Westbeld, a five-year starter for Notre Dame, was picked up by the Sky in the second round<\/a> of the 2025 WNBA Draft. The 6-foot-3 forward played in 26 games and started in one<\/a> during the team’s 2025 campaign. <\/p>\n Aug 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Maddy Westbeld (21) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Dream during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images \/ Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Westbeld ultimately found her niche as a 3-point shooter last season, where she hit more than 39% of her shots. Whether she was open or had a hand in her face, she could make the occasional pull-up or spot-up shot, which peaked with a lights-out shooting performance<\/a> during her final game of the season. <\/p>\n Though very inconsistent with her inside shots, she looked a little more comfortable from the mid-range as she used a decent arsenal of jumpers. She ended the year with a 43.5% clip from 10-14 feet, which put her towards the middle of the WNBA for players who attempted one or more shots from that area that season.<\/p>\n Westbeld could also nab the occasional o-board and assist during her limited time on the floor. She ended the season with just under one apiece. Should she find her groove as a scorer and the Sky continue to tap into her shooting, she could be a solid option for Chicago to work with whether she continues to be a reliever or not.<\/p>\n Westbeld finished the year with 1.6 defensive rebounds per game. She earned a season-high six in a close September loss to the New York Liberty. While most of her rebounds were more routine, she showed she could box out and fight for a few boards every so often. She could deter and block the occasional shot when put up against driving and cutting options, which led to a few more key boards. Her ability to switch and position herself well only added to her value on defense.<\/p>\n The Sky will need all the solid defenders they can get after ending last season with one of the worst-ranked defenses in the league. Should Westbeld continue to hold her own as a defender, she could continue to make her case as a solid long-term option for the Windy City’s own.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n