Liberty F Kayla Thornton on multi-year extension: ‘New York is something special’
Liberty forward Kayla Thornton signed a multi-year contract extension through the 2025 season, the team announced on Friday. Thornton, who was included in the offseason blockbuster deal that brought center Jonquel Jones to New York, has been a seamless fit into head coach Sandy Brondello’s rotation in New York.
Her defensive prowess gives Brondello a stout defensive lineup — while playing simultaneously with Breanna Stewart and Betnijah Laney — that has played a role in the team entering Friday ranked second in defensive rating (99.2) and fourth in opponents points per game (80.7).
“New York is something special,” Thornton said after Friday’s shootaround. “I was talking to [GM Jonathan Kolb] — coming here was out of my hands and out of my comfort zone... but playing with this group of girls is something special. The city of New York — how they’ve welcomed me [with] open arms has been just amazing.”
Before Friday’s game against the Connecticut Sun, Brondello added that the deal was “great.”
“Number one, KT wants to be here. We have a great organization and we’re building something special here and she wants to continue to be a part of that. I think that’s great for us. She’s a key piece for us coming off the bench with her versatility. So we’re happy that she signed on for a few more years.
“From the moment KT arrived in Brooklyn, she has exceeded the standards of resilience, physicality, consistency and character that embodies the New York Liberty,” general manager Jonathan Kolb said about Thornton, who is averaging 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds on 44% shooting in 17 minutes of action this season. “We look forward to continuing this journey with KT where she will undoubtedly play a key role here for years to come.”
The veteran forward getting her in-season extension just a few months after landing in New York is a clear reward for a player that has been one of the better defenders in the league. Her defense thrusted her name into the WNBA’s All-Defensive Team conversation at various points this season.
After Monday’s home victory against the Las Vegas Aces, Kolb mentioned that Thornton’s play is a major factor in the team sitting second overall in league standings. He added that the trade, which resulted in the Libs sending out two-time All-Star Natasha Howard and starters Crystal Dangerfield and Rebecca Allen, was “really difficult” but was one needed to help the team reach its goals.
“Kayla Thornton was in no way a throw-in in that trade. That’s a player we tried to acquire for many years and we had the opportunity to do it and we jumped at it,” Kolb said.
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM CHANGES
The league announced that voting for the 2023 WNBA All-Defensive Teams will be conducted without regard to a player’s position. Prior to this season, voters were required to select two guards, one center and two forwards for both the All-Defensive First Team and Second Team. The league made the same change to positionless voting last season for the selection of the All-WNBA First Team and Second Team.
