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Iowa basketball: Megan Gustafson showing value down WNBA stretch

ByAndrew Wade|
2 Jul 2000: A view of the court WNBA Logo taken before a game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Sparks defeated the Shock 85-63. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Danny Moloshok /Allsport
2 Jul 2000: A view of the court WNBA Logo taken before a game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Sparks defeated the Shock 85-63. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Danny Moloshok /Allsport

Former Iowa basketball player Megan Gustafson is showing value to the struggling Dallas Wings down the stretch of the 2019 WNBA season.

The Dallas Wings are currently the second-worst team in the WNBA with an 8-17 record, but as the team struggles, former Iowa basketball player Megan Gustafson is showing she belongs.

Prior to the All-Star break, Gustafson was getting limited minutes for the Wings, logging just 76 total, but when they came back, the Wings decided to get Gustafson a bit more involved. Over the next two games, the former Iowa basketball star received 43 minutes of action including a career-high 27 minutes in the Wings’ win over the also struggling New York Liberty. In those two games alone, Gustafson hit 6 of 11 shots for 22 points and brought in 16 rebounds, nearly notching her first WNBA double-double.

Since then, it’s been back to a reserve role and limited minutes as she’s registered just 25 minutes in four games since.

That should be changing very soon, however. The Wings are not going to be contending for a WNBA title this season, that much is evident, which means the future is now and they should be looking to see what they have in some of their younger players, most notably Megan Gustafson.

Coming out of college, there was concern about Gustafson’s size and athleticism and whether she could hold up against some of the bigger ladies in the WNBA, but so far, it appears she can, she just needs more minutes. And if her two three-point attempts against the Liberty are any indication, the 6’3” Gustafson is also developing a three-point shot which could make her significantly more lethal as an interior player.

The Women’s National Player of the Year and Iowa basketball standout is back in action tonight against the Liberty before finishing off her WNBA season with seven more games.