The oldest member of the Liberty roster has found a new home. On December 6, the Golden State Valkyries officially formed their team by selecting one player from 11 WNBA franchises (Seattle Storm foregone) as part of the league’s expansion draft. Kayla Thornton was their choice from New York Liberty and supposedly, there is going to be one more upset than her former teammates.

Under the draft rules, each team was allowed to protect six players. For the Liberty, the chosen ones were Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, Kayla Thornton, and Leonie Fiebich—essentially their championship-winning starting lineup from October. However, this meant forward Kayla Thornton was left unprotected, marking the end of her time with the Liberty. While most Liberty players wished her well, one standout reaction came from Breanna Stewart, who seemed particularly emotional about the departure.

Stewart, the two-time WNBA MVP, expressed her sentiments on X, sharing her concern about breaking the news to her three-year-old daughter, Ruby. “Ruby gonna be pissed,” she wrote in response to a Liberty post featuring an adorable photo of Ruby and Thornton sharing a moment on the sidelines.

For Stewart and her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont, Ruby has been a cherished part of their lives since her birth in 2021.

“Ruby’s arrival has been the best part of 2021 and easily one of the best moments of my life,” Stewart shared in a past interview. The little one had since, been a constant presence. Not only was it the games in the league she accompanied Stewie to, but she traveled to the Olympics as well, while often being spotted at the practice games. She was also there when the Liberty won the championship this October, nestled in her mom’s arms.

So no wonder Thornton also formed a close bond with Ruby, further solidifying her role as a cherished member of the Liberty family. Disappointing as it may be, a new chapter awaits the veteran.

Klay Thornton is now one of the 11 foundational players for the Valkyries

She has had an impressive career trajectory. After going undrafted out of UTEP in 2014, she carved out a nine-year career as a dependable and resilient player. Over her last two seasons with the Liberty, she didn’t miss a single game, appearing in all 80 regular-season contests and starting in 11 of them.

During the Liberty’s playoff run in 2023, Thornton played a crucial role, logging the second-most playoff minutes among reserves. She averaged 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and shot 35.7% from beyond the arc. Her consistency and effort made her invaluable, a sentiment echoed by Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb.

“It is incredibly difficult to say goodbye to a player like KT, who contributed to the New York Liberty in so many ways over these past two years, including our franchise’s first-ever championship,” Kolb shared in a heartfelt statement. “KT quickly became an indelible part of the Liberty family during her two seasons here.”

Thornton still has one year remaining on her contract, so her departure stings for the Liberty. However, it’s not the worst-case scenario, as New York is expected to return most of its roster next season to defend their title. Kolb has managed to retain the majority of the championship lineup, with one looming exception—Breanna Stewart. Set to become an unrestricted free agent in the new year, Stewart has already hinted at her intention to re-sign with the Liberty on a one-year deal.

Thornton on the other hand will be expected to make good alongside younger talents or potential free agency signees.