LAS VEGAS, Nevada (February 1, 2024)—Las Vegas Aces general manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has signed 6-3 center Megan Gustafson to a free agent contract. Gustafson was selected in the second round (No. 17 overall) by the Dallas Wings in 2017 She spent her first two years in the league there before signing with the Washington Mystics for the 2021 season and playing for the Phoenix Mercury in 2022-23.
“We are thrilled to add Megan Gustafson to our Aces roster,” said Williams. “She is a true blue-collar worker, who does all the little things that help teams win championships. At 6-4 Megan has great footwork, is a savvy finisher around the basket and can also knock down 3s. She will be a huge asset in Becky Hammon’s high-powered offense.”
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Aces family,” said Gustafson. “During my free agency I was looking for a place that has a championship culture and an environment where I can continue to learn from the best and elevate my game. Well, you can’t get much closer to that than the back-to-back champs themselves, so when they were interested, I had a feeling that this could be a really good fit.
“I am super excited to play for Becky Hammon, and to play alongside such prestigious players that Vegas has. I can’t wait for the season, and to help the Aces go for a three-peat title!”
Gustafson started four of 34 games for the Mercury in 2023, and averaged career-highs of 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15 minutes per contest. Over her 113 career games in five seasons in the WNBA, she has averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds a game.
The naturalized Spaniard was recently announced as a member of the Spanish team that will compete in the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament against Canada, Japan and host Hungary from Feb. 8-11. It will be her debut in a Spanish jersey.
She is currently averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in EuroCup games for the London Lions (10-0), who have advanced to the 2024 EuroCup quarterfinals. The Lions also captured the 2023-24 Betty Codona Finals trophy, a Women’s British Basketball League in-season tournament, for the fourth-straight year. Gustafson had 15 points and 8 rebounds in the championship game, and was named MVP. Gustafson has also played professionally in Poland and Greece in WNBA offseasons.
The 2019 Naismith and Associated Press Player of the Year, Gustafson also earned 2018 and 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year honors and was the 2019 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In her four years at Iowa, the Hawkeyes posted a 92-43 (.682) record, advanced to postseason play all four years, including the 2019 NCAA Elite Eight, and captured the 2019 Big 10 Tournament and regular season crowns. Gustafson averaged 20.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game over her four-year collegiate career, helping Iowa increase its win total from 19 in her freshman season, to 29 as a senior. Her No. 10 jersey was retired by the Hawkeyes in January 2020.