Taylor Thornton

Taylor Alexis Thornton is an American lacrosse player who competed for the Northwestern Wildcats. She won the Honda Sports Award in June 2012 and was nominated for the Sports Illustrated College Athlete of the Year Award in 2013.

Early life A native of Dallas, Texas, Thornton is the daughter of Steve and Janice Thornton. Her brother, Blakely, played college football at Penn. Thornton attended the Hockaday School in Dallas. She starred on the lacrosse team and was a two-time All-American, two-time Texas Player of the Year, and three-time all-state selection, in addition to leading Hockaday to its first two state titles in 2008 and 2009. In addition, Thornton was a four-year letterwinner in field hockey, leading the team in scoring all four years. She also played varsity basketball as a freshman, leading the team in assists as the starting point guard.

Recruited by Kelly Amonte Hiller, head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats women's lacrosse team, Thornton committed to Northwestern in October of her senior year of high school.

College career Thornton made her debut at Northwestern in 2010 starting all 22 games for the Wildcats. In her freshman year, she was named IWLCA third-team All-American, earned second team All America honors for WomensLacrosse.com and was named to the All-Rookie Team. She notched 14 goals, 1 assist, 38 ground balls, and 15 caused turnovers. Thornton was named the winner of Lacrosse Honda Sports Award as the national player of the year.

In 2023, Thorton became the first female inductee into the Western Lacrosse Hall of Fame.