Notre Dame’s Westbeld and King Join Citron in 2025 WNBA Draft

Notre Dame's Maddy Westbeld and Liatu King heard their names called outside of the first round in Monday's WNBA Draft

Mar 29, 2025; Birmingham, AL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Maddy Westbeld (21) shoots during the first half of a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images / Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The 2019 WNBA Draft was all about the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame had a program-record five players taken -- including three first rounders -- and while this year's draft wasn't quite like 2019, it definitely was a success.

Sonia Citron went third overall to Washington Mystics, Maddy Westbeld was selected in the second round (No. 16 overall) by the Chicago Sky and Liatu King got taken by the Los Angeles Sparks in the third round (No. 28 overall)

Built in South Bend. Bound for Chicago. #GoIrish // #IrishInTheWNBA pic.twitter.com/0khk8yswZv

— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) April 15, 2025

Built in South Bend. Bound for Los Angeles. #GoIrish // #IrishInTheWNBA pic.twitter.com/DENQxAMyBN

— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) April 15, 2025

After undergoing foot surgery in August, Westbeld managed to return six months later and still average 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in her final season. Westbeld was a five-year starter and finished her career third in program history with 138 starts and joined her sister, Kat, in 2023 as the only sisters to each score 1,000 points in a Notre Dame uniform.

𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐆𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃@maddy_westbeld is @chicagosky bound as the 16th overall pick in the second round of the WNBA Draft@ndwbb | @FightingIrish | #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/4xIHnbSfqG

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 15, 2025

King transferred from Pittsburgh to Notre Dame for her final year of eligibility and left an indelible mark. King averaged a double-double -- 11.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game -- and left Notre Dame as the school's single-season record holder for rebounds per game. Over her five years of college basketball, King started 103 games and nearly averaged a double-double -- 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

She chose Notre Dame for her final chapter—and made it unforgettable.
From double-doubles to tunnel fits, Liatu left her mark in every way.
One season, one impact, all heart.
Thank you, Liatu 💚#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/mtFsTPoyPT

— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) April 8, 2025

As for what's next for both Westbeld and King? Well, hopefully making their respective team. Unlike the NFL where a second and third round draft choice is almost a lock for making the team, that's not the case in the NBA or WNBA. Both have upside but both have a long way to go in order to make their team's active roster.

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