Getting drafted into the WNBA has never meant that a player will definitely have a career in the league, something that is true even in 2026.
Maddy Westbeld was drafted by the Chicago Sky as the No. 16 overall pick in 2025 after spending five seasons at Notre Dame. As the South Bend Tribune reported this week, she also came into the league happy to be there, and ready to get to work.
Westbeld didn't get the opportunity to play during her rookie season until September, when four games were left in the season. She scored a career-high 25 points on September 11, something that definitely supported the Sky's decision to draft her. She's also gained a reputation for her stellar work ethic, which has been invaluable for the team.
But that doesn't mean she's seeing a lot of court time so far this season, the Tribune noted. And for Westbeld, that means she's getting the opportunity to study the game, one match at a time. Westbeld was initially waived after five weeks of the 2026 season before being resigned to a developmental contract with the team three days later. That contract gives her 12 games to play this season, and so far, the Sky haven't activated her.
That hasn't stopped her from showing up for her team over and over again. Westbeld is a regular fixture on the sidelines, where she's often seen cheering for her teammates. She told the Tribune that part of the process is learning to put her own feelings about not being on the court to the side so that she can better support the players who are on the floor. That's always important, but it's even more so right now, as the Sky is battling their way through a 2026 season that's been difficult at best.
It's likely not easy for Westbeld, who is used to having been a big part of teams of the past, but sometimes the best learning we do happens when we don't have any other option but to sit through it and absorb. The Sky might not be having a strong season so far, but Westbeld is surrounded by veterans who can speak to nearly every aspect of the game — something she might not be able to appreciate as much if she was on the floor each night.
The Sky will likely get Westbeld on the court at some point this season. And, until then, it sounds like she's happy to wait.
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