INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 22: Kayla Thornton #5 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Fever on May 22, 2026 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
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With the clock ticking down, Kayla Thornton gave the Valkyries two daggers. Her fourth three-pointer of the night put them ahead 69-55 in the fourth frame to stall Atlanta’s comeback run, and then with 1:03 left in the game, she hit her fifth.
In the Valkyries first of two wins over Atlanta last week, Thornton looked an awful lot like she did last season, firing threes, snagging rebounds and creating space that makes the Golden State offense work.
It’s not quite the same as a year ago, when Thornton was making a case to be an All-Star for the first time in her career. She was leading the team in scoring and rebounding, a necessity for a team still finding itself and shorthanded due to players heading to EuroBasket.
This year, the Valkyries have been mostly healthy, and Thornton has still started every game, but her role has evolved again for the second time in two seasons.
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