SAN FRANCISCO — Valkyries All-Star Kayla Thornton has been ruled out for the season with a right knee injury, the team announced on Friday.
Thornton underwent surgery in San Francisco on Friday and is expected to begin rehab immediately. The Valkyries did not specify what type of knee injury Thornton suffered.
According to the team, Thornton suffered the injury in practice earlier this week. She was a practice participant on Wednesday, but was not made available to the media after Thursday’s practice.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) celebrates her 3-point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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, 32, started all 22 games this season and was the Valkyries lone All-Star representative last week in Indianapolis. She averaged a career-high 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
“It’s a blessing,” Thornton told the Bay Area News Group in a recent interview about making the All-Star team for the first time. “I never really thought about being an All-Star, but I always tell people that the credit always goes out to my teammates and my coaches. To be an All-Star for the first time is a great honor and I’m happy to be representing the Valkyries.”
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Rookie forward Janelle Salaün and veteran guard Tiffany Hayes will likely take over scoring duties while Italian sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini figures to get an increased role in the offense.
The Valkyries will not have room to sign another player to a hardship contract with Thornton’s injury as their roster will have 11 available players. Teams must have under 10 active players to sign a player to a hardship contract.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) takes a shot against Chicago Sky’s Rebecca Allen (9) and Chicago Sky’s Ariel Atkins (7) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)