Expansion is here in the WNBA. The game continues to grow along with even more fan interest. With new teams coming in, we have new cities and get to see players take on exciting new roles. However, with that expansion comes the Expansion Draft and the fear of saying goodbye to fan favorites. Unfortunately for Kayla Thornton and New York Liberty fans, those fears became reality.
When Kayla Thornton first came to the Liberty in 2023, she talked about bringing a warrior mentality and doing everything the team needed. It’s what made her a fan favorite and indispensable part of the team as they made their championship run
“[Thornton] just brings that energy consistently,” Kennedy Burke said in June. “She just has this light and glow about her that’s so contagious.”
Nowhere was that energy more prominent than in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The Liberty were in a rut and needed something to get them back on track. In comes KT. Thornton’s physicality
Tough goodbyes
We all had a feeling. In the Expansion Draft, teams could only protect six players. That meant teams would hve to make incredibly tough choices. On Gotta Get Up, I discussed what the Liberty might do with Erica Ayala and Gigi Speer:
And as we suspected, those players were not taken in the Draft. KT was selected by the Valkyries, and you could immediately feel the emotion from the fans and players.
“It is incredibly difficult to say goodbye 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,” Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. “KT quickly became an indelible part of the Liberty family during her two seasons here.”
As KT heads west, she’ll be greeted by a familiar face. Valkyries General Manager Ohemma Nyanin worked for years with the Liberty and helped bring KT to New York in 2023. Nyamin spoke about her new do-everything forward and said:
“She is a defensive specialist. She has grown her game to be able to shoot the 3. She’s a ball of energy. She knows how to bring people together, and I’m really excited.”
Thornton joins an intriguing Valkyries team that is under construction as they prepare for their 2025 debut.
What do the Liberty do next?
For the champs, they have work to do. Free agency is around the corner and they have the seventh pick in a fantastic draft. They’ve been preparing for this moment by shoring up the roster and adding more depth and versatility. Even after losing a championship contributor like Thornton, the Liberty are still in great position to repeat as champions.
We’ll see KT back in Brooklyn in May when the Valkyries make their first visit to Brooklyn. It’s a date Kolb and the Liberty have circled on their calendars:
“We look forward to celebrating her on May 27 during her return to Barclays Center with open arms where she’ll receive her well-earned championship ring.”
Although Kayla Thornton was in New York for two years, her impact her will be felt forever. Her heart, toughness, and perseverance shined on the court and endeared herself to the passionate fanbase. Every team needs players who care in the ways that Thornton does. As she begins her new adventure, New York fans and teammates will have a bond with that her that will last forever.