Kathryn Westbeld Bio
Kathryn Westbeld (born January 29, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Standing 6 ft 3 in, she plays the forward position and wears number 24 for the Mercury. Before reaching the WNBA, she built her resume with stops in Australia and Europe after a decorated college career at the University of Notre Dame.
A native of Kettering, Ohio, Westbeld developed into one of the most reliable frontcourt players in her high school class before committing to the Fighting Irish. She helped Notre Dame win the 2018 NCAA championship and has since carved out a professional career across multiple continents, including a strong overseas stint with KSC Szekszárd in Hungary.
Early Life and Background
Kathryn Westbeld was born on January 29, 1996, in Kettering, Ohio, to parents Susan Westbeld and Jim Westbeld. She grew up in the same Ohio community where she would later become a high school standout, and her family provided a steady foundation that supported her early focus on basketball.
She attended Fairmont High School in Kettering, where she quickly established herself as one of the top forwards in the country. Westbeld helped lead Fairmont to a 96–11 overall record and four Greater Western Ohio Conference titles during her high school career. Her individual statistics were equally impressive, as she averaged 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 blocks while shooting .598 from the field.
Westbeld also set school records at Fairmont, including 21 rebounds in a single game, 275 rebounds in a season, and a .663 field goal percentage for a season. She was ranked the No. 4 forward and the No. 21 overall player in the Class of 2014 by ESPN. On October 21, 2013, she committed to play college basketball at Notre Dame, choosing the Fighting Irish over other major programs.
Path to Basketball
Westbeld’s path to high-level basketball began in Ohio, where her high school dominance made her one of the most sought-after recruits in her class. Her combination of size, rebounding, and efficient scoring caught the attention of national scouts and led to her early commitment to Notre Dame in October 2013.
At Notre Dame, she quickly adjusted to the college game and tied Natalie Achonwa’s program record for most games played by a freshman during the 2014–15 season. She appeared in all 39 games that year, averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting .526 from the field. The experience of competing at a top program prepared her for an expanded role in her later college seasons and, ultimately, for a professional career overseas and in the WNBA.
Kathryn Westbeld Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Kathryn Westbeld played college basketball at Notre Dame from 2014 to 2018, appearing in 141 games across four seasons. She developed steadily, increasing her scoring average each year before her senior season and becoming a trusted frontcourt contributor for the Fighting Irish.
During her sophomore year in 2015–16, she started all 33 games and averaged 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. As a junior in 2016–17, she appeared in 32 games with 27 starts and averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds. In her senior season of 2017–18, Westbeld played 37 games with 31 starts and averaged 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, helping Notre Dame win the 2018 NCAA championship.
WNBL Breakthrough (2019–2020)
After going undrafted in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Westbeld signed a training camp contract with the Los Angeles Sparks on April 30, 2018, gaining her first exposure to a WNBA training environment. The experience provided a professional benchmark, even though she did not earn a roster spot at that stage.
On November 17, 2019, she signed with the Adelaide Lightning of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) in Australia. The move marked her first full-time professional contract and represented her breakthrough into consistent top-level international basketball. After her time in Australia, she took time away from the game in 2020 and 2021 before resuming her career.
KSC Szekszárd Era (2024–2025)
Westbeld returned to professional basketball in August 2021 with a stint in Puerto Rico, followed by spells in France and Italy. Her performances abroad eventually led to a move to Hungary, where she joined KSC Szekszárd and emerged as one of the team’s most productive players. She averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in Hungary, the strongest statistical stretch of her professional career to that point.
The success in Hungary helped revive her profile and set the stage for her eventual return to the WNBA. Her play at Szekszáld demonstrated the scoring and rebounding consistency that had marked her college years, and it positioned her as a viable training camp candidate for teams looking for frontcourt depth.
Phoenix Mercury Era (2025–Present)
On February 10, 2025, Westbeld signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury, beginning her pursuit of a full-time WNBA roster spot. The opportunity represented a return to the league where she had first attempted to break in with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2018.
On May 15, 2025, she was named to the Mercury’s final roster for the 2025 WNBA season, cementing her place on the team wearing number 24. Her addition gave Phoenix a forward with overseas experience, proven rebounding ability, and the shooting efficiency that defined her time at Notre Dame and in Hungary.
Playing Style and Strengths
Westbeld is a 6 ft 3 in forward whose game is built on rebounding, interior efficiency, and consistent shooting. Her .526 field-goal percentage as a freshman and her .598 high school mark highlight her efficiency around the basket, while her rebounding averages at every level show a strong nose for the ball. Her senior season scoring and rebounding averages at Notre Dame, combined with her 18.7-point output in Hungary, reflect a player who can contribute across multiple statistical categories.
Notable Events and Milestones
Westbeld’s most defining milestone came on April 1, 2018, when she helped Notre Dame win the 2018 NCAA championship. She also tied Natalie Achonwa’s program record for most games played by a freshman and set Fairmont High School records for single-game rebounds, single-season rebounds, and single-season field goal percentage. Her signing with the Phoenix Mercury in 2025 marked her first full-time WNBA roster placement.
Kathryn Westbeld Career Wins
Kathryn Westbeld’s career highlights include team championships at both the high school and college levels, as well as individual statistical achievements. She won four Greater Western Ohio Conference titles at Fairmont High School and an NCAA championship with Notre Dame in 2018.
College and High School Highlights
Westbeld’s most prominent win is the 2018 NCAA championship with Notre Dame, earned during her senior season. At Fairmont High School, she was part of four conference title teams and set multiple school records, including 21 rebounds in a single game and 275 rebounds in a season.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her championship-winning seasons, Westbeld produced consistent statistical performances at Notre Dame and overseas. Her strongest professional scoring stretch came with KSC Szekszárd in Hungary, where she averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Kathryn Westbeld Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Kathryn Westbeld was born to Susan Westbeld and Jim Westbeld, who raised her in Kettering, Ohio. Her younger sister, Maddy Westbeld, also played college basketball at Notre Dame and later joined the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.
Kathryn and Maddy Westbeld share a unique place in Notre Dame history as the only sisters to ever reach 1,000 points in a Notre Dame uniform. Their shared path through the Fighting Irish program highlights a family basketball tradition that continues at the professional level.
Personal Life
Kathryn Westbeld grew up in Kettering, Ohio, and remains closely connected to her family. Her relationship with her sister Maddy has been a defining personal storyline, with both sisters reaching major milestones at Notre Dame and continuing their careers in the WNBA.
2025 Season Performance
Kathryn Westbeld entered the 2025 WNBA season as a member of the Phoenix Mercury’s final roster after signing a training camp contract on February 10, 2025. Her path to the roster was supported by a strong 2024–25 campaign with KSC Szekszárd in Hungary, where she averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Her placement on the final roster on May 15, 2025, marked the culmination of a seven-year professional journey that included stints in Australia, Puerto Rico, France, Italy, and Hungary. As a 6 ft 3 in forward wearing number 24, she is expected to contribute rebounding, interior scoring, and veteran frontcourt depth to Phoenix.
Westbeld’s outlook for the 2025 season is built on efficiency and consistency, traits she demonstrated throughout her college career and overseas. Her NCAA championship experience with Notre Dame, combined with her international production, positions her as a reliable role player for the Mercury as the season progresses.