Mercury make a roster move
The Phoenix Mercury have added forward Maddy Westbeld on a rest-of-season contract, according to Jenna Ortiz of the Arizona Republic at azcentral.com. The move was reported Aug. 19, 2026, and the contract was signed Aug. 18, giving the Mercury another piece as the season continues.
Westbeld arrives from the Chicago Sky, where the Mercury had put in an offer sheet and the Sky did not match it, azcentral reported. That kind of roster shuffle is part of the rhythm of a long season: teams keep looking for ways to adjust, and players keep finding new opportunities. For Mercury fans, it’s also a reminder that the roster picture can change quickly.
What Westbeld brings
According to azcentral, Westbeld spent two seasons with Chicago after being selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season, she averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 26 games. She also appeared in three games with Chicago this season on a developmental contract.
Her college résumé is a big part of the story, too. Westbeld played five seasons at Notre Dame and averaged 12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 141 career games, azcentral reported. That kind of background helps explain why a team would want to bring her in for the stretch run.
There’s also a family connection here that makes the move feel especially local to Mercury followers. Westbeld is the sister of Mercury forward Kathryn Westbeld, who is recovering this season from an ACL injury, according to the Arizona Republic. And when she takes the floor for Phoenix, she’ll wear jersey No. 21.
For a team and fan base that are always tracking the next roster wrinkle, this is the sort of update that matters. It’s one more sign that the Mercury are still shaping things as the season moves forward, and one more reason to keep an eye on what comes next.
