Injury Ends Valkyries Star Thornton’s Season, Raising Questions About Playoff Hopes

Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton is out for the remainder of the team’s inaugural season after suffering a serious injury during practice earlier this week, the Valkyries announced Friday.

Over the last few months, Thornton has become a fan favorite among the thousands who visit “Ballhalla” — a nickname for the Chase Center — to watch her and her teammates play. Some of Thornton’s supporters are concerned about what her absence could mean for the team as playoffs approach.

A spokesperson for the Valkyries said in a statement that Thornton’s surgery on Friday was successful and that she will begin her rehabilitation process immediately. The team did not confirm whether Thornton is expected to return next season.

“I’m just gutted for her,” said Lindsay Myers, one of the team’s many die-hard fans. While Myers resides in Sacramento, she and her wife are proud season ticket holders and frequently travel to San Francisco to watch the Valkyries play. “[Thornton] is having a career season. … For that season to be cut short, it’s really heartbreaking.”

It’s been an incredible season for Thornton. In addition to playing a career-high 30 minutes per game, she was named an All-Star earlier this month for the first time in her nine-year WNBA career. It’s also the first time that Thornton has been in a starting lineup, a “leadership role” that Myers said the forward has flourished in.

Myers said she’s worried about the Valkyries’ chances of getting to the playoffs with Thornton off the court. While she has faith in the team’s grit, she said it’s going to be a lot harder as the players deal with unexpected changes to their roster and the loss of a key player.

“You’re at a point where you want your team to start really gelling, and that takes leadership and relationships and time,” Myers said. “But these women must have all gone in 100% to go as hard as they’ve gone. … We just have to trust them to keep doing that.”

Since their introduction as the league’s newest team in nearly 20 years, the Valkyries have had an intense season both on and off the court. They sold out 11 home games at the Chase Center and have the ninth-best record in the WNBA at 10–12. They play against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at “Ballhalla” on Friday.

There have been some bumps along the way, however. The Valkyries faced criticism from fans earlier this month after Belgian player Julie Vanloo was waived from the team following her temporary departure to play in the EuroBasket Tournament. Shyanne Sellers, another fan favorite, was also cut from the team in May.

With Thornton sidelined, the team could see more changes in the coming weeks. The Valkyries recently added center Iliana Rupert from France, and she is expected to appear in Friday’s game.

While Myers said she’s disappointed she won’t see Thornton on the court again this season, she’s still excited to see how the rest of the team performs. One thing she loves about being a Valkyries fan is the community’s support — for both the players and each other.

At a time when there is so much political tension and fear, Myers said she feels fortunate whenever she has the chance to be in the stands, having fun and watching the Valkyries. It’s a source of light during a dark time, she added.

“It’s just an amazing space because we’re at a really perfect nexus of appreciating female athletes, sports and just the beauty of this game,” Myers said. “Having it be in our backyard is so fantastic.”