Golden State Valkyries fans will have the chance to see Kayla Thornton in action sooner than you might think! The team announced Tuesday morning on social media that Thornton will hit the court as part of the NBA All-Star Game this month.
Thornton will play in the 2025 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Oakland Center in Oakland, California. This will give Valkyries fans the first chance to see Thornton on the court since she helped lead the New York Liberty to the WNBA Championship last year.
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game roster
TEAM RICE | TEAM BONDS |
|---|---|
Coach Jerry Rice | Coach Barry Bonds |
Coach Khaby Lame | Coach 2 Chainz |
Players: | Players: |
Matt Barnes | Kai Cenat |
Bayley | Baron Davis |
Chris Brickley | Rome Flynn |
AP Dhillon | Allisha Gray |
Druski | Mickey Guyton |
Walker Hayes | Tucker Halpern |
Shelby McEwen | Noah Kahan |
Terrell Owens | Danny Ramirez |
Shaboozey | Masai Russell |
Oliver Stark | Pablo Schreiber |
Kayla Thornton | Dylan Wang |
Thornton won't be exclusively going up against WNBA and NBA heavyweights, though two-time Atlanta Dream All-Star Allisha Gray will be on the opposing team. The duo will be joined by two-time Grammy nominee Noah Kahan, six-time Grammy nominee Shaboozey, Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, basketball trainer Chris Brickley, Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell, Olympic silver medalist Shelby McEwen, four-time Grammy-nominee Mickey Guyton, Emmy-winner Rome Flynn, actor Danny Ramirez, WWE star Bayley, actor Olivier Stark, actor Pablo Schreiber, singer and rapper AP Dhillon, and two-time Grammy nominee Tucker Halpern.
The group also includes Golden State Warriors champion Matt Barnes, streamer Kai Cenat, actor Dylan Wang, former NBA star Baron Davis, and singer-songwriter Walker Hayes.
The teams will be coached by 2 Chainz, three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice, MLB All-Time Home Run King Barry Bonds, and influencer Khaby Lame.
How to watch the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will take place Friday, February 14, at 7 p.m. ET at the Oakland Arena. Tickets are still available and begin at $101 on Ticketmaster.
Fans who can't attend the game in person will be able to watch it live on ESPN. The game will also air on ESPN+ and will stream on Disney+.
ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth will be back to provide commentary throughout the game and will present the MVP trophy as well as interview athletes on and off the court. Mark Jones will also offer play-by-play commentary.
What to expect from the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
First and foremost, fans shouldn't expect a full-on battle during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Traditionally, the game is one of several events during All-Star Weekend that are meant to be entertaining more than anything else. Host city San Francisco has a plethora of local celebrities and athletic talent, which will make this game more exciting to watch.