In January of 2023, the New York Liberty made big news when they signed the 2021 WNBA MVP, Jonquel Jones, as part of a three-team trade with the Connecticut Sun and the Dallas Wings.
Jones was the headliner in this trade, which saw the Liberty sending Natasha Howard and the rights to Crystal Dangerfield to Dallas, and talented wing-player Rebecca Allen to the Sun. The Sun also received point guard Ty Harris from the Wings and the Liberty’s 2023 first round draft pick (6th overall), an asset they traded to the Atlanta Dream for fearless veteran guard Tiff Hayes.
Given that Jonquel Jones was a recent league MVP, the trade might have been a win for New York even without the final asset in play: hard-nosed veteran Kayla Thornton, who came to New York from Dallas as the final part of the deal.
Undrafted in 2014 out of UTEP, Thornton played a partial season for the Mystics in 2015 and six seasons in Dallas (2017-2022) establishing herself as the kind of player no one wants to play against: relentless, physical, savvy, and forever undaunted. In 2024, she was a key piece of the New York Liberty’s championship run, bringing much needed toughness and defensive intensity off the bench.
It’s exactly these qualities—her consistent high motor, refusal to be intimidated, and knack for doing the crucial small things in the game’s biggest moments—that made it clear the Golden State Valkyries would select Thornton, if available, in the 2025 expansion draft.
Thornton went unprotected (it must have been an interesting calculus for the Liberty, likely deciding between Thornton and WNBA Finals breakout star, Nyara Sabally) and the Valkyries did select her.
Thornton came to Golden State with more WNBA experience than any other player on the roster except for Tiff Hayes, who signed with the Valkyries as a free agent after coming out of retirement to play a partial season for the Aces in 2024. (Like Thornton, Hayes is known for her aggressiveness, defensive intensity, and willingness to put her body on the line for her team)
So far, Thornton’s 10th season in the league has been her most individually productive. Through 8 games, Kayla is averaging 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists & 2.3 steals in just over 30 min/game. (She played comparable minutes for The Wings in 2022, averaging 8p/5rpg).
On Saturday, June 7, fans of the Golden State Valkyries enjoyed that rare treat, getting to watch their squad deliver an unexpected rout of a (supposedly) daunting opponent, the recent back-to-back WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. The Valkyries won 95-68, a fittingly lopsided scoreline for what Las Vegas coach Becky Hammond described as “a good old-fashioned ass-whupping.”
It was the kind of game where the home team got to cheer joyfully for almost the full forty minutes. But the crowd did quiet when, with just under a minute to play in the first half, Kayla Thornton was knocked to the ground while trying to draw a charge on a surging A’ja Wilson. Usually quick to return to her feet, Kayla Thornton stayed face down on the court, writhing in pain. The crowd hushed as teammates, trainers, and head coach Natalie Nakase gathered around.
Replays showed that Thornton may have hit her head and definitely hit her elbow on the play. It took her over a minute — an eon in “Kayla Thornton Get Up Time” — to stand and make her way slowly to the sideline, where she sat flexing her elbow (probably amazed it wasn’t broken, given the pain she had been feeling) and grimacing.
At this point, the Valkyries had a 15-point lead and only seconds left before halftime. It was a good sign Thornton was on the bench, not in the locker room. It seemed likely her half was done, until she subbed back in while teammate Ceci Zandalasini was at the free throw line with 15.2 seconds left. After Zandalasini’s final free throw, Thornton resumed her defensive assignment: guarding Chelsea Gray.
Then with 5 seconds left, Thornton inbounded to Veronica Burton, who hit a speeding Kate Martin racing up the court just in time to drain a long-range 3 at the buzzer, giving the Valkyries an icy 20-point halftime lead.
Small things in big moments: defending the Point Gawd to protect her team’s lead heading into half; a well-executed inbounds to give her team a chance at the half’s final shot.
Thornton went on to have a career night, scoring 22 points, collecting 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals and her team, the Valkyries, handed the Aces their second 20-plus-point loss of the season.
For all these reasons, Kayla Thorton is the first-ever Finish Through Contact Player of the Week!
Follow me on BlueSky to talk about the W! @finishthroughcontact.bsky.social
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