Mercury’s Kathryn Westbeld to miss 2026 season with torn ACL

After an utterly impressive season that saw the Phoenix Mercury go all the way to the WNBA Finals, they have been handed their first major injury blow of the 2026 campaign. The Mercury lost to the Las Vegas Aces 4-0 in the Finals, and are currently undergoing preseason.

However, they are now confirmed to be without forward Kathryn Westbeld for the entirety of the upcoming season, per a post on X by WNBA Insider and NBC Sports’ Khristina Williams. The franchise confirmed the above in a press statement, with Westbeld out due to what has been said to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.

The injury occurred while Westbeld was playing overseas for DVTK-Hun-Therm Miskolc in the Hungarian league. Westbeld had gone undrafted in the 2018 WNBA draft and signed for the Mercury back in February 2025.

In what was her rookie season in the league, she averaged 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 18.4 minutes per game, while shooting 35.8% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. Westbeld played in 43 regular-season games and had just established herself in the WNBA.

Westbeld also majorly contributed in the postseason, logging 11 playoff appearances with improved efficiency. Westbeld surpassed her regular-season numbers with a 43.3% overall efficiency while shooting at 37.5% from the three-point zone.

The typical timeline for a torn ACL is 8-12 months, and Westbeld can therefore be expected to sit out the entirety of the upcoming campaign. Her pathway to the WNBA included international leagues across Puerto Rico, France, Italy, and Hungary.

However, Mercury fans will be disappointed to note that the injury itself took place while Westbeld played overseas, although that is a common phenomenon with WNBA players. The 30-year-old is yet to make a comment after the news broke out.

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