understatement.

Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyrie.

The WNBA agreed to expand, and the first expansion was slated for Golden State. All 12 teams were required to submit a list of six protected players - those players would not be available for the draft.

Kayla Thornton was chosen on December 6 when the WNBA held the Golden State expansion draft.

New York Liberty, WNBA Champions

The 2024 NY Liberty Season was like a dream, and this dream came true. The Liberty were at number one for the entire season. One of the many reasons the Liberty are champions is their fantastic defense and one of their defensive weapons was Kayla Thornton. Kayla, off the bench, averaged 7.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. The 2024 season was her best season thus far. She hit her career-high, 45 three-pointers.

Her best performance was during a game where she started against the Los Angeles Sparks. Unfortunately, they had to play without their starting defender, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was out due to a right knee injury. This was by far Kayla’s best game of the season. Thornton shot six of seven from beyond the arc. She had six rebounds, two of which were offensive. If you’ve ever seen a WNBA game, you know how hard it is in the paint. Get it done or it will be done to you. Kayla got it done. Time after time for this Liberty team. She ended the game with 20 points, including a steal.

You will be sorely missed, Kayla Thornton.

For the last two seasons, Thornton has been a defensive weapon the Liberty uses promptly, always one of the first to be subbed in by Liberty coach Sandy Brondello.

It was Thornton’s defense on Napheesa Collier during that fifth and deciding game of the WNBA Finals that helped the Liberty win the Championship.

Kayla will not be forgotten by Liberty fans any time soon. The Golden State fans will wholeheartedly welcome her; they have themselves a champion, a mighty defender. She will be celebrated and presented with her ring when she returns to the Barclays on May 27. The Liberty will host the Golden State Valkyries on the 27th and 29 of May.

Until next time…