EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Former UTEP and Irvin High School basketball star Kayla Thornton will miss the rest of the 2025 WNBA season due to a right knee injury, the Golden State Valkyries announced on Friday.
Thornton suffered an injury to her right knee earlier this week in practice. She underwent a successful surgery in San Francisco on Friday, per GSV.
Thornton will miss the remainder of the season and will begin the rehabilitation process immediately.
This is a tough break for Golden State and Thornton as she was having the best season of her 10-year WNBA career.
Thornton is averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game and leads the Valkyries in all three of those categories. She is also ranked top 25 in the entire league in points, rebounds, and steals per game.
Thornton’s stellar play led to her earning a WNBA All-Star selection for the first time in her career. She made history by becoming the Golden State Valkyries’, the WNBA’s newest team, first ever All-Star.
Thornton is one of two players on GSV to appear in all 22 games this season. Her stellar season has come to an end due to injury and Golden State will be without its best player for the rest of the year.
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