Kayla Thornton Injury
Golden State Valkyries All-Star forward Kayla Thornton has suffered a season-ending right knee injury. The injury occurred during a team practice earlier in the week following the WNBA All-Star break, cutting short what had been a breakout campaign for both Thornton and the expansion Valkyries.
Thornton underwent successful surgery on Friday in San Francisco and will spend the rest of the WNBA season in rehabilitation. The news has been described as a devastating blow to her team’s playoff chances and morale, as Thornton was serving as the team’s top scorer, rebounder, and locker room leader in her 10th WNBA season.
What Happened to Kayla Thornton?
Kayla Thornton’s knee injury happened during practice, not during a game. The Valkyries organization has not fully detailed the nature of her knee injury, but it was severe enough to require immediate surgical intervention. The announcement noted that the procedure was successful and that Thornton will focus on rehabilitation for the remainder of 2025.
Before this, she was coming off her first-ever WNBA All-Star appearance and was integral to the Valkyries’ impressive inaugural season start.
How Did Kayla Thornton’s Injury Happen?
Kayla Thornton, a star forward for the Golden State Valkyries, suffered a season-ending right knee injury during a practice session earlier this week, as announced by the team on July 25, 2025. The exact details of the incident, such as the specific movements or contact involved, were not disclosed.
Thornton underwent successful surgery in San Francisco on July 25, 2025, to address the injury, which is believed to involve significant structural damage, possibly a ligament tear. She will miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season and has begun rehabilitation.
Kayla Thornton 2025 Stats
Before her injury, Kayla Thornton was posting the best numbers of her career in her first season with the Valkyries. In 22 games, she averaged:
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Points: 14.0 per game
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Rebounds: 7.0 per game
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Assists: 1.5 per game
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Steals: 1.3 per game
She also registered notable shooting and rebounding efficiency, often leading the team on both ends of the floor.
Who Is Kayla Thornton?
Kayla Thornton is a versatile American professional basketball player, currently a forward for the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries. Born on October 20, 1992, in Germany, she grew up in El Paso, Texas, and played her college basketball at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Undrafted in 2014, Thornton built a ten-year career through determination and defensive prowess, with stints at the Washington Mystics, Dallas Wings, and New York Liberty before becoming the Valkyries’ first pick in their expansion draft. She’s widely respected for her leadership qualities, defensive intensity, and commitment to the game, and she became the first All-Star in the Valkyries franchise history with her 2025 selection.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official nature of Kayla Thornton’s injury?
She suffered a right knee injury during practice, which necessitated season-ending surgery.
Has Kayla Thornton had major injuries before?
She has not had any previously reported season-ending injuries during her WNBA career, making this incident particularly difficult for her and her team.
How long is the recovery expected to take?
Recovery time has not been officially specified, but knee surgeries typically force athletes to miss the remainder of the season and could impact next season’s training camp.
