The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GOOD FOLLOW - Phoenix Mercury Forward, Kathryn Westbeld, Talks Alyssa Thomas, Playing Overseas & More

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

Ros sits down with Phoenix Mercury Forward, Kathryn Westbeld, to discuss her experiences playing overseas, taking a day job, and her first year in the WNBA. Then, Kathryn flexes her cooking abilities and what it means to her and her sister, Maddy Westbeld. Finally, they discuss Kathryn’s role as the glue player, Alyssa Thomas’ MVP case, and Nate Tibbetts’ impact in Phoenix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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With a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms and a weighting depth of 900 millimeters, the Defender 110 pushes what's possible. Learn more at landrover.ca. You're listening to Draft Kings Network. Welcome the Good Follow show, presented by Draft King. It's your girl, Ros Gold on Gooday, and today's episode, we have a very special guest interview coming to us from the Phoenix Mercury, as well as a Notre Dame alum who won a national

championship and NCAA championship in 2018. We got Catherine Westfeld here joining us. Let's up, Kat. How are you? Hello, I'm doing great. Thank you for having me. Yes, yes. I'm so excited to dive in with you. I mean, your story to being on the Phoenix Mercury in your rookie season is captivating because for a number of reasons, but I think the most like obvious is you're a 29-year-old rookie it took you years it's it took you years to get your shot in the w nba so now that you're here and living it like how is it how do you feel uh i feel great it's been an awesome season so far um i honestly couldn't have scripted a better rookie season for myself honestly um you know coming like right into the season we had a lot of injuries a lot of adversity early on so it kind

it gave me an opportunity to really make my mark from the beginning. So, I mean, I've really just taken advantage of the opportunity at hand. And I'm just, you know, happy to be a part of such a great organization. And, you know, we're headed into playoffs here soon. So it's an exciting part of the season. And I'm just happy to be here. Yeah. And I mean, if you can just think about that journey, right? So you come out of Notre Dame, you're an NCAA champion, you're undrafted. And then you, you know, eventually begin, is it seven years overseas? There were a lot of stops, different countries that you played for. Could you talk about just like what your experience became playing overseas,

the countries you played for and the journeys you took? I think it was a total of like six years. I know there's another year in there, but with COVID and everything, I ended up not playing that year just because I didn't want to get stuck in any, you know, country and who knew what was going on at that point. So I stayed home a year and I actually took a day job, 9-5, didn't even know I was going to get back into basketball. Like, it was such a crazy time.

So I worked at that job for like six months, finish the training program. And then finally my agent called and was like, we have a job for you. And I was like, thank God, because this is not for me. But yeah, it has been such a journey. You know, I didn't know, the WMA was, it kind of seemed out of reach, especially during that time. Like I really didn't know if I was going to pick up a basketball again professionally. So just to be where I am and like just known like everything that I've been through to get here is just very humbling and I'm just grateful for the whole ride because it has been

a lot ups and downs and great, you know, experiences with everything. But yeah, I feel like I've been everywhere. I've been, you know, Spain, Italy, France, Hungary, Puerto Rico, Australia. I even was in Israel for, I think not even two weeks during the war, like literally right before the war started, I was there and had to make a quick, like, you know, escape. It took a few days to get out, you know, kinds of flights canceled and a little scary moment in there. But yeah, it's been, it's been quite a journey. But I'm definitely grateful to be back in the U.S. now. I do want to revisit, like, the corporate role you also took. Like, you kind of touch. on it you legitimately took an office job like you were an account executive an account executive

i believe that totally total quality logistics i saw yes yes what was your role what were the tasks the tasks you were doing and like eventually did you just realize like no i'm still going to i got more hoops to play um yeah it was a lot of being on the phone a lot of cold calls a lot of um I was kind of the middleman in between like our client and like either our driver or whatever because it's logistics. You're kind of just organizing pickups and just transportation. So you're on the phone with drivers and you're on the phone with clients and things like that. And it's just like sales also.

I feel like you kind of lose your moral compass a little bit because you're like obviously the margin that you get is what you make. And so it's just like, you're kind of lying to people a little bit. And I just felt so wrong internally about everything. And, you know, people sitting on the desk. And it's like, you know, you're ordering out every day. People are eating Chinese. Like just, it's just such an unhealthy and unfit lifestyle.

And it was just totally against, like, kind of who I am as a person. And so it was not the best six months I've ever had. But it definitely was an experience and something I've learned from. And luckily, I know. what I don't want to do. So there's a positive to it. Sometimes these experiences of like learning what's not right for you are so valuable. But for me, I mean, just in kind of walking with you through the journey, both on the court

and even some off court, you know, escapades and experiences, why did you, how did you not ever give up on the dream and the game? How did you do that to get to here to finally make it to the WNBA? Back streets, back. All right. Game on. Week 1 is here, and every touchdown can bring you closer to a payout with Draft King Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL.

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Boyd in Ontario. Bonus bets expires seven days after issuance. See Sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos. NFL Sunday ticket offer for new subscribers only in auto renews until canceled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday ticket terms at YouTube. slash go slash NFL Sunday ticket slash terms limited time offer wait I didn't get charged for my donut it was free with this tim's rewards points

I think I just stole it I'm a donut stealer ooh earn points so fast it'll seem too good to be true plus join tim's rewards today and get enough points for a free donut drink or timbits with 800 points after registration activation and first purchase of a dollar or more see the tim's out for details at participating restaurants in Canada for a limited time I just have a love for the game. Like everyone would always ask me, how long are you going to play for? And I'm just like, you know, I'm just kind of taking it season by season. And it's like every season I was getting better and I was, you know, having better seasons, better numbers. And it's just like, why would I stop when I'm like on an uphill trend? Like it just doesn't make sense for me to just, you know, turn it in right now. And so I don't know.

You just get to work every summer in the office. season and I don't know. It just led me to where I am. I just, I think you really have to have a love for the game because, you know, you're going to have bad experiences. But I feel like also with that, it's how can you turn it into a good experience? And I think I go back to my aunt and uncle, like they really did a lot, whether they think they did or not, but like helping me have a good experience in that first trip to Spain, like my first overseas experience. they were able to make me have a, like, turn my mindset to where it's like, I look back and I'm like, no, that was a good experience. And like, so now everywhere I go, it's like, where do you,

where do you see the silver lining? And so if you can see the silver lining and everything, I feel like you can just continue to do it because it's going to, like, you're going to get good out of it regardless. So absolutely. Absolutely. But you know, look, if, if you wanted to, you could have become a chef, like a professional chef. Because. I saw, like, you have an, you have a scintillating Instagram account, Kat's Cuis on IG, and I went and peruse through it. These dishes look incredible. Like, this is not like, oh, I'm making, you know, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches between games. Like, we're talking juices and smoothies.

We're talking lasagna, ramen, Mediterranean, Greek, shrimp and crab boil, salads, just the, diversity of cuisine and the way that food looks, I know it's good. Like, how did you get into cooking? In another life, I think I'm a chef, though. So my dad always had a garden growing up, and he always was, he was a great chef himself and my mom cooks. And so I was just always a sponge in the kitchen, like, you know, hanging around with a big family. So you're hanging around the kitchen. Parents are cooking. You're at the dinner table with, you know, your siblings. And I was just always asking questions, watching what he was doing. And then when you go overseas, it's like the food over there is so good, like the produce

and everything and you're experiencing different types of cuisines and different flavors and everything. So I just, you know, took what I learned. And I love, that's one of my favorite things is going, like getting to a new country and going to their grocery store and like seeing things that like I haven't seen before or trying different things or sometimes I'll just go in the meat section. and grab some slice of meat and I'll go home and I'll be like, dad, what is this? And you're like, oh, that looks like, I'm like, okay, what do I do with it?

And so it's just like kind of experimenting. I feel like I'm very much like an artist also. So like I kind of turn like it is art. Food is an art. And it's like I feel like I've been able to just kind of take the two of those and turn it into kind of my lifestyle of like, you know, healthy eating, athletic. Like, you know, it's all, it's all a part of it. And it's all, you know, what helps you be the best you can be.

So I don't know. I've just really enjoyed it. And you have so much time overseas. So, yeah, I make the most of my time. Yes. Food is a love language. So I'm curious. It really is.

I'm very fluent in food or maybe in eating is better for me. But so no formal training. Is this your learning as you're going on the cooking? Yes. Have you cooked for your teammates on the Phoenix Mercury? Have you had anybody over for dinner? Actually, no, not yet. They take care of us here really well.

So I have really not had to cook at our facility. You know, our chefs take care of a lot. So I'm always taking stuff to go for dinner. And, you know, it's pretty taxing. We play so much like we're hardly even home. So to be able to like kind of rest and not be on my feet cooking. And it's been really nice. But I do miss it.

My little sister came when we played Chicago this past time. And I was like, do you want to go to dinner? She's like, maybe we'll just order it. And I'm just like, she wants a home-cooked meal. So I actually, for the first time, I made her a little dinner. And you mentioned, though, your younger sister. So Maddie Westfeld. And that's been a fantastic part of the story, too.

You guys end up being drafted in the same draft class, even though I think they might, is it a six-year gap between you guys? Six years. So you're 29, she's 23. You, again, finished in 2018 after winning a national championship at Notre Dame. She came out of Notre Dame this year in the class of 2025 and was drafted number 16 to the Chicago sky. And I saw that in some ways you call this divine timing that you guys as a family could have this together. So if you could just describe like what the bond is between you two as sisters growing up and now as pros and fellow rookies.

interestingly enough yeah it has been such a special journey for um you know us individually and obviously together um you know she took an extra year in college too like i feel like i've been waiting for her to be pro you know so we can kind of finally be on that same level and she ended up taking another year and you know that other year gave me another great season um in hungry and got a great training camp contract in Phoenix and it's just it doesn't make sense how it just all worked out the way it does. So that's why we kind of keep going to divine timing because there's, I mean, God did that. Like if you really want to sit down and talk about it. But yeah, it's just been really special and, you know, we've been best friends for so long. And

I feel like when we grew up like, yeah, we'd be argued and stuff. And my mom just like, you guys are going to be best friends one day. You might as well start now. So we really did. And We've just been so inseparable and, you know, in the summers, we're working out together. Like, that's our favorite thing to do together is work out. So it's like summers, we can't wait because it's like that's our bonding time. We just go in every summer. Dogs, you know, literally, like, it's the funnest thing to us. And we eat healthy and we cook together.

And like, we both just share so many interests together and just being able to do it all and, like, reach this moment at the same time. like it was just did a fine timing there's nothing else i can say about that yeah and when you guys finally saw each other in the court for you know this wmba season how was it for your family were their house divided jerseys and hats being made and who rooted for who i want to say we were divided but definitely uh my uncle made my parents a couple hats um you know half and half hats and now my parents have half and half shirts. And I think the whole family is kind of getting on that trend. So no, it's just really cool. And our last Chicago game at Chicago, I think we had about 30 plus people come up like drive up from Dayton, which is about a five hour drive with

just friends and family and just a huge support system. And it's just like just a testament of like how their love and support and what it's done for us. Just to see everybody there was a really special moment for us and our family. And you guys have always, your paths have always been somewhat intertwined despite the age grab. Like, you know, Maddie went to Notre Dame after you went to Notre Dame. I mean, your tenure there finished in the ultimate way with the championship, right? And when I think about it, like that 2018 Notre Dame team in particular had so many pros on it. It's yourself, Orike O'Reke Ogunboale, Marina Mabry, Jackie Young, Jessica Shepherd.

Jessica Shepherd. Who else am I missing? Brianna Turner. Yeah, but there were so many injuries that year, too. She was, yeah, she was injured. Those were, yeah, the R-Starting 5 now that I'm in the league are all in the league. You want to know something funny. This is like Generation Gap, though, but so I played at Stanford and our entire starting

five was in the WNBA except for me. Oh, wow. So I ended up being the one who talked the most. I'm a broadcaster, and I interviewed them. But just I understand that feeling. Well, you're still, you're still involved. Yeah, yeah, but I'm just like, you know, how cool that you completed that.

You know what I'm saying? That's how lit that team was. And actually, your sister's Notre Dame class is impressive too because it's her. Sonia Citron's out here for rookie of the year consideration. Like, what is it about Notre Dame players? Why are there so many of y'all that have come out and been pro ready.

Why? I mean, it goes a lot into the coaching staff. Like, I mean, Maddie didn't have Muffett, but I mean, a Hall of Fame coach, like, people want to play for coaches like that. And Niel being the recruiter that she is, I think people just had faith in her from the very beginning. I think Maddie, when she got the coaching job, Maddie was her first call and was like, we're going to do this together. And it's just like, it is that culture that they have built. And I think, you know,

just their recruiting style and just that family community that they built there, like Notre Dame is a special place and like their little slogan that they say is it's not about four years it's about 40 years and it's just like you want to be it's up you want to be your best self and I feel like Notre Dame is going to challenge you enough and make you uncomfortable enough to where you have no choice but to grow or you're not going to make it out of Notre Dame so um I don't know it's just a people a group of people who really hold themselves to to excellence yeah you know that excellence that run in particular y'all head was very memorable what will you never forget about the dramatic Notre Dame running that final four to the championship because you guys one were down

so many bodies you had so many injuries um and then arrique had two game winners if i'm not mistaken against yukon and then mississippi state for the championship and it's all in front of kobe like Kobe Bryant. What do you remember about that? Well, they'll never forget about that run. I mean, it was a full circle moment for me. I'm from Ohio. I won a state championship in Columbus.

It might have even been the same arena. I don't remember now. But it was just such a full moment. I had my high school coaches there. I had my middle school coach there. Teammates, like, it was just, it was meant to be. Like, I feel like it was written. And even Neil, when she wanted.

her national championship in 2001, it was in her hometown, St. Louis. And it's just like, we both wore number 33. And it was just little things like that. It's just the stars aligned for us. And yeah, I mean, we, I remember we were down like 14 or 15 at half in that championship game. And like, I wasn't nervous at all. Like, I knew that I knew the outcome of the game. I didn't know how.

I could have never guessed that RICO was going to hit that shot again. but like I feel like I already knew the outcome of that game. So I don't know. It's just meant to be. I feel like you have a lot of these kind of moments in your like life story here. Right? I know. I kind of do.

Just keep the faith. And I mean, it's all about work ethic. Like if you, you know, work at something long enough. And I feel like it's bound to eventually meet you. And it's cool actually. when I was in the third grade I remember I went to a national championship game and I think Candace Parker

I forget who they played but I just remember Candace Parker Candace Parker like obviously a legend and I remember she won a national championship game and like literally from the third grade I was like I want to do that I'm going to win a national championship and so like my entire childhood like that was my goal

and I feel like it is really important like for young girls to get out there go to games and like physically see it in person because like that a lot like that was my my path and so everything every decision I ever made I'm just like I know what I want to do like I know what decision I have to make because it's going to lead me there so yeah just a cool little little thing that I yeah had to look forward to I mean I'm just getting to know you a bit but you've got some unwavering faith and you have um game changing conviction about you so like it's it's really impressive which is hard because

i know a lot of people who be in their heads way too much to have gone through everything that you do and so like that's a skill in itself and so like to take us through that now to like come to where you are right now just with the phoenix mercury um so god you were thrown right into the fire because especially with all of like the injuries that were happening to some of the like you know big-name players and stuff, you've started a majority of the games this season. You've more recently been coming off the bench, but a huge role, like, you have carved out. What is the role you've carved out for coach Tibbets in the Phoenix Mercury? Whatever they need.

I've kind of always been that person, kind of positionless, kind of, you know, am I going to get 10 rebounds today? Am I going to get that one really crucial rebound at the end of the game? Like, that's just kind of been the player that people have named me as back in Notre Dame, they'd call me the glue player, you know, the people, the person who just keeps everyone together, you know, doing all the little things, the intangibles, what I do isn't always going to show up on the stat sheet. But I feel like our front office here, like, that's who they know me as and that's who they see.

and so just to be recognized as like because a lot of times like I said you don't show up on the statutes a lot but like they reassure me like they see what I'm doing out there and um you know it does it's not always the most rewarding role but at the end of the day like it's what helps us win and I feel like that is the most important thing to me so I feel like that's why I've had such a important role on this team and and a piece of our success is because I am that person doing the little things that doesn't always show up and uh i feel like every successful team needs that person yeah um another person that does all the little things and also all the big things is elissa thomas what's it like so what's it like playing alongside her i know she's a very

captivating leader for for teams yeah i have never played with anyone like her um and it's truly like It has been amazing playing with her, like learning from her. Because I feel like we have been in similar positions. Like her whole career, I feel like she's been overlooked. Like she does so many things and she has been overlooked. And so to be here and to like see her success and see people recognize her for what she's actually doing. Like it just makes me so happy because I know that she deserves that. Like she deserves the MVP and, you know, just to be able to learn from her every day in and out.

and for her, like, just the leader like that she is and her type of leadership, you know, she's keeping people accountable. And I feel like she, no, like she really is. Like she's going to let you know. And I feel like, you know, that's why we've been really successful, even playing with so many rookies from the beginning is because she's led the way. Like she's, you know, she's going to make sure that we're doing what we need to do. And one special thing about her is she's not.

going to ask you to do anything that she's not going to do herself like she absolutely is is doing everything and so it's okay for her to tell you to do that because she's going to do it so um she's a very special player in person and i'm just really happy to be you know a part of the team with her yeah what about Nate Tibbts he's relatively new to the WNBA like he's only been here at what maybe a year more than you or two or something so yeah how is how does he how was he helping to sculpt and mold this team into what it is, which is very highly successful this season. Yeah. I mean, I think we have really great players, and he is a players coach.

Like, he has his leadership council with all our leaders, and they meet regularly, and they're just always on the same page, and he takes, you know, what they think into account. And he's very motivating and encouraging, and it's just like, I feel like a coach, like that like you want to run through a wall for because they you know he's got your back at all times so um i mean i think he's done a great job with with you know our season so far and you know credit to him and credit to his staff like this is the best i think the like a full staff like it's probably the best i've worked with in my whole career and so to have this my first rookie season and like you know just the whole organization like it really has been um a dream come true and

to be able to work with everyone. And not only are they really talented and incredible at what they do, but they're such good people. So, I mean, someone like that, like you just want to win a game for. Meant to be. Exactly. Exactly. It has been fascinating to chat with you.

Just a delight. Thank you for the time. Oh, thank you so much for having me. It really has been fun. Yeah, yeah. We'll be watching you through the playoff run and throughout the rest of your career. Thank you for joining good. show you are part of the family and i wish you the best in your first ever w nba playoffs coming up

oh thank you so much