It’s an unlucky finish to a unbelievable story.
Golden State Valkyries star ahead Kayla Thornton, who suffered a proper knee damage earlier this week in observe, underwent profitable surgical procedure Friday, the crew introduced.
The ex-Liberty star will miss the rest of the 2025 WNBA season, dramatically ending a marketing campaign which included her first All-Star Recreation choice.
The 2025 WNBA season was a breakout yr for Thornton, who thrived in an elevated function with the league’s latest franchise out West.
Thornton, a 10-year veteran, spent the earlier two seasons as a key reserve on Brondello’s bench with the Liberty. Her skills to protect a number of positions whereas flattening open pictures helped New York safe its first WNBA title in franchise historical past.
“She will always be a part of something special that we did here and the history we created,” Brondello stated of Thornton, who acquired the championship ring in a homecoming sport in Could.
Months after profitable the 2024 championship, Thornton was then transferred from the Huge Apple to Golden State after the Valkyries chosen her as considered one of 11 picks within the 2024 enlargement draft.
Thornton described the sudden transaction as “tough,” nevertheless it landed her an even bigger function on a roster devoid of starpower — not like her state of affairs taking part in behind a number of MVP candidates in New York.
The brand new Valkyries function allowed Thornton to develop her sport and turn into a focus within the offense.
Thornton’s 2025 utilization fee exploded, surging to 22.7% after logging simply 12.6% in 2024 and 11.1% in 2023.
Earlier than the damage, Thornton began all 22 video games for Natalie Nakase’s squad. The ahead recorded career-highs in factors (14.0) and rebounds (7) whereas being named an All-Star Recreation reserve.
In her two seasons in New York, Thornton averaged 5.0 factors and three.1 rebounds per sport.
“She was the ultimate professional and it was so good to see what she achieved this year,” Brondello stated.
STILL NO NYARA
Liberty huge Nyara Sabally missed Friday’s matchup in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury and is predicted to overlook Saturday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Brondello.
The crew listed Sabally out as a consequence of relaxation on Friday. The German has handled a knee damage this season and acquired a PRP injection in June for it. Brondello stated Sabally hasn’t acquired one other injection for the knee.
Initially Printed: July 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM EDT
