The new year is off to an exciting start for Maddy Westbeld, a senior at Notre Dame, as she returns to the basketball court after missing the initial two months of the season due to injury. Westbeld made her long-awaited season debut on Sunday, playing a key role in the No. 3 Irish’s 76-66 victory over 17th-ranked North Carolina. The 6-foot-3 forward missed the team’s first 13 games while she worked to recover from a foot injury that required surgery at the end of August as she began her semester back at school.
Reflecting on her return, Westbeld expressed her joy, stating, “I woke up this morning and went to my coffee shop and was just smiling.” She described the journey back to playing as challenging, saying this phase felt like “ripping the band-aid off.” In her debut, she took the floor with just over three minutes left in the first quarter and adhered to a minutes restriction, playing approximately three minutes in each quarter.
“Felt my best in the fourth quarter. I was waiting for the rest of the game, like when are we about to play?” Westbeld laughed, indicating that despite the challenging adjustment to her role, she was excited to contribute. Having previously started every game over her four years, switching to a bench role was a significant change. “It was really weird. I didn’t like it, to be honest,” she shared, adding that it serves as motivation to keep pushing forward toward returning to her top form.
Westbeld’s return strengthens the Notre Dame roster, enhancing both depth and experience, qualities that were previously lacking this season. “She’s done a phenomenal job of getting herself ready,” commented Notre Dame’s coach Niele Ivey, acknowledging the efforts of Westbeld and the performance team in her recovery.
Throughout her career, Westbeld has been a mainstay for the Irish, often playing through various injuries. Speaking about her experience, she noted, “I’ve been playing through injury for a very long time,” and emphasized her appreciation for her body’s resilience after such a lengthy absence from play.
Taking a break from the game can be taxing for athletes, but Westbeld found solace in her family’s support, particularly her brother Ben, a senior high school basketball player who is also recovering from an ACL tear for the second consecutive year. “He’s been through this and he was able to walk me through it,” she said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to support him during his recovery.
The siblings, both undergoing rehabilitation, began their progress together on the same day after their surgeries. Westbeld chose to return for this season with the hope of helping the Irish secure their first national championship since 2018, being part of the last class to receive an additional year of eligibility due to the pandemic.
During her rehabilitation, Westbeld utilized her downtime to enhance her skills as a teammate by observing her teammates during practices. “I tried to get all my workouts and stuff done outside of practice so I could sit and be in practice,” she explained, aiming to absorb new insights that she may not have grasped while actively participating.
Although Westbeld’s return didn’t commence as she envisioned, her aspirations remain high for the season’s conclusion in Tampa with a national title in sight.
