Notre Dame Fighting Irish star will miss the tipoff of basketball season

There is very little doubt that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball team is on a mission this winter. While they got to the Sweet 16 last season, they have higher aspirations for the 2024-25 campaign.

Unfortunately, those plans took a bit of a hit earlier this week. One of the Fighting Irish’s best players is set to miss the start of the season. Worse news than that is there isn’t currently a timetable on when Maddy Westbeld will return.

Westbeld took to social media earlier this week to announce she’d miss the beginning of the new season herself. She issued a statement that was equal parts disappointing and optimistic for Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball fans who were hoping she’d play a big part in the revamped, even stronger squad.

"For quite some time, I've been dealing with a lingering foot issue that I haven't had the chance to fully rest or fix to ensure complete healing," Westbeld wrote as part of her statement. "I've decided to take the necessary time to listen to my body and do what's best for myself, my teammates and my career.”

Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Maddy Westbeld will miss season start

"This is not a setback by any means,” she continued. “It is a step forward for the longevity of my career and to be at full strength when I return to the court this season. While I'll be on the sideline for the beginning of the year, this doesn't change the mission and goal for my team."

While Westbeld said she didn’t suffer a setback in rehabbing from her injury, it is a setback for Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3 forward played and started in all but one of Notre Dame's 35 games last season. She finished third on the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game and led the Irish in rebounding with 8.7 per game.

She was named to the All-ACC Second Team at the conclusion of the regular season and First Team All-ACC Tournament after the Irish won the conference tournament. Westbeld averaged 15.7 points, 6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in the ACC Tournament.

In the NCAA Tournament, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish star averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.