The 2019 Naismith Trophy winner has struggled to find playing time in the WNBA, but it looks like she now has one with the expansion Portland Fire.
Megan Gustafson finished her career as one of the most decorated players in Iowa women's basketball history, but her incredible college success hasn't always translated to the WNBA.
It's been an up-and-down seven years for Gustafson, as she's bounced around to five different teams in that timeframe. After winning her first-ever WNBA title with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025, Gustafson signed a two-year contract with the expansion Portland Fire.
The 2026 campaign is still in its infancy, but all signs point to Gustafson finding a long-term home in the Rose City. She's never spent more than two years on the same team, but Gustafson may be playing the best basketball of her WNBA career.
Since the last Hawks in the WNBA update on May 25, Gustafson has been busy. She recorded solid outings in a three-game stretch against the New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun, and Atlanta Dream (Portland went 2-1), but her signature performance since then came against none other than Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.
Gustafson couldn't miss - literally. She finished with 22 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting, including a three-pointer, to help Portland secure a 100-84 victory over the Fever.
"We're a bunch of overlooked players... I've never really been respected as a basketball player until I've gotten here... I'm thankful for this team, this organization. They believe in me," Gustafson told Brenna Greene of KOIN News during a postgame press conference after the win over Indiana.
Gustafson then chipped in a near double-double of 13 points and eight rebounds in the Fire's next game against the Golden State Valkyries, but it wasn't enough to avoid a blowout defeat.
Portland has been playing much better basketball of late, winning four of its last six games to improve its record to 6-5 - good enough for eighth place in the WNBA standings.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Clark and the Fever have played just two games since the last update, but the results have been disappointing. Indiana narrowly lost to Golden State before laying an egg in Portland.
Clark scored 16 points in the loss to the Valkyries on May 28, but registered a season-low 22 minutes and six points in the defeat to the Fire on May 30. Clark battled injuries all of last season and doesn't appear to have found her groove yet.
Indiana has been in the news for all of the wrong reasons lately. Longtime reporter Scott Agness had his credential revoked by the team on June 2, and a video of Clark and head coach Stephanie White arguing on the sidelines floated through social media.
The losses leave the Fever at 4-4 overall and 10th place in the WNBA standings.
Lucy Olsen, Washington Mystics
Olsen continues to see infrequent minutes for a bad Mystics team, but did see a season-high 10 minutes in Tuesday's 90-72 victory over the Chicago Sky. That was the only time she even saw playing time since our last update, and she recorded three points.
Washington is 4-4 overall and sits in ninth place in the WNBA standings.
Kate Martin, Los Angeles Sparks
Martin has played in just one game for Los Angeles since the last update, scoring two points in 13 minutes during an 84-81 loss to Connecticut on May 30. She didn't see any action in the Sparks' 79-69 defeat against Las Vegas on June 2.
Los Angeles is 4-5 overall and is in 11th place in the WNBA standings.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
