Fire Sign Former Aces Backup Center to Bolster Frontcourt

Veteran Megan Gustafson joins Portland on a two-year deal after winning her first WNBA title with Las Vegas.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:36am by

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a WNBA basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes in navy, green, and orange overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract visual representation of the sport.The Fire's acquisition of veteran center Megan Gustafson adds championship experience and frontcourt depth to their young roster.Portland Today

The Portland Fire have signed 29-year-old center Megan Gustafson to a two-year, $1 million contract. Gustafson, who spent the 2025 season as a backup to A'ja Wilson with the championship-winning Las Vegas Aces, will provide depth and experience to the Fire's frontcourt rotation.

Why it matters

The Fire are looking to build on their playoff appearance last season and Gustafson's addition gives them a proven veteran presence in the middle to complement their young core. Her championship pedigree and international experience should help solidify Portland's interior defense and rebounding.

The details

Gustafson, a 6-foot-4 center, was drafted 17th overall by the Dallas Wings in 2019 and has played for four different WNBA teams over her seven-year career. She's averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 35.6% from three-point range. In 2025, she appeared in 20 games for the Aces, starting once and averaging 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per contest.

  • Gustafson signed her two-year contract with the Fire on Sunday, April 13, 2026.
  • She missed the start of the 2025 WNBA season with the Aces due to a lower left leg injury, but returned midway through the year to contribute to their championship run.

The players

Megan Gustafson

A 29-year-old center with seven seasons of WNBA experience, including a 2025 championship with the Las Vegas Aces.

A'ja Wilson

The star center for the Las Vegas Aces, whom Gustafson backed up during the 2025 season.

Luisa Geiselsoder

The only true center currently on the Portland Fire's roster, making Gustafson's addition an important one to bolster their frontcourt.

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What they’re saying

“Megan brings a wealth of experience and a championship pedigree to our team. Her size and skill set will be a great complement to our young core as we look to take the next step.”

— Cheryl Reeve, Head Coach, Portland Fire

What’s next

Gustafson is expected to be a key part of the Fire's rotation when the 2026 WNBA season tips off in May.

The takeaway

The Fire's signing of Gustafson shows their commitment to building a championship-caliber roster around their young stars. Her veteran presence and championship experience should provide a valuable boost to Portland's frontcourt as they aim to make a deep playoff run.