Few emotions can elevate athletes quite like vindication. The Portland Fire were believed to be playing for the 2027 rookie draft. That is essentially saying, in nicer words, that they were not expected to compete for the playoffs with a bunch of role players from across the league and a new coach, Alex Sarama. 10 games later, they have defeated two title challengers. And the former Aces star Megan Gustafson could not help but be emotional about the home Portland has given players like her.
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The Fire absolutely dominated Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. Playing at the Fire pit, they kept Clark to just 6 points while defeating the Fever 100-84. With this win, they moved to 6-4, and Gustafson was huge for the Fire in this game. She dropped 22 points with a perfect 8-8 from the field while defending Aliyah Boston in the paint.
After the game, she revealed how she was playing with something to prove.
“We’re a group of overlooked players, and we all have a chip on our shoulder. I’ve never really been respected as a basketball player until I got here. I’m really thankful for this team and this organization. They truly believe in me,” Gustafson told the media.
“We believe in each other and try to play to each other’s strengths. The coaches see everyone’s strengths, and they also see what each of us can improve on every day in practice. It’s very cool.”
Those emotions make sense when you look at the trajectory. She was initially projected to be drafted in the first round in 2019 as the nation’s scoring leader, but fell to the second round. Eventually picked at No. 17 by the Dallas Wings, she was cut after the training camp in Dallas and re-signed after 4 games due to an injury crisis.
Since then, Gustafson has moved around multiple franchises. After two years at Dallas, she had an 11-game stint at the Mystics and then another two years at the Phoenix Mercury. In each of her first four years, she averaged less than 10 minutes a game.
It felt like she was getting herself into the rotation for the Mercury when she averaged 15 minutes a game in 2023, but they did not deem her worthy enough to re-sign her on a veteran minimum. She then went to Las Vegas to play under Becky Hammon, but never averaged more than 11 minutes.
The Fire, on the other hand, has backed her all the way. She has signed a $1.25 million, two-year deal. And that is a trend for this entire squad. No player on this team has averaged in double digits before this season and is only now getting the opportunity.
And they are setting and breaking expectations using collective strength. Against the Fever, the Fire had Carla Leite dropping 18 points and 12 assists while Emily Engstler had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Bridget Carleton chipped in with 14 points and 3 assists, while Sarah Ashlee Barker scored 15 points from the bench.
They are succeeding early despite being an expansion team. According to Gustafson, the key to their success has been chemistry.
Megan Gustafson Points to ‘Selfless Basketball’ as Portland Builds Momentum
Alex Sarama and the Portland Fire are doing something unprecedented. They have assembled role players from across the league under a new coach who has never worked in the WNBA before. In fact, Sarama started his professional coaching journey in 2020. He is also bringing a new philosophy, based on his book “Transforming Basketball.”
The training techniques are new, with the team foregoing shoot-arounds and even practicing without shoes. You would think all these factors warrant an adjustment period, but there has been none. This is where Megan Gustafson’s constant change has paid off, as she has adapted quickly to this new system.
“I think it’s about getting more and more comfortable with the system. We’re all new here, trying to figure out how to adjust, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of adapting and getting more comfortable every day,” she said.
Even the Golden State Valkyries weren’t this successful early in the season. They went 5-5 in their first 10 games, including a 4-match losing streak, while the Fire are 6-4 already. Gustafson further emphasized that they are focusing on togetherness and “selfless basketball” to elevate the entire team.
“I think we feed off each other’s energy, and it really helps. If someone makes a mistake or gets into a rut, it helps to feed off each other, encourage each other, and support each other,” she said.
“It gets you out of your own head and helps you focus on what you need to do for the team and how you need to show up for them, instead of dwelling on what you did wrong or what you could do better. It’s really selfless basketball.”
On the flip side, doubts will continue to remain whether the team is just peaking too early or if they are a genuine playoff team. Sarama and Co.’s learning approach will be pivotal as teams figure out how this team plays and form counters to their key moves.
