Kathryn Westbeld, the oldest rookie on the Phoenix team, has had a path far from being a typical rookie. For context, most WNBA rookies are 22 or 23 years old! Undrafted in 2018 after winning a national title with Notre Dame, she took a longer route. Westbeld spent years overseas, sharpening her skills and growing her game. In 2025, she finally joined the Phoenix Mercury. Since then, she has quickly become a vital contributor off the bench.

In Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA semifinals against the Minnesota Lynx, Kat played an important role, scoring 8 points. Appreciating her, Alyssa Thomas said, “It’s a team win. I think Kat came in and gave us some great energy, and that really sparked us. You know, when we play like that, we can do anything. I am just super proud that we didn’t give up today.” Now, with the 2025 WNBA Finals in full swing, fans have been keeping a close eye on Kathryn Westbeld. This article takes a closer look at her parents, who have been her number one supporters from day one.

Who are Kathryn Westbeld’s parents?

Kathryn Westbeld was born on January 29, 1996, in Kettering, Ohio, U.S., to Susan and Jim Westbeld. She is the third of five children in the Westbeld family. Her parents, both American nationals, met and married in 1992 after dating for just four months. More than 30 years later, they are still together, residing in Kettering and supporting their children every step of the way.

Reports suggest the mother of five, Susan, attended Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio, and previously worked as a Senior Data Analyst at LexisNexis, but there’s not much public data to back the claim. Her father, a former high school football player, graduated from Wright State University in 1996 with a degree in business administration. This claim, too isn’t acknowledged publicly by the Westbeld family.

What ethnicity are Kathryn Westbeld’s parents?

There’s no clear information from reliable sources about Susan and Jim Westbeld’s ethnicity. We’ll update this section once we have confirmation. However, if we had to take an educated guess, we would go with White/Caucasian ethnicity.

Who are the siblings of Kathryn Westbeld?

Of the five kids, Kathryn Westbeld is the third, raised by Susan and Jim Westbeld in Kettering, Ohio. Her older siblings are Amanda and Adam, with Adam having a background in basketball, while her younger siblings are Maddy Westbeld, who currently plays for the Chicago Sky, and Benjamin, the youngest of the family.

Remarkably, Maddy and Kathryn both entered the WNBA around the same time. “There’s just something about that divine timing,” Kathryn says. Even with a six-year age difference, the sisters share an unbreakable bond that goes beyond family—right onto the court. “We’re not twins technically, but she’s literally my best friend. I ride or die. Honestly, whenever I was growing up and had to make a decision, she was the first person I’d go to,” Maddy told the WNBA in an interview.

Kathryn Westbeld’s relationship with her parents

From Kathryn’s days as a high school standout at Fairmont High School to winning the 2018 NCAA title with Notre Dame, the Westbelds have been a constant source of support throughout. Not just that, with the family’s support, the 29-year-old carved out a professional career overseas before making her WNBA debut with the Phoenix Mercury in 2025.

While Kathryn never imagined she’d spend seven years playing basketball overseas, one thing she never needed was a pep talk from her parents. During that time, Susan and Jim stayed closely connected with her through casual FaceTime calls, centered on simple joys like cooking and coffee. “She doesn’t require that,” Susan once said.

“Kathryn has her own fire and motivates herself. I just call her and we talk about food, we cook together, have coffee together (on FaceTime). Never did we have to give her any type of drive. She had it,” the mother elaborated. Westbeld credits her parents’ blue-collar work ethic for shaping her own drive.

The Westbeld couple has always led by example as parents. “They both work extremely hard and set the example for me and my siblings. I’ve never needed to be told what to do—I’ve just watched them as I’ve grown up,” Kathryn said in an interview with Sports 360. Now, as their daughter plays the WNBA final, it is time for them to cheer for Phoenix to turn their fortunes starting Game 3!