Kayla Thornton’s Long Road Back: Five Takeaways From Golden State’s Preseason Win Over Seattle
The vibes were back in the Bay. A sold-out crowd packed Chase Center on Saturday night to watch the Golden State Valkyries take on the Seattle Storm in a preseason tune-up, and for stretches, it felt like something bigger than just a warm-up game. Golden State held off a late Storm push to secure a 78-76 win, leaning on defensive intensity and late-game execution when it mattered most.
“It was incredible,” Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton said of the crowd energy. “I think over the course of last year, we realized it was just gonna get better and better. And so it’s no surprise tonight that they came out at a preseason game sold out. The energy is amazing, and we really feed off of it.”
🎲 Want to Make Tonight’s Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It’s the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it’s available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at Kalshi
Thornton Struggles But Shows Heart in Return
It had been 283 days since Kayla Thornton stepped on a basketball court after a season-ending knee injury last July. Saturday night, that rust was visible. Thornton finished with seven points in 14 minutes, shooting 3-for-8 from the field and making just one of her five 3-point attempts. But the 33-year-old had her moments. She took a fastbreak pass in stride during the second quarter and finished through contact. Defensively, she rotated well and played with anticipation…