By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Megan Gustafson of the Dallas Wings played her first year of overseas basketball in Hungary during the WNBA’s offseason. She was there when the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak hit but has since safely made it back to the States and is now in self-quarantine.
“I am doing well, currently at home in Port Wing, Wisconsin on a 14-day home quarantine,” she said via text message on March 17th. “It is not required but highly suggested since I just got back from Hungary.”
Gustafson said she is allowed to go to the grocery store, “so I went once for a supply run with my dad but other than that, I have been resting up at home.”
Unlike the NBA, which was in the midst of its season when the Coronavirus Outbreak hit, the WNBA had yet to start its season. The WNBA draft was slated for April 17, training camps were to begin April 26th and the season was to start mid-May.
WNBA officials made a statement last week stating they were monitoring the outbreak and would make decisions on its season soon.
Meanwhile, Gustafson, who recently signed a multi-year contract with the Wings, is staying in shape for whenever the season begins.
“I have been working out once a day doing YouTube cardio and strength-related workouts, as well as going for bike rides and walks with my puppy, Pancake,” she said. “It’s been less than a week since getting back, and honestly, this is a really good time to take it easy and rest my body in prep for the upcoming season.”
She said she will wait until her quarantine period is up before heading to the local school gym to “get up shots. There will also be a lot of sidewalk ball handling sessions in the coming days.”
Gustafson spent a majority of the 2019 season with the Wings after being selected by the team No. 17 overall. She averaged 2.9 points per game and 2.5 rebounds in 9.5 minutes a game. The Wisconsin native tallied 11 points and eight rebounds in back-to-back games (7/30 at Las Vegas and 8/1 vs. New York) during her rookie campaign. The University of Iowa product averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for NKE- Csata in Hungry.