Bridget Carleton is a Canadian professional basketball player currently competing for the Minnesota Lynx in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Çukurova Basketbol in the Turkish Super League. She honed her basketball skills while playing for the Iowa State Cyclones during her college years and has represented the Canada national team on the international stage.
Born on May 22, 1997, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Carleton began her basketball journey in high school, where she developed her talents further in college.
She made her debut with Team Canada at the 2013 U16 FIBA Americas, where she was appointed team captain, led the team in playing time, and contributed to securing a silver medal. Additionally, she was a member of the U17 Ontario Team that achieved a gold medal at the 2013 Canada Games and participated with the junior team that earned a silver medal at the U18 FIBA Americas.
Bridget Carleton competed in collegiate basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones, where she concluded her career ranked second in the program’s history for total scoring, amassing 2,142 points. Additionally, she holds third place in three statistical categories: field goals made with 713, steals with 211, and blocked shots with 124.
In 2018, Bridget Carleton represented her country at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. On March 14, 2019, she earned recognition as a second-team All-American by ESPN.
Carleton was selected in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft, being the 21st overall pick by the Connecticut Sun. Although she secured a position on the opening day roster, she was subsequently released after participating in only four games.
Later in the 2019 season, Bridget Carleton signed a 7-day contract with the Minnesota Lynx, followed by a contract for the remainder of the year. She made the Lynx roster for the 2020 season and became a key part of the team, filling in for the injured Sylvia Fowles.
In her first WNBA start on August 5, 2020, Carleton made history by becoming just the third player in league history to score 25+ points with 5+ rebounds. She finished that game against the New York Liberty with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Carleton’s strong 2020 season earned her a spot on the Canadian national team that competed at the 2020 Olympics – the first Olympic appearance of her career.
On May 13, 2023, the Minnesota Lynx played a preseason game against the Chicago Sky in Toronto, marking the first WNBA game held in Canada. Bridget Carleton, a Canadian player, made history by becoming the first from her country to compete in a WNBA game on home soil.
Carleton’s 2024 season was a breakout year, as she doubled her playing time from the previous season and ranked fifth in the league for three-point percentage.
Representing Canada, Carleton shone at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Sopron, Hungary. She averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game, with an efficiency rating of 12.
Bridget Carleton photos
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