“We’re Ready to Play” — Kayla Thornton on the Valkyries’ Finals Mindset

Kayla Thornton spoke with the media at practice ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, and her message was simple. Stay composed, stay true to who you are, and don’t change anything. Thornton said the Finals will come down to the details, the little things that matter most at the end.

After a long layoff following the semifinal sweep, Thornton said the rest was needed but the Valkyries are ready to play. The team has practiced a lot, fixed up several things, and is excited for Saturday. She also praised a teammate for being a fast learner who has picked up everything the team needs.

Thornton drew on her experience reaching the Finals with New York, saying it taught her to embrace the moment, stay where her feet are, and take it one day at a time. On the matchup, she said the regular season meetings with Atlanta feel like ages ago and both teams have grown since then. Both teams play with heart and grit, she said, so it will come down to who shows up more, who does the little things, and who boxes out.

Thornton closed by thanking the Valkyries organization for giving her the freedom to be herself, saying it means everything in her career.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Kayla Thornton | Atlanta Dream | 2026

00:00 — Staying Composed and Not Changing Anything
00:16 — Managing the Long Layoff After the Sweep
00:41 — Praise for a Fast-Learning Teammate
01:01 — Lessons From Reaching the Finals With New York
01:18 — Two Teams That Play With Heart
01:37 — The Regular Season Meetings Are Ages Ago
02:09 — Boxing Out and Sticking to the Game Plan
02:40 — The Details Matter in the Finals
03:04 — Gratitude for the Freedom to Be Herself