GOOD FOLLOW - Phoenix Mercury Forward, Kathryn Westbeld, Talks Alyssa Thomas, Playing Overseas & More

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It's your girl, Ros Goldenbury, 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 NCA championship in 2018.

We got Catherine Westfell here joining us.

What'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 to get your shot in the WNBA.

So now that you're here and living it, like, how is it?

How do you feel?

I feel great.

It's been an awesome season so far.

I honestly couldn't have scripted a better rookie season for myself, honestly.

You know, coming like right into the season, we had a lot of injuries, a lot of adversity early on.

So it kind of 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 even just think about that journey, right?

So you come out of Notre Dame, you're an NCA

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 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 covet and everything i i ended up not playing um 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 95

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, finished 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 WBA 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 just to be where I am and like just knowing 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 experiences with everything.

But

yeah, I feel like I've been everywhere.

I've been

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, tons of flights canceled and a little scary moment in there.

But

yeah, 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, you kind of touched on it.

You legitimately took an office job.

Like you were an account executive, an account executive.

I believe that

total quality logistics, I saw.

Yes.

What was your role?

What were the tax, the tasks you were doing?

And like, eventually, did you just realize like,

nah, I'm still going to, I got more hoops to play?

Yeah, it was a lot of being on the phone, a lot of cold calls, a lot of

I was kind of the middleman in between like our client and like, uh,

like either our driver or whatever, because it's, it's logistics.

You're 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 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?

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Um,

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 turn it in right now and so i don't know you just get to work every summer in the off season and um

I don't know.

It's just led me to where I am.

You just, 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 in 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.

Um, 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 in you have a scintillating Instagram account, Cat's Cuisine on IG.

And I went and perused 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.

No.

So my dad always had a garden growing up and he always was, he's a great chef himself.

And my mom cooks.

And so I was just always a sponge in the kitchen, like, you know, hanging around, we have 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 the 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 a artist also so like i kind of turn like it is an 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 athletics 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 sure

it really is um

i'm very fluent in food or maybe in eating is better for me

but so no formal training it's this you're learning as you're going on the coast

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.

We played Chicago this past time and I was like, do you want to go to dinner?

And she's like, maybe we'll just order in.

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 there's it 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,

you know, us individually and obviously together.

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 in Hungary 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, we argued and stuff.

But my mom's 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, 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

defined 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 WNBA season, how was it for your family?

Were there house divided jerseys and hats being made?

Who rooted for who?

Yeah.

I wouldn't say we were divided, but definitely my uncle made my parents a couple hats.

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 like drive up from Dayton, which is about a five-hour drive of 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.

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And you guys have always, your paths have always been somewhat intertwined despite the age grab.

Like, you know, having went to Notre Dame after you went to Notre Dame.

I mean, your, 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, Erike Agumbawale, Marina Maybry, Jackie Young,

Jessica Shepard.

Who else am I missing?

Breonna Turner.

Yeah, but there were so many injuries that year too.

She was injured.

Yeah, she was injured.

Those were, uh, yeah, our starting five, 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.

But you're still,

you're still, you're still involved.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But I'm just like, yo, how cool that you completed that.

You know what I'm saying?

And

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 there's 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 Muffet, but I mean, a Hall of Fame coach, like people want to play for coaches like that.

And Neil 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 I don't know.

It's just a group of people who really hold themselves to excellence.

Yeah.

You know, that excellence, that run in particular y'all had was very memorable.

What will you never forget about the dramatic Notre Dame run in that final four to the championship?

Because you guys, one, were down so many bodies.

You had so many injuries.

And then Erique 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,

Brian, what will you remember about that?

Well, you'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 Neal, when she won her national championship in uh 2001, it was in her hometown, St.

Louis.

And it's just like, we both were number 33.

And it was just, 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, I knew that I knew the outcome of the game.

I didn't know how.

I didn't could have never guessed that Erike 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, work ethic.

Like if you, you know, work at something long enough, then

I feel like it's, 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 Candice Parker, I think I forget who they played, but I just remember Candice Parker, Candice 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 allowed 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

it's just a cool little, little thing that I

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

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, girl, 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.

Um, but a huge role, like you have carved out.

What is the role you've carved out for Coach Tibbets and the Phoenix Mercury?

Um, 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 their day, 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, 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 stat sheets a lot, but like they reassure me, like they see what I'm doing out there.

And,

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 an important, you know, role on this team and a piece of our success is because I am that person doing the little things that doesn't always show up.

And I feel like every successful team needs that person.

Yeah.

Another person that does all the little things and also all the big things is Alyssa Thomas.

What's it like?

So what's it like playing alongside her?

I know she's a very

captivating leader for teams.

Yeah.

I have never played with anyone like her.

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

know like she really is like she she's gonna let you know and uh 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 gonna 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

doing everything.

And so it's okay for her to tell you to do that because she's going to do it.

So

she's a very special player and person.

And I'm just really happy to be, you know, a part of the team with her.

Yeah.

What about Nate Tibbetts?

He's relatively new to the WNBA.

Like he's only been here what, maybe a year more than you or two or something.

So

how is 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, you know, 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

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 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 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 Follow Show.

You are part of the family.

And I wish you the best in your first ever WNBA playoffs coming up.

Thank you so much.