New York Liberty Champion Has College Number Retired

New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton was recently honored by the University of Texas-El Paso Miners.

Thornton, a WNBA champion, returned to Texas to see her No. 5 retired at the Don Haskins Center. She excelled at UTEP, showcasing her talent as a defensive player. The retirement ceremony took place during halftime of a UTEP women’s basketball game against Morehead State.

Thornton is the first female Miner to have her number retired by the basketball program, joining the likes of Basketball Hall of Famers Nate Archibald, Tim Hardaway, and Nolan Richardson. In New York, she proudly wore the No. 5 jersey and helped the team secure its first WNBA Finals victory.

During Thornton’s time at UTEP, the women’s team achieved their first conference tournament victory in 2012, and she led them to the WNIT championship game two years later, facing her future teammate Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.

Thornton stands out in program history as one of three players to surpass 800 points, 600 rebounds, and 100 steals. She holds several program records, including points (1,679) and rebounds (1,032).

Returning to El Paso, Thornton saw her high school alma mater, Irvin High School, retire her number and the city declared November 10 as “Kayla Thornton Day.”

As an undrafted rookie in 2015, Thornton began her WNBA journey. After time with the Washington Mystics, she spent six seasons with the Dallas Wings before joining the Liberty in 2023.

Thornton played a crucial role in New York’s championship season, contributing to their success on the court and signing a multi-year extension with the team before the 2023 playoffs.

UTEP continued their winning streak in a game under Thornton’s banner, and they look ahead to their upcoming match against the University of Texas-San Antonio.

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