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Maddy Westbeld entered the WNBA during a watershed season for women’s sports.
The Chicago Sky forward, who was drafted 16th overall in April, joined the league as viewership and attendance surged, corporate partnerships multiplied and the tunnel transformed into a national stage for athletes to showcase not just their game, but also their personalities, values and style.
ESPN delivered its most‑watched WNBA opening weekend ever—headlined by the Sky vs. Fever matchup in May—which averaged 2.7 million viewers and peaked at 3.1 million. Meanwhile, WNBA broadcasts on ION more than doubled their viewership compared to 2023.
“The words that come to mind are gratitude and inspiration, especially gratitude as a younger sister,” she tells SI Swimsuit of the progress in the league. “I witnessed my sister and all the women who came before me do all the work and sacrificed the eyes, attention and compensation, knowing that we would make it someday to where we are right now.”
Kathryn Westbeld plays for the Phoenix Mercury. The two are among the first sisters to compete simultaneously in the WNBA, and Maddy calls her older sister her “best friend” and “greatest role model.” Entering the league now, she says, comes with both excitement and responsibility.
“I’m inspired because I feel like I have an obligation because of this,” Westbeld shares. “To chase every single dream I have on and off court. Our platform of resources and capacity has skyrocketed, and we have the means to be unlimited in any space.”
That includes fashion. Westbeld has embraced the tunnel as a powerful extension of her voice, merging her love for style with the visibility of her new platform. Her looks—classy, chic and often corpcore-inspired—have already landed her on fashion roundups and brand mood boards. As she puts it, “I try to not do too much [while] still getting a good message across.”
“I think that the W is getting the moment it has deserved because those people are investing in it and the right eyes are buying in,” she says. “The product has always been there, but it hasn’t caught the correct audience until now.”
She adds that the spotlight on athletes extends to the individuality they bring to every space. “You can say we are walking billboards and many powerful women are the hot commodity right now,” Westbeld shares. “The W is the perfect hub.”
Stylist and brand consultant Desiree Olavarrieta has helped Westbeld refine her tunnel looks while encouraging her to lean into her own creative vision. Together, they’ve built numerous outfits that tell a story.
“The rise of fashion in the W has been long overdue. These women have always had style, but now there’s finally a spotlight on it,” Olavarrieta tells SI Swimsuit. “The tunnel has become a real platform for self-expression, storytelling, and honestly, brand building.”
Olavarrieta emphasizes that the movement is about breaking barriers, not conforming to them. “What I love most is that it’s not about fitting into a mold—it’s about breaking them,” she adds. “You’re seeing individuality, creativity, edge, elegance and everything in between. And it’s shifting the way people see female athletes: not just as competitors, but as cultural leaders.”
Westbeld has big aspirations both on the hardwood and beyond, and that cultural shift is exactly what she’s been waiting for.
Next. Maddy Westbeld Reflects on Rookie Season, Sky’s Supportive Culture: ‘People Make the Experience’. Maddy Westbeld Reflects on Rookie Season, Sky’s Supportive Culture: ‘People Make the Experience’. dark
