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Kayla Thornton’s best-ever season as a professional just ended.
The former UTEP and Irvin High star, a week removed from a double-double in her first WNBA All-Star game, injured her right knee in practice and had successful surgery on it Friday morning, the Golden State Valkyries announced. She will miss the final six weeks of the season and the postseason.
Thornton practiced Wednesday, but was not available to media after Thursday’s practice, the San Jose Mercury News reported. The Valkyries did immediately specify the nature of the knee injury or when it happened.
According to the Mercury News: “Coach Natalie Nakase told reporters Thornton missed Thursday’s practice for rest reasons. The team announced hours later that Thornton would miss Friday’s game against the Dallas Wings and be evaluated for a lower leg injury.”
Thornton, a 10th-year pro who had her jerseys retired at UTEP and Irvin this winter after winning a WNBA title with New York on her 32nd birthday, is averaging a career-high 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for Golden State.
She was taken by the Valkyries in the WNBA expansion draft this past offseason.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
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