Valkyries pick Liberty’s Kayla Thornton in WNBA expansion draft

Kayla Thornton’s time with the Liberty has come to an end.

The Golden State Valkyries plucked Thornton from the Liberty in the 2025 WNBA expansion draft Friday.

Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin knows exactly who she’s getting by drafting Thornton. Nyanin was the Liberty’s assistant general manager when New York traded for Thornton in 2023.

Per the expansion draft rules, teams could protect only six of their players. It was a given that New York would protect Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich — the starting lineup that led the Liberty to the franchise’s first WNBA title in October.

Nyara Sabally, the unlikely heroine in Game 5 of the Finals who has two years remaining on her current deal, was believed to be the sixth player New York protected.

That left Thornton exposed.

Thornton is one of 11 players the Valkyries added to make the foundation of their inaugural roster. At 32, she’s one of the oldest Golden State picked and will provide leadership and experience to what will likely be one of the league’s youngest teams.

After going undrafted out of UTEP in 2014, Thornton established herself as a reliable role player with staying power over the past nine years. She didn’t miss a game in her two seasons with the Liberty, playing 80 regular-season games with 11 starts.

Last season, she was a key role player on the Liberty’s championship team, averaging the second-most playoff minutes among New York reserves. Thornton recorded 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 35.7 percent from deep.

Thornton has one year remaining on her current contract.

Shortly after the expansion draft ended, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb released a statement Friday night wishing Thornton well.

“It is incredibly difficult to say good-bye to a player like KT who contributed to the New York Liberty in so many ways over these past two years, including our franchise’s first-ever championship,” Kolb said. “KT quickly became an indelible part of the Liberty family during her two seasons here.”

Kolb also said that Thornton will receive her championship ring when the Valkyries make their first trip to Barclays Center on May 27.

While losing Thornton might sting for the Liberty, it’s not the worst possible scenario.

New York should have most of its 2024 roster back next year as the Liberty look to defend their title.

Kolb has almost secured the Liberty’s starting lineup from last season. The lone exception is Stewart, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent in the new year, though she’s shared plans to re-sign with New York on a one-year deal.

Sabally’s playing time wavered throughout the season. She played a total of only 15 minutes in the Liberty’s semifinal round matchup against the Las Vegas Aces. But she came through in the clutch when the Liberty needed, dropping 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting and added seven rebounds in the winner-takes-all WNBA Finals Game 5. Her electric performance helped secure the Liberty’s first championship.

Sabally seems poised for a bigger role in 2025, her third WNBA season.