EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — UTEP will pay tribute to Kayla Thornton — a former UTEP women’s basketball player, an Irvin High School graduate, and an El Paso native — during the Miners women’s basketball game on November 10.
UTEP announced during the women’s basketball game against Morehead State, Thornton’s jersey will be hung up in the rafters of the Don Haskins Center.
UTEP says Nov. 10 will be known as “Kayla Thornton Day” in El Paso. UTEP says Mayor Oscar Leeser will be in attendance to make a special presentation to Thornton.
Thornton — who played at UTEP from 2010-2014 — played a key role in the New York Liberty’s WNBA championship run in the 2024 season.
Thornton and the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Sunday night.
The Irvin High School graduate was inducted into the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. She is the Miners’ all-time leading scorer (1,679 points), while also ranking first in field goals (600), free throws (390), rebounds (1,032) and double-doubles (40), and second in steals (217). She was three-time All-Conference USA while at UTEP (first team 2014, second team 2012 & 2013), and an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press as a senior.
Tickets for the Nov. 10 basketball game, starting at $8, are available by calling (915) 747-UTEP or by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com.
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