After playing for four different organizations across her first seven WNBA seasons, former Iowa women’s basketball star Megan Gustafson appears to have found a place she can truly call home in the WNBA.
Inked to a two-year, $1.025 million contract by expansion franchise Portland this offseason, Gustafson is enjoying the best basketball of her WNBA career with the Fire in the Rose City.
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On Saturday night, Gustafson’s emergence in Portland was on full display. The Fire rolled past Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, 100-84, as Gustafson enjoyed a perfect 8 for 8 shooting night and game-high 22 points. Afterwards, an emotional Gustafson shared her appreciation to have joined the expansion franchise.
“I mean, we’re a bunch of overlooked players, and I think we all have a chip on our shoulder. I’ve really never been respected as a basketball player until I’ve gotten here, so I’m really thankful for this team, this organization. They really belive in me.
“Just belief in each other. They really try to play to each other’s strengths. The coaches see everybody’s strengths and they see what we can each improve on every single day in practices, so, yeah, just grateful,” Gustafson said.
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The 29-year-old is averaging career-bests in points per game (10.4), field goal percentage (64.5%) and minutes per game (17.1)
While Gustafson won a WNBA championship last season as a member of the Las Vegas Aces, it was as a role player behind superstar and four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Emotional Megan Gustafson grateful to be ‘respected’ with Portland Fire
