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San Francisco Chronicle
10 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries' Kayla Thornton followed her own path, to the surprise and delight of her parents
As an expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries weren't expected to have a star. But Kayla Thornton may be emerging as one. The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, Thornton led Golden State on Thursday to an 88-77 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever with 16 points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes of play. Thornton, the team's leading scorer (14.8), credits her success in part to the system head coach Natalie Nakase has built. The former New York Liberty champion, who has nearly 10 years of WNBA experience, feels 'the freest I've ever been.' 'Coach (Nakase), she has a system for us that gives us the ultimate confidence to do what we have to do to showcase our game,' Thornton said. 'She allows us to be free. I think this is the most freest I've ever been since I've been in the league. And I just thank her for the opportunity because you don't get that a lot.' Thornton's parents, Lewis and Merteen Thornton, who were proudly wearing Valkyries jerseys with Thornton's No. 5 at Thursday's game, echoed that sentiment. The recently retired couple travels from their home in El Paso, Texas, to watch their daughter's home games at Chase Center. 'I think with the Valkyries, she's playing like she played at UTEP. No worries, no overthinking. If she sees the ball, she's shooting or assisting because she's happy,' said Merteen. 'When you can feel free, you can really accomplish a lot. And I think that's where my daughter is right now. She feels free. She feels good. The team is wonderful.' Thornton said that part of that freeness is pushing her boundaries — getting out of her comfort zone and adapting to greater offensive opportunities than she had with the Liberty. With New York, Thornton was a defensive dynamo off the bench. With the Valkyries, she recorded the team's first basket and first double-double. In addition to her career-best scoring, she leads the team in rebounds (7.1) and steals (1.8). 'I was happy everywhere. I love New York, but here is just a little different,' Thornton said. 'The people that I have around me, just understanding my role (is) a little different. So I'm embracing that and I'm happy because I love challenges. I love new opportunities, so for me to be able to do that is great.' Lewis Thornton said his daughter was never one to shy away from a challenge. As Thornton grew — she's 6-foot-1 — she and her dad knew she had an innate athletic prowess. But he didn't expect her talent to take her to the basketball court. 'There was always something unique about her,' Lewis said. 'She started off in track and field, and she was doing great there, but then (one day) she had an itch. 'I want to play basketball,' and I said, 'No darling, no, no no, you are a track star.'' On the track, Thornton was well-rounded, running the 400-meter hurdles, 400-meter dash and 'all the relays' while also competing in the long jump and triple jump. But after she started watching the WNBA, she began to imagine what it would be like to play in the league — to pursue basketball at the highest level. After some convincing, Thornton began playing basketball in addition to track and field. 'But God knows what to do, right? And she did both. So that proved her point. And (her success) made me like, 'Look, sit down, have a seat,'' Lewis laughed. 'That's my daughter, and she knew what she was doing.' The adoration the Thortons have for their daughter is palpable, but it's clear that the feeling is mutual. 'My parents mean everything. They're both retired now, so it's just a blessing that God has blessed me to be in the position that I am, that wherever I go, I could bring them with me.' Thornton said. 'They've been working hard to get me to where I'm at now, and now I'm working to allow them to enjoy the fruits of the labors that they have provided for me.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Caitlin Clark leads Fever against upstart Valkyries
Caitlin Clark makes her first appearance in San Francisco when the Indiana Fever tip off a three-game Western swing with a matchup against the expansion Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night. The second-year superstar begins the trip in fine form. In her first two games back since returning from a strained left quad injury, Clark contributed 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 102-88 win over the New York Liberty and followed up with 20 points, six assists and two steals in an 88-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun. Clark has shot 11-for-20 on 3-pointers since her return, improving her season numbers to 22 threes and 40 percent accuracy beyond the arc in her six games. In the Valkyries, Clark and the Fever encounter a team that has allowed just 34.1 percent shooting from deep and just 9.0 3-pointers per game. In winning its last two home games, Golden State limited the Liberty and Seattle Storm to a total of 14-for-51 on 3-pointers. With Clark going 4-for-6, the Fever drained 11 of 26 from downtown on Tuesday in their testy home win over the Sun. Clark got nailed with a technical foul and teammate Sophie Cunningham was later ejected for a flagrant foul in a game marred by multiple incidents. Afterward, Indiana coach Stephanie White insisted: "Everybody is getting better, except the officials." "I started talking to the officials in the first quarter," White said. "We knew this was going to happen. You could tell it was going to happen. So they've got to get control of it. They've got to be better." While the Fever were surviving a rough win over the Sun, the Valkyries were watching a three-game winning streak come to an end in an 80-71 road loss to the Dallas Wings. Reigning WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week Kayla Thornton had 17 points in the defeat. Golden State was without four players who have left the team temporarily to play in the EuroBasket tournament. The Valkyries have signed free agents to fill roster spots, including Wednesday's addition of Bree Hall, a two-time NCAA champion at South Carolina who began the season in the Fever's training camp. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase played just eight women in the loss at Dallas. She came away thinking her team had worn down in a tight game. "The epitome of who we are is literally a defensive-minded team that loves to be physical, disrupt, pressure, take away the top scorers," she said. "But if you don't have any effort, then that kind of becomes irrelevant. You can have an amazing game plan, but if we're not committed to the effort and the physicality ... we're not going to win games that way." Field Level Media
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Lynx Suffer First Stumble
Minnesota Lynx Suffer First Stumble originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Lynx have been one of the most dominant teams in the WNBA, but their luck ran out on Wednesday night. Nneka Ogwumike scored 21 points and Erica Wheeler added 20 as the Seattle Storm took down the previously undefeated Lynx 94-84. Advertisement Minnesota led at halftime 49-48 and looked ready to start a quick second-half run. It didn't happen, though, as Seattle played hard all game long. With the loss, it means that the New York Liberty (9-0) are the lone undefeated team left in the WNBA. The Storm put together a 20-16 third quarter, helping propel them into the fourth quarter. Minnesota opened the third quarter on an 11-1 run to take a 60-49 lead, but the Lynx could not keep up the fast pace. Seattle then scored 26 of the next 32 points to take a 75-66 lead early in the fourth. Seattle Storm win points scoring battle in the paint against Minnesota Lynx One key statistic that tells a story about the game is the points scored in the paint. Against tough players like Collier, the Storm outscored Minnesota 50-32. Advertisement Collier had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Minnesota, The Associated Press reported. Kayla McBride added 19 points, going 5 of 11 from 3-point range. On Wednesday, Collier was named the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week. It marks the second time that Collier has picked up the honor. In their two wins last week, Collier averaged 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks while shooting 56.3% from the field in the two-game span. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Fever Turn Heads After Major Kelsey Mitchell News on Tuesday
Indiana Fever Turn Heads After Major Kelsey Mitchell News on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever have been streaky throughout the season, especially with the loss of Caitlin Clark. Advertisement Clark has been sidelined for the last four games, nursing a leg injury. While she has been away from the team in terms of on-court action, the Fever have gone 2-2. Indiana lost back-to-back games in Clark's absence but followed with two straight wins. Throughout the season, they're ranked as the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference and the No. 7 team in the WNBA standings. While Clark has been out of the lineup due to injury, Kelsey Mitchell has taken over. Mitchell, one of the most talented guards in the WNBA, was recently awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. The Indiana Fever reposted the news from the WNBA, showing support for the All-Star guard. Advertisement "Congrats, Kelz," posted the official social media account of the Indiana Fever. "Kelsey Mitchell averaged 20.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG & 2.5 APG and led us to a 2-0 record to earn @WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the week of June 2-8." Upon the release of the announcement, fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts "Congrats Kelsey," said one fan. "Atta girl!!" said another fan. "Deservedly so!! Congratz," mentioned one fan. "Let's Go 0!!!!" commented one fan. "I do love watching her hoop," said one fan. "Ok Kelz. I see you," said another fan. Advertisement Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx received the Western Conference Player of the Week honors. Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) runs down the court after scoring a 3-pointer.© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK As the Indiana Fever mentioned, Kelsey Mitchell has led the team to two straight wins, having posted 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists this past week. Throughout the season, Mitchell has averaged 17.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message Before Indiana Fever Game Related: Angel Reese Sends Message After Big Announcement on Tuesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers React to NBA's James Harden Announcement
Led by veteran shooting guard James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers closed out their 2024-25 regular-season campaign with eight consecutive victories. The Clippers finished the year with a 50-32 record, securing the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and avoiding the NBA play-in tournament. Advertisement Harden, 35, averaged 29.5 points, 10.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds over the Clippers' final four games. He closed out his 16th regular season with a triple-double against the Sacramento Kings and a 39-point performance against the Golden State Warriors. Behind this stellar play, Harden was announced as the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week. The Clippers recognized this accomplishment with a post on social media. "James Harden is your Western Conference Player of the Week," the team wrote on X. This accomplishment marks the second consecutive Clipper to win Western Conference Player of the Week. Last week, the honor went to Harden's teammate Kawhi Leonard. Advertisement "Saved the best for last. Back-to-back Western Conference Player of the Week awards for 1 and 2," the team wrote in a separate post. "I think, sooner or later, people will start to understand and recognize how hard I actually did work, and what I was able to accomplish throughout my career," Harden said in a recent interview with NBA insider Chris Haynes. "So, for now, just let them keep talking, and hopefully they can change the narrative sooner or later." USA: LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) and forward Kawhi Leonard (2) guard Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first quarter at Footprint Center.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Harden and the Clippers will begin their postseason campaign with a first-round matchup against the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets. Advertisement Game 1 will tipoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Related: Hawks Make Key Trae Young Announcement Before Magic Showdown
