Kathryn Westbeld Bio
Kathryn Westbeld (born January 29, 1996) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A 6 ft 3 in forward, she has built her career across the United States, Australia, and Europe after winning an NCAA championship with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She also previously played for the Adelaide Lightning of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).
Westbeld is known for her consistency, rebounding, and efficient scoring around the basket, traits she developed during a decorated high school and college career in Ohio and South Bend, Indiana.
Early Life and Background
Kathryn Westbeld was born on January 29, 1996, in Kettering, Ohio, United States, to parents Susan Westbeld and Jim Westbeld. She grew up in Kettering, a Dayton-area community with a strong tradition of high school athletics. Her family provided an early foundation in sports, and her younger sister, Maddy Westbeld, would later follow her path into basketball at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Westbeld attended Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, where she quickly developed into one of the top forwards in the country. During her high school career, she helped lead Fairmont to a 96–11 overall record and four Greater Western Ohio Conference championships. She posted averages of 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting .598 from the field.
She set school records for rebounds in a single game (21) and rebounds in a season (275), and for field goal percentage in a season (.663). ESPN ranked her as the No. 4 forward and the No. 21 overall player in the Class of 2014. On October 21, 2013, she committed to play college basketball at the University of Notre Dame.
Path to Basketball
Westbeld’s transition from a dominant high school forward to a Division I recruit was built on production and efficiency. Her combination of size, rebounding, and shot-making caught the attention of top programs, and her early commitment to Notre Dame gave her a clear path to one of the most respected women’s basketball programs in the country.
At Notre Dame, she joined a perennial contender and immediately contributed as a freshman. Over four seasons with the Fighting Irish, she appeared in more than 140 games, developing into a reliable frontcourt starter by her sophomore year and helping the program compete for national championships each spring.
Kathryn Westbeld Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
During the 2014–15 season, Westbeld appeared in all 39 games as a freshman at Notre Dame, averaging 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting .526 from the field. She tied Natalie Achonwa’s program record for most games played by a freshman, an early sign of her durability and value to the program.
As a sophomore in 2015–16, she started all 33 games and averaged 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures in 13 games and recording one double-double. She continued to grow into a featured frontcourt player through her junior and senior seasons, helping Notre Dame remain a national title contender.
Notre Dame Breakthrough (2017–2018)
In her senior season of 2017–18, Westbeld appeared in 37 games with 31 starts, averaging 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Her steady production and veteran presence helped the Fighting Irish win the 2018 NCAA championship, the program’s most recent national title and the crowning achievement of her college career.
Across her four years at Notre Dame, Westbeld started more than 90 games and was a consistent contributor on both ends of the floor, finishing her college career as an NCAA champion.
Professional Career and International Stints (2019–2024)
On April 30, 2018, Westbeld signed a training camp contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, beginning her pathway into the professional ranks. On November 17, 2019, she signed with the Adelaide Lightning of the WNBL, launching her international career in Australia.
After taking time away from basketball in 2020 and 2021, she returned to the professional game in Puerto Rico in August 2021. She then competed in France and Italy before joining KSC Szekszárd in Hungary, where she averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, establishing herself as a high-volume scorer and rebounder abroad.
Phoenix Mercury Era (2025–Present)
On February 10, 2025, Westbeld signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury, returning to the WNBA after years abroad. On May 15, 2025, she was named to the Mercury’s final roster for the 2025 WNBA season, cementing her place on an active WNBA roster for the first time.
Her arrival in Phoenix added frontcourt depth and international experience to the Mercury, who looked to integrate her efficient inside scoring and rebounding into their rotation.
Playing Style and Strengths
Westbeld is a 6 ft 3 in forward whose game is built on efficient inside scoring, rebounding, and steady shot selection. She has consistently posted high field-goal percentages throughout her career, including a .598 mark in high school and a .526 mark as a Notre Dame freshman, reflecting her ability to convert near the rim. Her international stint at KSC Szekszárd, where she averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, highlighted her capacity to carry a heavier offensive load when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Westbeld’s signature achievement is the 2018 NCAA championship with Notre Dame. She also holds Fairmont High School records for rebounds in a game (21) and in a season (275), and ranks among the top recruits of her high school class. Being named to the Phoenix Mercury’s 2025 final roster marked her first official WNBA roster spot, a major career milestone.
Kathryn Westbeld Career Wins
Westbeld’s career is anchored by her 2018 NCAA championship with Notre Dame, the headline win of her résumé. She also captured four Greater Western Ohio Conference titles at Fairmont High School and reached a professional roster in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury in 2025.
College and High School Highlights
At Fairmont High School, Westbeld helped lead her team to a 96–11 overall record and four conference championships, establishing herself as one of the most productive players in program history. She then helped Notre Dame win the 2018 NCAA championship during her senior season, capping her college career with the program’s ultimate prize.
International Performances
In Australia’s WNBL with the Adelaide Lightning, in Puerto Rico, France, Italy, and Hungary with KSC Szekszárd, Westbeld built a steady international résumé. Her standout statistical season came at KSC Szekszárd, where she averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Kathryn Westbeld Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Westbeld was born to Susan Westbeld and Jim Westbeld. Her younger sister, Maddy Westbeld, also played college basketball at Notre Dame and plays for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. Together, the sisters are the only pair in program history to each reach 1,000 points while wearing a Notre Dame uniform.
Personal Life
Kathryn Westbeld is American and has spent her professional career moving between the United States and overseas leagues in Australia, Puerto Rico, France, Italy, and Hungary. Her close family ties to basketball, especially through her sister Maddy, remain a defining part of her personal and athletic story.
2025 Season Performance
Kathryn Westbeld joined the Phoenix Mercury on a training camp contract signed on February 10, 2025. On May 15, 2025, she was named to the Mercury’s final roster for the 2025 WNBA season, securing her place on an active WNBA roster for the first time in her career.
Her international experience, particularly her 18.7-point, 8.4-rebound season at KSC Szekszárd, suggested she could provide frontcourt scoring and rebounding depth for Phoenix. Entering the 2025 campaign, she was positioned as a depth forward expected to contribute efficient inside scoring and physical play on the boards.
For the 2025 season, Westbeld’s outlook centered on translating her overseas production into a consistent WNBA role with a contending Mercury team.