The Golden State Valkyries have many fans, selling out a string of home games and setting new attendance records. Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski can usually be found courtside. He has been a faithful supporter all season long. Now, he is also advocating for Valkyries representation at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
After a massive 29-point performance against the Sky, Podziemski called for Kayla Thornton to make her first All-Star appearance.
Kayla Thornton All Star no doubt🤷🏽♂️
— Brandin Podziemski (@brandinpodziem2) June 28, 2025
Kayla Thornton is having a career season
Coming to the Golden State Valkyries was a blessing in disguise for Kayla Thornton. She had to leave a championship-level team for a team that was not expected to be very good. However, fifteen games into the season, Thornton is the driving force behind the Valkyries’ surprising playoff push and is averaging career-highs all across the board.
For most of her career, Thornton has been a role player, providing valuable 3-and-D minutes. She is rewriting that narrative this season, showing how much more she is capable of. She is currently averaging 15.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.7 steals in 30.5 minutes per game. All of those numbers are career-highs.
Nothing encapsulated Thornton’s rise quite like her career game against the Sky. Thornton scored 29 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field, grabbed six rebounds, and recorded one assist and one steal.
The win over the Sky officially gave the Valkyries a winning record and moved them to sixth place in the regular-season standings. With that, they are ahead of the Indiana Fever, Washington Mystics, and Las Vegas Aces. At least the Aces and Fever were expected to be much better than the Valkyries. Thornton’s emergence, as well as strong play from everyone on the roster, quickly laid that narrative to rest.
Thornton is the Valkyries player with the best chance to be named an All-Star
The Golden State Valkyries were not well represented in the first returns of the All-Star fan voting. Players from Indiana and other big names largely dominated the fan voting early on. Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Aliyah Boston, and A’ja Wilson led all players in total votes.
Temi Fagbenle ranked 32nd in total votes and Kayla Thornton 39th. They were the only players from Golden State on the list. While Fagbenle has been great all season long, Thornton likely has the best chance to make the All-Star team.
She has been consistently impressive for the Valkyries, leading the team in points, rebounds, and steals, and holding down the fort when Fagbenle, Salaün, Zandalasini, and Vanloo left for EuroBasket. Thornton may not be an All-Star starter—the fan voting counts too much for that—but she has a chance to be named a reserve by the coaches.