Kayla Thornton and the Golden State Valkyries have been the right match

At 32 years outdated, Kayla Thornton had solely averaged double figures as soon as in her WNBA profession. Final yr, she averaged 5.5 factors and a pair of.6 rebounds in 20.3 minutes off the bench for the New York Liberty en path to the franchise’s first title.

However when the Liberty needed to choose six gamers to guard from the Golden State Valkyries’ enlargement draft, Thornton was left unprotected. Presumably, the group selected to guard Sabina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Leonie Fiebich, Jonquel Jones, Nyara Sabally, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.

In flip, Golden State chosen Thornton.

Within the Bay, Thornton has discovered unprecedented success. In her tenth season, she is averaging 14.5 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. All of these numbers are profession highs.

This season, she’s had 29-point, 22-point, and 21-point performances, showcasing an offensive versatility she’s hardly ever gotten the prospect to exhibit in her profession. In June, she was named Western Convention Participant of the Week, averaging 20 factors and 11.5 rebounds per sport.

This season’s manufacturing has been a major departure from her typical manufacturing, and in flip, she’s been named an All-Star for the very first time.

It’s extremely uncommon for a participant to almost double their manufacturing from one yr to the subsequent of their thirties, however such has been the case for Thornton. After averaging 7.6 factors and 4.4 factors per sport in her profession, she’s lastly main the cost.

Kayla Thornton has been essential to the Golden State Valkyries’ success

The Valkyries are 10-12 to start the yr, and Thornton has been the workforce’s most constant participant. Whereas her previous couple of video games have been troublesome (she’s made simply 3 of her final 21 area targets), the 6’1 ahead’s impression has additionally prolonged far past the courtroom.

Valkyries teammate Kate Martin has additionally praised Thornton’s management on the Valkyries.

“It goes past basketball,” Martin mentioned after Thornton’s 29-point evening in June, per CBS Sports activities’ Matt Energetic. “She’s an incredible individual. She’s any person you need to be round on a regular basis. She’s an incredible chief within the locker room, an incredible pal… she’s all of that, but in addition an exceptional basketball participant.”

After that very same sport, head coach Natalie Nakase mentioned the impression of

“It was not our biggest begin, and we type of struggled,” Nakase mentioned. “So we went to KT, ‘Hey can we hear your voice a bit of louder? After which increase — she responded.”