In a league overflowing with young stars and rising talent, Kayla Thornton has carved out her name with experience. She has seen the highs of becoming the WNBA champion (2024) and the lows of going undrafted in 2014. Over nine seasons and nearly 300 games, she’s lifted her averages to career highs of 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the 2025 campaign. However, her path has not been linear.

She put up double-doubles at UTEP, became a vital cog for Dallas, contributed to a New York Liberty championship run, and then earned selection by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft. Thornton also played in Australia, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Puerto Rico, Russia, and South Korea during the off-season. Throughout her journey with these ups and downs, Thornton has her faith guiding her. But before that, let’s take a look at where she came from.

Where is Kayla Thornton from? What’s her nationality?

Kayla Thornton’s story begins overseas. Born on October 20, 1992, in Germany, she holds American nationality by birth. Her parents, Lewis and Merteen Thornton, were serving in the military abroad when she was born. Soon after, the family returned home to Texas, where Kayla grew up in El Paso.

At Irvin High School, she quickly stood out. Thornton graduated as the school’s all-time leader in scoring with 1,953 points. She also collected 884 rebounds, making her dominance clear on both ends of the floor. Away from basketball, Thornton excelled in track and field. She won district titles in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump, while finishing runner-up in the 100-meter dash.

Her competitive spirit carried over to college. From 2010 to 2014, Thornton represented the University of Texas-El Paso with pride. She left as the program’s all-time leading scorer, cementing her name in history. In her senior season, she became the first UTEP player ever to average a double-double. That year, she posted 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, a testament to her consistency.

What is Thornton’s ethnicity?

Kayla Thornton was raised in an African-American household by her parents, Lewis and Merteen Thornton. Her upbringing shaped her values deeply. Her mother, Merteen, worked as a preacher in Texas. She served as an evangelist and member of the clergy before retiring. Public information about her remains limited, but her influence on Kayla’s faith and resilience is evident.

Her father, Lewis, served in the U.S. military. He was stationed in Germany at the time of Kayla’s birth. Beyond his military service, Lewis was also active in the church. As reported by Andscape, he worked as a deacon before retiring. Like her mother, much of his personal life has stayed private, yet his guidance played a major role in her journey. Together, her parents combined faith, discipline, and commitment. That environment helped Kayla develop the determination and work ethic she carried into her career.

What is Kayla Thornton’s religion?

Like her parents, Kayla Thornton is a Christian, and her faith has carried her through some of her toughest moments. In 2017, she accepted that getting cut twice from the WNBA was testing her resolve.

Her first setback came with the Washington Mystics, who released her before the 2015 season opener. Determined to keep playing, Thornton headed overseas to Israel, where she averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds. Those numbers were strong enough to earn another chance with the Mystics later that year. Unfortunately, her second stint lasted only 10 games before she was released again. Coaches told her that at 6-foot-1, she was undersized for the forward position and needed to sharpen her guard skills.

“At that point, it was tough, but my family is a praying family. My mom is an evangelist,” Thornton said. “I just kept praying, knowing God has a better plan, and also keeping that fire. This is what I want to do, and when you want to keep doing something, you keep going at it until you achieve what you really want. I think (my success) was due to praying and allowing God to have his way.”

Her perseverance paid off. After two years overseas, Thornton earned a spot with the Dallas Wings in 2017. She later joined the New York Liberty in 2023, capturing a WNBA championship the following year. Now, as a veteran leader with the Golden State Valkyries, she sets the tone by example. Through it all, she credits her faith and her family guidance for keeping her grounded.