Get to Know Portland Fire F Emily Engstler
Emily Engstler, a 6'1" forward for the Washington Mytics, was picked by the Portland Fire in today's WNBA expansion draft.
Today, the Portland Fire made history, selecting the first eleven players in franchise history through the WNBA expansion draft.
As an added bonus, one particular pick will make rookie head coach Alex Sarama’s job easier.
Emily Engstler, an experienced role player who has competed in the W for four years with three different teams, will bring crucially-needed veteran presence to the expansion franchise.
This piece is one of eleven profile pieces spotlighting the career journeys of Portland’s expansion draft selections - the first professional women’s basketball players to represent the Rose City since 2002 - and the first members of Portland’s new WNBA team.
Engstler - born in Queens and raised on Roosevelt Island - is a native of the Big Apple. After three seasons at Syracuse, starting 36 games at small forward, she transferred to Louisville ahead of the 2021-22 season. The reigning ACC Co-Sixth Player of the Year helped the Cardinals reach the Final Four, and finished her senior year with ACC All-Conference and All-Defensive Team honors.
Her professional career has suffered several hurdles. Despite notching six starts - 66% of her career total - in her 2022 rookie season, the Indiana Fever waived their former fourth overall draft pick one year later. Then she signed a training camp contract with the Washington Mystics, but failed to make the final roster. In June 2023, the forward signed a hardship contract with the Minnesota Lynx, playing in 12 games, but was released after Minnesota teammate Jessica Shephard recovered from illness.
Before her third year in the league, Engstler inked a contract with the Washington Mystics. This time, she made Washington’s final roster, and began to find her role in the league. Over the past two seasons, she has played 72 games with 3 starts, tallying career highs in points, field goal percentage, three point shooting percentage, and free throw shooting percentage.
Engstler and her new Portland Fire teammates will return to the court later this Spring. The Fire’s regular season opener is at home May 9th against the Chicago Sky.
—
Matt Bagley is a professional sportswriter and broadcaster with a passion for women’s sports. Outside of work, he cherishes quality time with his birth family, his chosen family, and one very pesky house panther.
PortlandSupporter.com is 100% subscription-free & advertisement-free. Instead, we conclude every article with a brief spotlight on our favorite local charities. The Autism Society of Oregon sponsors local support groups across Oregon which assist people of all ages on the autism spectrum, and their caregivers. To learn more about volunteering and/or donating to ASO, browse this link.