PORTLAND, ORE. — Megan Gustafson knows a thing or two about remodeling oneself in the WNBA. Gustafson, a former Iowa Hawkeye who was drafted as the No. 17 overall pick by the Dallas Wings in 2019, spent two seasons with the team before she briefly joined the Mystics in 2021.
Washington traded her to the Phoenix Mercury that season, a huge shift for her, as Washington, D.C. and Phoenix, Arizona are literally on opposite ends of the country; however, it proved to be a good one. Gustafson achieved her first double-double with the Mercury and came off the bench to contribute to the team’s playoffs push that season.
She joined the Las Vegas Aces in 2024, only to suffer an injury ahead of the 2025 season that nearly ruled her out indefinitely. Gustafson finished that season as part of a championship-winning team — a far cry from the same athlete who was drafted in the second round only seven years prior.
Gustafson is in Portland, Oregon now after having been picked up by the Fire as part of the team’s expansion draft this year. Being part of an expansion team inherently pushes an athlete to be flexible, something Gustafson already has plenty of firsthand experience and something she can speak to her younger teammates about.
“I think it’s all about fit in this league,” she told The IX Basketball on Wednesday at the Viking Pavilion in downtown Portland, where the team is holding practice until their facility is finished. The mood in the Viking Pavilion was calm, even relaxed; head coach Alex Sarama had players performing drills in their socks while jazz music played.
“You know, whatever their organization needs in terms of the role that you play is so important, and sometimes in different situations, different environments, sometimes you can feel like you’re kind of in a box, and you can’t really go outside of those boxes,” Gustafson said while glancing toward her teammates.
Feeling stuck can wreck a player’s self-esteem. “And that’s when you kind of lose your confidence,” Gustafson added. “I thought that several times in my career. So I can relate to some of these young players, too, and I’m trying to help them … help them figure out their fit, their role, because sometimes those boxes might constrain you, but also they can help you grow in ways that you’ve never pushed yourself.”
The Fire certainly encourages growth. Sarama, who was announced as the team’s head coach in October 2025, built a roster around the principles that guide his Constraints-Led Approach. Sarama’s system is open-ended and flexible, and it’s all about encouraging players to create moments and opportunities for themselves.
That philosophy was on full display Tuesday of this week when the Fire won the team’s first-ever game at home while hosting the New York Liberty. “It’s amazing,” Gustafson said of the win. “I mean, I think we all rallied to get that win, and I think it made it more special because we fought so hard to to earn it. And obviously we went against New York, and winning with a game winner, you really couldn’t script it any better.”
For Gustafson, the win was also an indication that every single person on a basketball roster is important, and learning that is one of the positives that comes with experiencing being on multiple teams. “I think just knowing that no matter where you go, every team has a role for you, whether it’s big or small, and no matter even if it is a really small role, it’s still super important,” she said.
“I think we did that to a T yesterday,” she continued. “Everybody came in and did exactly what they needed to do, whether it was playing 30 minutes, getting a game winner, or just doing the dirty work inside. People had specific roles last night, and no matter how big or small those boxes might be, everyone stepped up. And I think that’s the most important thing.”
The move to Portland was a big one for Gustafson for another reason: the team is home to assistant coach Sylvia Fowles, whom the Fire hired last December. The two-time WNBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 2017 WNBA MVP, eight-time All-Star, and four-time Defensive Player of the Year has a lot she can teach a post player like Gustafson, who hasn’t hidden how excited she is to have the opportunity to learn.
“Returning to the league that shaped me, now as an assistant coach with the Portland Fire, is truly special,” Fowles said at the time. “When I retired, my hope was for a brighter, more powerful future for this league and its players. Now, I get to help turn that vision into a reality in Portland.”
Fowles ended her career as the league’s all-time rebounder, and is still ranked No. 2 for the record (which was usurped by Tina Charles in 2024, two years after Fowles retired). Rebounding is a hallmark of Sarama’s system, and Sarah Ashlee Barker‘s offensive rebound won the team their match against the Liberty this week.
While speaking to reporters during the Fire’s training camp last month, Gustafson said Fowles is on her “post player Mount Rushmore.” There’s a lot Gustafson can learn from Fowles, and she is aware of this and grateful for it.
“You know, she’s someone I’ve always looked up to as a post player. You know, she’s, she’s incredible to work with,” Gustafson said of Fowles. “She’s always encouraging, uplifting. I think that’s super, super important for an assistant coach, just to like, rally behind you and feel confident in what you’re doing.”
Fowles is, of course, having an impact on how Gustafson plays, too. “And she’s also helping me with little details of little things that I can do to improve my game, but also just believing in my three point shot, too,” she continued. “You know, she’s even tracking me throughout the game of, ‘Hey, you need to get more [of this].'”
“Someone who instills you and believes in you, and tells you that you need to shoot more … that’s what’s gonna give you more confidence,” Gustafson added.
Confidence will be key as the Fire progress this season. In a lot of ways, the ups and downs Gustafson has experienced have helped her arrive right where she’s supposed to be — and that’s enough for her this season.
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