With so many Sky players hailing from athletic families, the Sun-Times set out to uncover a sibling rivalry. Instead, we found stories of mutual support from Maddy Westbeld, Elizabeth Williams, and Kia Nurse — admittedly less spicy, but just as satisfying.
Maddy and Kathryn Westbeld (Sky/Phoenix Mercury)
Maddy and Kathryn Westbeld are both making their WNBA debut this season — Maddy as the Sky’s No. 16 draft pick and Kathryn as a 29-year-old “rookie” for the Mercury.
Maddy believes the six-year age gap between the sisters lets them appreciate each other’s games rather than feel threatened by them.
She sees how Kathryn, who played abroad for six years, brings a European-style finesse to the game. She always uses her quickness in the post to her advantage.
“I was telling [teammate Kamilla Cardoso] before we played, don’t dribble in front of my sister, because she’s gonna steal it every time,” Westbeld told the Sun-Times.
But when Kathryn picked up Maddy in the second quarter of last week’s game, she didn’t follow her own advice. She drove to the basket and sank a fadeaway jumper right in her sister’s face.
“It felt great, I’m not gonna lie,” Maddy said.
The Westbelds learned the game from their dad Jim, who praised Maddy’s athleticism and Kathryn’s laser-focus. Jim often joked that Maddy was “picking daisies,” a comment Maddy took as a challenge. She now meditates daily to “literally focus on focus.”
Elizabeth and Mark Williams (Sky/Phoenix Suns)
A top-10 shot blocker in WNBA history, Elizabeth Williams is helping develop the Sky’s young frontcourt, which includes Westbeld, Cardoso and Angel Reese.
She’s also mentoring her younger brother, Mark, a 23-year-old center for the Phoenix Suns. Elizabeth sees Mark’s style as a reflection of his laid-back personality.
“He’s pretty chill, but he can also turn it on when he really likes something,” Williams told the Sun-Times. “When he gets a couple big dunks, all of a sudden you start to see his personality jump out.”
As a 10-year vet, Elizabeth offers Mark advice on areas where he can improve, but she’s careful not to overdo it. Their parents are always watching games too, and though neither played basketball, mom Margaret is increasingly chiming in.
“She’s shifted from being a fan and cheering for us to being like, ‘I think your coach should have made a sub at this time,’” Williams said, laughing.
Kia and Darnell Nurse (Sky/Edmonton Oilers)
Kia and Darnell Nurse are only a year apart, but the difference in their sports — Darnell is a defenseman for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers — gives them space. Kia credits Darnell for helping her adjust to pro sports.
“I can go to him and speak to some of the things that athletes go through as humans that the outside world doesn’t necessarily understand or sympathize with,” Nurse told the Sun-Times.
That includes navigating contract negotiations, trades, and the investment required to take care of your body.
“For my birthday, he always buys me a recovery modality,” Nurse said.
It’s a classic Nurse family move. Both parents played at a high level, and Kia’s older sister was one of the first Canadian athletes to receive an NCAA basketball scholarship. With that blueprint in place, Kia went on to win back-to-back national championships at UConn.
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