“My rookie season in the W may have been the most pivotal season of my life,” says Maddy Westbeld, American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). “I met my character in my rookie season and I love who she is.”

At just 23 years old, Westbeld played college basketball at Notre Dame and for Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio where she was classified as a five-star recruit by ESPN. Westbeld was selected 16th overall by the Sky in the 2025 WNBA draft.

With not only a soft spot for the court, Westbeld’s impact extends beyond the game. In her hometown community, she has built a youth basketball clinic and launched her own coffee blend, with proceeds donated to charity.

In a recent interview with PhotoBook Magazine, Westbeld gives insight into her world and how basketball has left her with not only a sisterhood, but a curiosity about what more her role as a professional athlete might hold.

Maddy, growing up in Ohio, what first drew you to basketball, and can you recall the moment you realized it might be more than just a hobby?

My dad signed me up for my first rec league in the second grade and I was so scared but excited to play with some of my friends. I played for fun and, honestly, as an excuse to have a social hour with my friends. I could just focus on being a kid. It wasn’t until seventh grade that I really pursued my curiosity about basketball. I started walking to the gym every day after I got out of school and played pick up with the boys. I remember starting to find joy in beating up on them and realized I got some hype around what I could do with the basketball. My love for the game evolved when I started getting mad about missing shots. That was when my obsession grew.

At Notre Dame, you balanced a Finance degree with a minor in Poverty Studies while excelling on the court. How did that combination shape the way you approach both basketball and life off the court?

My major and minor were incredible escapes for me to find my purpose as a young person. Finance was a challenge I stepped into because I wanted to learn the mindset of business. Notre Dame has one of the top Finance/Business schools in the country in Mendoza, so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to learn skills that would expand my mental wheelhouse.

On the other side of this, poverty studies grounded me. I have always been passionate about community service, helping others, etc. and especially being a basketball player on the highest stage, I feel that I have an obligation to use my platform to give back to the communities who have taken part in raising me, as well pay it forward to the kids who are seeking a role model. Studying poverty from a micro and macro lens broadened my awareness to be able to pinpoint exactly where I want to put my attention towards when it comes to impact and influence. These studies took the pressure off of having to perform in basketball because I realized my deeper passion and purpose in this life. Now I play basketball because I love it, not because I have to love it.

Your rookie season with the Chicago Sky made a big impact on the court. What stands out most to you as a professional player, and how did it shape your approach to the game moving forward?

I met some incredible people, played alongside amazing teammates and vets, played against my childhood heroes and realized that I belong amongst them. I learned that I am who I think I am. It was a season that I’ll keep sacred to me forever. I decided before the season who I wanted to be, and I was consistent in that approach from beginning to end. I realized how much it matters to decide your own standard that you do not negotiate, no matter any external circumstance. The mindset of any one thing is everything.

Playing alongside talents like Angel Reese, Kamilla Kordorso, and Haley Van Lith, how have your teammates influenced your approach to the game and leadership?

I had the best teammates and vets I could ask for. Players like Ariel Atkins I really looked up to because she approaches the game with a very disciplined, yet child-like mentality. I really admire that because it’s how I try to be in everything I do, and having her as a vet with a similar approach lets me know that it is sustainable to keep the love for the game throughout my entire professional career. I have made some lifelong sisters this past year that I’ll forever cherish. I believe any accolades that I got and will continue to get will be because of my relentless pursuit to be great without limitation.

You’ve been celebrated for your attention to detail—even down to your shoes. How does that mindfulness translate beyond fashion into your daily life or your game on the court?

I am a firm believer that everything is everything. That means how you look walking into the game matters just as much as how you warm up for the game, how you play the game, and how you recover from the game. If you look good, you feel good, you play good!

You’ve been featured in outlets ranging from Who What Wear and ALLURE to SI Swimsuit, FORBES, GQ Sports, and the Chicago Tribune. What has it been like to navigate that kind of media attention so early in your professional career, and how does it influence the way you approach your game and your platform as an athlete?

It’s really exciting to know that people are intrigued into my brand of fashion. It’s a lot of fun to be creative with clothes, and to match my own aura and aesthetic to it. I think fashion kind of mimics your own confidence and it’s a space I feel excited to be creative in...and I love to be so close to the court at the same time!

Your coffee ventures and financial literacy initiatives show a strong entrepreneurial streak. What inspired you to combine your passions for wellness, education, and business into these projects?

I have curated many different passions and inspiration throughout my career, education, and overall life experience. Specifically in wellness, one of my non-negotiables is nutrition. I have been eating only whole foods for three years now and the positive shift in every part of my life has been exponential. In addition to this, I am a connoisseur for coffee and the entire process of it. The morning, the routine, the consistency of the process, and of course the delicious taste of a fresh roast is worth raving over.

Financial literacy is something I am really passionate about because, studying finance in college, I realize how much knowledge there is to learn and how much is neglected, especially as a young person. I want to be able to share the wealth (literally) for people who aren’t as privileged as getting degrees in the field, and still make decisions that set them up sustainably for their future.

Running youth basketball clinics while integrating financial literacy is unique. What do you hope young athletes take away from these experiences, both on and off the court?

I want to desensitize the idea of financial literacy to young people as soon as possible, to make it a concept not to be intimidated by, but intrigued by as it is a vital tool that every individual should be curious and inquisitive about. Especially as these things aren’t required to learn about in some schools I want to eventually provide a space of learning for youth so that they gain confidence in this area.

Looking at your first professional season and everything you’ve built around your brand, what moment has surprised you most about being a WNBA player?

I was surprised most by how united the W really is. Watching it as a little girl, the rivalries and competition was always so intense and fun to watch, but getting to experience the women and being a part of the association of the court, it was such a pleasant surprise to be embraced and respected by the women of this league, past and present. It is the most competitive professional league in the world, so the sisterhood we have is so real. I am very proud to be a part of it.

As you look ahead—whether it’s expanding your passion for coffee, wellness programs, or continuing in the WNBA—what’s the next chapter you’re most excited about?

I am so excited to learn, to grow and to be curious about whatever passions light my heart on fire. However, my next chapter is this upcoming season and I’m itching for it to begin.

Talent: Maddy Westbeld
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Aaron Jay Young
Fashion Stylist: Desiree' Atalia Olavarrieta
Hair: Flo Witherspoon
Makeup: Ashley Chao
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Brya Sheridan, Assistant to Editor-in-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine

Heart on Fire: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame Standout Turned Pro Basketball Player