Kathryn Westbeld - WNBA News, Rumors, & Updates

Mercury injury news casts a dark cloud over 2026 season The Phoenix Mercury will be forced to play without Kathryn Westbeld this season, a huge blow to a team that's hoping to repeat their 2025 su...

1 DAY AGO • HIGHPOSTHOOPS.COM

Set to miss 2026 season Westbeld has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the 2026 WNBA season, Dylan Kane of The IX Sports reports.

Impact After missing the start of training camp due to overseas commitments, Westbeld was seen at practice Tuesday on crutches with a brace on her right knee, and her injury will ultimately force her to miss the entire 2026 WNBA season. The 30-year-old will now shift her focus toward a lengthy recovery process, while Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Mack are slated to handle leading roles in the Mercury's frontcourt this year.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with apparent knee injury Westbeld rejoined the Mercury on Tuesday but was seen on crutches with a brace on her right knee, Jenna Ortiz of The Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Westbeld missed the start of training camp due to overseas commitments, and she apparently sustained a knee injury while playing in Hungary. The 30-year-old got her first taste of WNBA action with Phoenix last year, averaging 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game across 43 regular-season appearances (24 starts). While it's not yet clear when Westbeld will be able to return to game action, it certainly seems possible that she'll miss time to begin the regular season.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Still away from team Westbeld won't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Sky due to an overseas commitment.

Impact It's unclear when Westbeld, who is still playing overseas, will join the Mercury. Her final chance to suit up for Phoenix ahead of the regular season will come in an exhibition game against Japan on Wednesday.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Not listed on injury report Westbeld (overseas commitment) isn't listed on the injury report for Saturday's preseason game against the Sky, freelance Mercury writer Jeff Metcalfe reports.

Impact Westbeld arrived to training camp late but is set to play in Phoenix's preseason opener. She averaged 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per tilt across 43 regular-season outings (24 starts) in 2025.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Late arrival to camp Westbeld isn't with the Mercury to begin training camp due to international play.

Impact Westbeld has played in Hungary during the offseason, and she'll be away from the Mercury early in WNBA training camp while fulfilling her overseas obligations. It's not yet clear whether she'll be available for Saturday's preseason opener against Chicago, but it seems unlikely that her absence will force her to miss time during the regular season.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

PHOENIX MERCURY RE-SIGN MONIQUE AKOA MAKANI, NATASHA MACK AND KATHRYN WESTBELD PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury have re-signed guard Monique Akoa Makani and forward/center Natasha Mack. The team has also re-signed forward...

APRIL 15 • WNBA.COM

Re-signs with Mercury The Mercury re-signed Westbeld on Tuesday, per freelance Mercury writer Jeff Metcalfe.

Impact After extending a reserved qualifying offer to Westbeld last Tuesday, the Mercury are bringing the forward back for her second season with the club. Westbeld averaged 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 18.4 minutes per tilt through 43 games in 2025, and she'll be an option to begin the new year as a starter for Phoenix.

APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE

Extended reserve QO from Mercury The Mercury extended a reserve qualifying offer to Westbeld on Tuesday.

Impact By extending the qualifying offer to Westbeld, the Mercury will have exclusive rights to negotiate with her during free agency. Westbeld finished her rookie year in Phoenix with averages of 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

APRIL 8 • ROTOWIRE

Phoenix Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld talks about not giving up when down in Game 2 Phoenix Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld said the team stayed focused on winning even when down big in their Game 2 playoff matchup.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Phoenix Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld on the team's underdog status Phoenix Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld said she's "happy they have a team of underdogs."

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Records four steals in Game 2 Westbeld registered eight points (3-4 FG, 2-3 3Pt), four rebounds and four steals over 15 minutes during Tuesday's 89-83 win over the Lynx.

Impact Westbeld was outstanding at the defensive end, giving Phoenix a nice spark off the bench. The four steals tied her most this season, as she also had four steals May 25 against the Mystics in the fourth game of the regular season.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs six boards in defeat Westbeld amassed two points (1-5 FG, 0-3 3Pt), six rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist across 21 minutes in Tuesday's 88-83 loss to the Sparks.

Impact Westbeld led the Mercury's bench in rebounding and logged at least 20 minutes for the first time since Aug. 7. The 29-year-old forward struggled with efficiency, though she was productive on the defensive end. She posted multiple steals and multiple blocks for just the second time in 42 regular-season appearances.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb on teammates making an impact coming off the bench Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb talks about how rookies Lexi Held, Kathryn Westbeld and Kit Laksa can make an impact off the bench in th...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Alyssa Thomas regains single-season assist record a year after losing it to Caitlin Clark

Alyssa Thomas took back the WNBA single-season assist record, topping Caitlin Clark’s mark of 337 set last season

SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Sees 10 minutes off bench Westbeld logged one point (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and one rebound across 10 minutes during Thursday's 75-69 victory over Washington.

Impact Westbeld continues to be used sparingly off the Mercury bench. For the season, she's averaging 18.5 minutes per night with 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists on 36.1 percent shooting from the field.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Copper hits 5 3s, scores 22 to help Mercury beat Liberty 80-63

Kahleah Copper hit five 3-pointers and finished with 22 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 points and nine assists, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the defending WNBA champion New York Libe...

AUGUST 31, 2025 • Associated Press

Sees 11 minutes Westbeld amassed three points (1-2 FG, 1-2 3Pt) and three rebounds in 11 minutes during Tuesday's 98-91 victory over the Valkyries.

Impact Westbeld was limited to minutes in the teens for the fourth straight game. With such a limited usage rate and workload, there are better options elsewhere for fantasy purposes.

AUGUST 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kahleah Copper scores 25 points as Mercury come from behind to beat Valkyries 98-91

Kahleah Copper scored 25 points, Satou Sabally scored 10 of her 17 points after halftime, and the Phoenix Mercury came back to beat the short-handed Golden State Valkyries 98-91

AUGUST 20, 2025 • Associated Press

Sees 16 minutes in loss Westbeld racked up five points (2-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and one rebound in 16 minutes during Sunday's 74-66 loss to the Dream.

Impact Westbeld remains a deep-league fantasy asset as a fringe rotation player for the Mercury. In 20.5 minutes per game this season, Westbeld holds averages of 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks on 35.8 percent shooting from the field.

AUGUST 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld on Mercury coaching staff Phoenix Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld talks about why she feels the Mercury coaching staff is the best she's experienced in her career.

AUGUST 10, 2025 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Responds poorly off bench Westbeld accumulated zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt), one rebound and one assist across six minutes during Sunday's 83-67 victory over the Sky.

Impact Westbeld was moved out of the starting lineup, and she did not respond well, going scoreless for the second time in the past four games. She has three or fewer points in five of the past six appearances, too.

AUGUST 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Copper scores 25, Thomas has another triple double as Mercury hand Sky 8th-straight loss

Kahleah Copper scored 25 points, Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double and the Phoenix Mercury beat Chicago 83-67, handing the Sky their eighth straight loss

AUGUST 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Moving to bench Sunday Westbeld won't start in Sunday's game against the Sky.

Impact With Westbeld moving to the bench and Satou Sabally (personal) sidelined, Kalani Brown and Sami Whitcomb will step into the starting lineup. Over her last five outings (three starts), Westbeld has averaged 3.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 16.0 minutes per game.

AUGUST 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Will start Friday Westbeld will be in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Dream, David Veenstra of Desert Wave Media reports.

Impact After coming off the bench the last two games, Westbeld will be a starter for the 24th time during the 2025 campaign. In 23 games in the starting lineup, she has averaged 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three-point range.

AUGUST 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

KATHRYN WESTBELD NEWS

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GAME LOG

Alyssa Thomas regains single-season assist record a year after losing it to Caitlin Clark

Copper hits 5 3s, scores 22 to help Mercury beat Liberty 80-63

Kahleah Copper scores 25 points as Mercury come from behind to beat Valkyries 98-91

Copper scores 25, Thomas has another triple double as Mercury hand Sky 8th-straight loss