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Former NCAA Champion Ruled Out of WNBA Season After ACL Injury
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- Former NCAA Champion Ruled Out of WNBA Season After ACL Injury
Kathryn Westbeld had almost quit on her basketball career. After winning the National Championship with Notre Dame and playing overseas, the COVID-19 pandemic altered her plans. She worked as an account executive from January through July in 2021. "I do not want to be sitting in an office for my career," she realized one day. Eventually her impressive performances were finally recognized by the Phoenix Mercury , who gave her the chance in 2025. Unfortunately, she won't be able to return for the 2026 season after the latest injury.
Westbeld was crucial in Mercury's finals run last year. She came off the bench but also started 24 games while averaging 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. She also gave them 10 important points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the second game of the first round against the New York Liberty . However, the franchise has announced a devastating injury for Kathryn that will keep her out for the entire 2026 season.
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Multiple reports emerged yesterday that Westbeld walked into the practice facility on crutches with a brace on her right knee. Fans hoped that she would be able to return this season itself from the injury, but the worst has happened. "Kathryn Westbeld suffered a torn ACL in her final game in Hungary and will miss the entirety of the WNBA season," the franchise announced.
Westbeld was on a training camp contract, which allows the franchise to waive her before the season begins without any loss. The team can still keep her as a developmental player to continue offering her support through the rehab. But considering her age (30), the franchise might want to retain a young player in that place.
Regardless, it's a major loss for them on the court for the upcoming season. She was among the principal reasons the Mercury led the league in bench points last year.
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"Tough deal for her," coach Nate Tibbetts admitted in the latest practice media availability. "She was a big part of what we did last year and was excited to get back and was close to coming back healthy. Unfortunately, stuff like this happens." Now, they need to replace her production with another player. And it seems, they have a name in mind.
After Kathryn Westbeld's Injury, Ashten Prechtel Emerges As A Replacement Candidate
Bench players can often decide multiple games in a season. The bench players can win you championships. So, replacing Westbeld is important and Ashten Prechtel could be a player ahead in that race. The Mercury has signed her to a training camp contract. She was drafted by the Sun in 2023, but hasn't debuted in the WNBA yet.
The 24-year-old forward most recently played for the Eneos Sunflowers in Japan in 2025-26, averaging 12.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 22.6 minutes per contest. She shot 44.4% from the three, which is a number Nate Tibbetts likes.
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"I think Ashton has done a really good job. I think the physicality of our league is going to challenge her at times, but she can really shoot it," Tibbetts said. "She's done a great job with verticality at the rim. I think the last three or four days she's been settling in and getting more comfortable. I thought she had another really good day of practice today."
The Mercury was the 5th-best three-point-shooting team last year, averaging 9.4 three-pointers made per game. They have now lost Satou Sabally, who shot 5.4 threes a game at 32.1%. Tibbetts can use Prechtel as a pure shooter who comes off the bench and who also gives them some rebounding and defense.
Against the Sky in the preseason game, Prechtel had 9 points, 5 rebounds, an assist and a block while shooting 2-5 from beyond the arc in just 16 minutes, which furthers her case. It shows that she can fit in with this group of stars and adjust to the WNBA level.
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