As the fifth-ranked team in the Western Conference standings, the Golden State Valkyries have been creating noise on the hardwood. While head coach Natalie Nakase‘s locker room stepped into their debut season and surprised the league, their current state is not as promising. Despite boasting 10 wins so far, the roster has been spiralling with a 3-game losing streak. But this wasn’t the only heartbreaking news for the Valkyries.
After losing by just 2 points to the Las Vegas Aces, the locker room kept drowning with two more losses on their belt. And to add to the misery, the lead scorer of the franchise in Kayla Thornton, suffered a right knee injury shortly after the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game wrapped up earlier this week. As a result, she missed the July 17 game against the Dallas Wings.
However, national reporter Myles broke the latest news surrounding Kayla Thornton. He reposted an update from the official GSV account with a caption that read, “This is devastating. KT’s had a breakout season with the Valks, earning the team’s first-ever All-Star nod. She’s the ultimate teammate and the toughest competitor. Wishing her the swiftest recovery.”
This is devastating. KT’s had a breakout season with the Valks, earning the team’s first-ever All-Star nod. She’s the ultimate teammate and the toughest competitor. Wishing her the swiftest recovery. https://t.co/GMFVPhIpgJ
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) July 25, 2025
The news broke just 8 hours before the tipoff against the Dallas Wings. According to the official Valkyries statement, the forward athlete successfully underwent her knee surgery earlier on Friday, July 25, and will sit out for the remainder of the season. While this would mean better recovery for the player, the news was not a pleasant one for the franchise. Her absence will create a significant void in the team’s lineup for the remainder of the year.
After all, Thornton was the first player to be selected during the WNBA Expansion Draft in December 2024. After cementing her flawless gameplay in the New York Liberty and clinching the title championship last season, Kayla Thornton tried her luck with the Golden State Valkyries. Needless to say, she hasn’t disappointed.
Thornton became a two-way force in the league. She led the Valkyries with averages of 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and was 10th in steals with 1.6 steals per game. Having said that, Thornton earned the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week title on June 17 after she averaged 20.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and recorded two double-doubles. While this was her first-ever WNBA Player of the Week award, the athlete became the first Valkyries star to feature in this season’s All-Star games.
With the key player sidelined from the Valkyries locker room, can they climb out of the misery? As the roster prepares to welcome Paige Bueckers & Co. to the Chase Center arena, does the absence of Kayla Thornton indicate the team’s downfall? With Wings soaring high after a recent 87-63 win against the Seattle Storm, things look lopsided for the newly expanded team.
Paige Bueckers’ light-hearted statement goes viral
The Dallas Wings rookie, Paige Buecker, has been basking in the headlines recently. After her CBA Talks stint ended in a disappointing outcome, the 2025 Rookie of the Month went on to portray her charismatic skills on the floor. And emerged shining on the other side.
While her winning streak did not stop as the Wings successfully managed to overcome the Seattle Storm with an impressive 87-63 score under their belt, a light-hearted statement from Bueckers left fans fuming. The viral video was shared by national reporter Landon Bufort, who asked the guard about her potential future endorsements.
The clip features a thinking Bueckers who ultimately responds with, “Idk, I guess one in the future, I’d like to have a car dealership partnership, so I don’t have to pay for a car.” She even went on to add, “I’d also love to have a real estate partnership so I wouldn’t have to pay for a house. In every single deal, try to get the most out of it. So, you don’t have to pay for it.”
While the statement was spoken in jest, it did not sit well with fans and the WNBA Community. After all, despite boasting of the world’s largest economy, nearly 771,480 people suffer from homelessness in the country. According to the National Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) estimated an 18% increase in homelessness from 2023.
The post Golden State Valkyries Announce Painful Locker Room Decision 8 Hours Before Paige Bueckers Showdown appeared first on EssentiallySports.
