EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — After helping the New York Liberty win the 2024 WNBA Finals, Kayla Thornton returned to El Paso and visited Irvin High School for her jersey retirement ceremony on Tuesday night.
Special night for @nyliberty’s Kayla Thornton (@KBT_5Blessed)
She returned to her old stomping grounds at Irvin High School for her jersey retirement on Tuesday night.
The WNBA champion will also have her UTEP jersey hung up in the rafters of the Don Haskins Center on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/ufEz6D2k6A
— Sam Guzman (@SamGuzmanTV) November 6, 2024
During halftime of the Irvin High School girls basketball game against Anthony, Thornton unveiled her No. 11 high school jersey that was framed and placed on the wall of the basketball gym.
Thornton was a student and basketball player at Irvin High School, graduating in 2010. She then played at UTEP from 2010 to 2014, assisting the Miners to a WNIT runner-up finish in her final year.
She holds various records at UTEP, including being the all-time leading scorer with 1,679 points, first in field goals (600), free throws (390), rebounds (1,032), and double-doubles (40), and second in steals (217). Thornton also received multiple All-Conference USA honors and was an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.
UTEP will honor Thornton at the women’s basketball game against Morehead State on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. The day will be designated as “Kayla Thornton Day” in El Paso, with her jersey being retired at the game.
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