Bridget Carleton (born May 22, 1997) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for SERCO UNI Győr in the EuroLeague.[1] She played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones and competed internationally with the Canada national team.[2]

Bridget Carleton
Carleton in 2019
No. 6 – Minnesota Lynx
PositionSmall forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1997-05-22) May 22, 1997 (age 27)
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight177 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High schoolJohn McGregor Secondary School
(Chatham, Ontario)
CollegeIowa State (2015–2019)
WNBA draft2019: 2nd round, 21st overall pick
Selected by the Connecticut Sun
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019Connecticut Sun
2019–presentMinnesota Lynx
2019–2020Townsville Fire
2020Landerneau
2021–2022Ramat HaSharon
2022–2023CB Avenida
2023–presentSERCO UNI Győr
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Canada
FIBA AmeriCup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Buenos Aires
Silver medal – second place 2019 Puerto Rico

She participated at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.[3]

On March 14, 2019, Carleton was named second-team All-American by ESPN.[4]

In her career playing at Iowa State University, she finished 2nd in the Cyclones' records for career scoring with 2,142 points. She ranks third in three areas: field goals with 713, steals with 211, and blocked shots with 124.[5]

Canadian national team

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Carleton first played for Team Canada at the 2013 U16 FIBA Americas. She was named team captain, led the squad in minutes, and helped Canada to a silver medal. She also was a part of the U17 Ontario Team, which won Gold at the 2013 Canada Games. Carleton also played with the junior team that won silver at the U18 FIBA Americas.

Carleton joined the Senior National Team in 2016 and played in some exhibition games. She was a part of the 2017 squad that defended their gold medal at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup tournament. In 2018, she helped Canada to a 7th-place finish at the FIBA World Cup, as well in 2019, winning silver at the FIBA AmeriCup.[6]

On June 29, Carleton was named to the 2020 Canadian National Team that competed at the 2020 Olympics. This marks the first time in her career that she will compete at the Olympics.[7][8]

She represented Canada in February 2024, at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Sopron, Hungary. She averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Her efficiency per game was 12.[9]

WNBA

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Connecticut Sun (2019)

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Carleton was drafted in the second round of the 2019 WNBA draft, 21st overall, by the Connecticut Sun. She ultimately made the opening day roster,[10] but was later released after just four games.[11]

Minnesota Lynx (2019–present)

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On August 22, Carleton signed a 7-day contract with the Minnesota Lynx,[12] followed by a contract for the remainder of the 2019 season.[13]

Carleton made the Lynx roster for the 2020 season,[14] and became a key part of the team – filling in for the injured Sylvia Fowles. Carleton became the third WNBA player in history to score 25 or more points and have more than five rebounds in her first WNBA start in the August 5, 2020, game for the Minnesota Lynx against the New York Liberty. She scored 25 points, had seven rebounds and three assists.[15] Carleton started in place of Sylvia Fowles, who was out with a calf injury.

On May 13, 2023, the Lynx played a preseason game against the Chicago Sky in Toronto, Canada, which was the first WNBA game to be played in Canada. At that game, Carleton was the first Canadian to play a WNBA game in Canada.[16]

The 2024 season was a breakout one for Carleton in which she doubled her playing minutes over 2023 and ranked fifth in the league for her three-point percentage.[17] Head coach Cheryl Reeve said about Carleton in 2024, "This Bridget is the one we've always envisioned."[18] After the Commissioner's Cup win, Napheesa Collier was named the MVP, but after accepting the award, Collier said "I think Bridget deserves this" for Carleton's performance with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the Cup championship game.[19][20] Carleton clinched games at key moments for the Lynx in the 2024 season, including a 3-point shot with about 3 seconds left in the September 17, 2024, game against the Connecticut Sun that locked in the win and the second place seed for the Lynx.[17] Carleton won the 2024 Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award for the Lynx.[21] The award winner is chosen by a committee of team staff and players who determine who "best embodies the altruistic traits of kindness, selflessness and overall regard for the well-being of others throughout the community." Minnesota Lynx General Manager Clare Duwelius said about Carleton, "Like Syl did, Bridget leads with kindness, joy, authenticity, and selflessness. Having her leadership in this space has played a huge role in the success we have enjoyed this season, both on and off the court."[21]

International career

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In November 2023 Carleton signed with Hungarian team SERCO UNI Győr in the EuroLeague to play in 2023 after the completion of the WNBA season.[22] On January 17, 2024 she netted 41 points against KGHM BC Polkowice and her amazing perimeter play contributed to her racking up a stellar performance efficiency valuation of 47 after also adding 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Since the 1996-97 season, it was the third highest behind Lara Mandic in 2002 who dropped 42 and modern day leader Victoria Bullet who scored a jaw-dropping 48 points for T.M.C Ahena Cesena in 1996.[23]

Carleton signed to play in Hungary again after the completion of the 2024 WNBA season.[17]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2019 Connecticut 4 0 7.3 .000 .000 .000 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0
Minnesota 4 0 2.8 .500 .500 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8
2020 Minnesota 22 15 25.8 .520 .457 .647 3.6 2.5 0.7 0.0 1.8 6.6
2021 Minnesota 32 10 19.3 .401 .365 .800 2.3 1.5 0.8 0.2 0.8 4.8
2022 Minnesota 36 2 16.8 .403 .354 .731 2.1 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.6 4.3
2023 Minnesota 38 4 15.1 .345 .337 .733 2.3 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.4 3.2
2024 Minnesota 39 36 29.9 .444 .444 .789 3.8 2.2 1.0 0.3 1.0 9.6
Career 6 years, 2 teams 175 67 20.4 .420 .397 .740 2.7 1.5 0.6 0.1 0.8 5.4

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2020 Minnesota 4 3 29.5 .500 .538 3.8 2.5 1.3 0.0 0.8 6.3
2021 Minnesota 1 0 15.0 .000 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2023 Minnesota 3 0 24.0 .600 .444 .750 3.7 0.7 1.0 0.0 0.3 8.3
2024 Minnesota 12° 12° 33.8 .435 .339 .947 3.8 1.4 0.7 0.3 0.9 9.3
Career 4 years, 1 team 20 15 30.6 .458 .383 .913 3.6 1.6 0.8 0.2 0.8 8.1

EuroLeague

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EuroLeague statistics[24]
Year Team GP MPG PPG PTS RPG APG FGM-FGA FG% 3PM-3PA 3P% FTM-FTA FT%
2023-24 SERCO UNI Győr 8 35.8 17 136 6.8 1.6 5.8-13.8 41.8 2.8-6.9 40 2.8-3.5 78.6

College

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NCAA statistics[25]
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Iowa State 27 323 33.7% 32.9% 80.5% 6.7 1.7 0.9 0.8 12.0
2016–17 Iowa State 31 465 39.5% 34.1% 93.9% 5.7 1.8 1.2 1.0 15.0
2017–18 Iowa State 31 594 38.7% 33.0% 82.5% 6.5 3.4 2.2 0.9 19.2
2018–19 Iowa State 35 760 46.8% 37.1% 86.1% 8.6 4.0 2.3 1.2 21.7
Career 124 2142 40.5% 34.3% 85.7% 7.0 2.8 1.7 1.0 17.3

References

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  1. ^ "Bridget CARLETON at the EuroLeague Women 2023-24".
  2. ^ Eurobasket.com profile[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Bridget CARLETON at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  4. ^ "Women's college basketball All-Americans 2019". 14 March 2019.
  5. ^ Tommy Birch (2020-03-09). "'It's a dream come true': Former Iowa State star Bridget Carleton prepping for Olympic run". Des Moines Register.
  6. ^ "Bridget Carleton". olympic.ca. Team Canada. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  7. ^ Birch, Tommy. "Former Iowa State star Bridget Carleton selected for Canada basketball Olympic team". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Bridget Carleton makes Olympic debut in Canada's 72-68 loss to Serbia". weareiowa.com. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  9. ^ "FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Hungary 2024".
  10. ^ Birch, Tommy. "Former Iowa State star Bridget Carleton earns roster spot on WNBA's Connecticut Sun". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  11. ^ Heavren, Natalie (4 July 2019). "Connecticut Sun claim Natisha Hiedeman, waive Bridget Carleton". High Post Hoops. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  12. ^ Gardner, Hayes. "Women's basketball: Bridget Carleton signs 7-day contract with Minnesota". The Ames Tribune. Archived from the original on 2019-09-21. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  13. ^ "Minnesota Lynx Sign Bridget Carleton For The Remainder Of The WNBA Season". Chatham-Kent Sports Network. 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  14. ^ Stuve, Sam. "Former Iowa State forward Bridget Carleton earns spot on the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx 2020 roster". Iowa State Daily. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Carleton Only Third Player In WNBA History To Score 25+ And 5+ Rebounds In First Start". Chatham-Kent Sports Network. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  16. ^ Bowles, Jamauri (2024-06-25). "Through Lynx and International Lenses: The Valuable Presence of Bridget Carleton » Winsidr". Winsidr. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  17. ^ a b c Leite, Chelsea (2024-10-25). "Bridget Carleton gets 'spotlight she deserves' after breakout season". The Next. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  18. ^ "Bridget Carleton is ready for her WNBA Finals moment". www.basketball.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  19. ^ Horstman, Terry (2024-06-26). "Chemistry and culture propel Lynx to Commissioner's Cup title". The Next. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  20. ^ Abdeen, Aya (June 25, 2024). ""I think Bridget (Carleton) deserves this."". Twitter. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Lynx Announce Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award Recipient for 2024 Season". lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  22. ^ "Jól érzi magát Győrben Bridget Carleton – WBASKET". 29 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Where does Carleton's 41-point display rank in modern history of EuroLeague Women?".
  24. ^ "Bridget CARLETON at the EuroLeague Women 2023-24".
  25. ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
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