New Spanish citizen Megan Gustafson helps spread popularity of women’s hoops in Europe

LONDON — Her jersey is one of only two Hawkeyes that currently hangs in the rafters at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. But Megan Gustafson never got the Final Four treatment that Iowa’s enjoyed the last two years. No red carpet. But a gold medal now adorns Megan’s international trophy case after winning a EuroCup championship with the London Lions.

The crowds in London would have been nearly unthinkable just one year ago. A dramatic parallel to Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes breaking attendance and viewership records stateside, Megan and the Lions are doing the same in Europe. “In the beginning of the season when I was here, we hardly had any fans. But now we’re getting 2,000-plus, which has been really exciting. We won the British Trophy final, and there was 8-9,000 people there. When we keep winning, we keep bringing people in and drawing people in. That brings a lot of fans to the away games, as well as the home games.”

Now after winning a European championship, Megan has become a European citizen. Earlier this year, she went through the steps to earn a Spanish passport, in order to play for Spain’s national team during this summer’s Olympics. If you’re confused, so was every Hawkeye fan and coach. Associate head coach Jan Jensen recalls, “She said ‘I’ve got to fly to LA to apply for my Spanish citizenship’. I was like-whoa! Are you Spanish?”. As it turns out, there is no Spanish DNA in Megan’s blood. But this is not an uncommon career turn for professional women’s players, who can be invited to become a citizen of another country in order to get more opportunities for competition during the WNBA offseason.

Megan says, “There are a lot of other WNBA players that do the same thing. It just skirts around the rules. Not only is it great to go into the Olympics and have that opportunity, but it also helps my career professionally overseas because I don’t count as an American anymore, and there are limitations on how many Americans you can have per team… I want to be in the Olympics, I want to be a part of a family and a team, and they’ve been so welcoming to me. I’m going to be taking Spanish lessons, they’re hiring me a teacher.”

Not only is Megan’s international career expanding, but ever by her side is Pancake, her pet welsh corgi, who’s become Megan’s constant companion in her international adventures. “She’s always in my contracts for overseas teams. I will not go to a team if I can’t bring my dog. That’s just a big no-no for me. Just having her with me wherever I go is so important. She’s my child. Whenever I have a bad day with basketball, if I don’t feel like I did well, my worries instantly go away. So she’s definitely therapeutic in that aspect.”

Megan and her fellow Spaniards have already qualified for the Olympic games in Paris. The dream of every American child is to suit up for the red, white, and blue. But if Team USA never comes calling, then maybe the red, yellow, and red is waiting. “Playing for Team USA would have been cool. But being in the Olympics, regardless of who I’m playing for-it really doesn’t matter to me. I’m just excited to make it more about what’s on the front of my jersey, not on the back.”

Jensen, Megan’s former coach in college says, “I get so emotional about it because Megan is one of the all time greatest people I know. And from a [high school graduating] class of 11 to competing in the EuroCup and play in the Olympics: that is big time”.

Gustafson adds, “Team USA never reached out. I’ve never played for them. But I’m just going to go somewhere else and play for them. So I’m excited.”

This article was provided courtesy of Iowa’s News Now.