Bridget Carleton is having a breakout season with Minnesota Lynx

The Canadian has been shooting the lights out has the Lynx prepare for the playoffs as championship contenders.

Shifting slightly from Raptors news to Canadian news — Chatham, Ontario’s Bridget Carleton is absolutely HOOPING in the WNBA season. Shifting from trusted bench role player to starting shooter, Carleton brings energy and offensive punch to a Lynx squad that rolls deep. Now, the Minnesota Lynx head into the WNBA playoffs as serious championship contenders.

Back in 2023 when the Lynx came to Toronto to play in the first WNBA Canada Game, Carleton’s coach Cheryl Reeve had glowing reviews about her. Notably, she mentioned trusting Bridget immensely when she sent her out onto the court. Back then, Carleton’s role was mostly defensive minded, but Carleton could also shoot a few daggers.

Now in 2024, Carleton’s role has grown with the Lynx — and she’s proving she has what it takes to step into that spotlight.

She’s started 34 of the 37 games she’s played this season, and has career highs in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks per game. She’s shooting 45.3% from the field, and 44.1% from three point range. She’s currently 4th in the entire league in three-point percentage and tied for third for most three pointers made in a game.

When you think about the fact that she’s shooting behind Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams as options, Carleton’s impact gets more impressive.

The Lynx starting lineup is tough — you have Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride in the backcourt, Bridget Carleton on the wing, and Alanna Smith and Napheesa Collier in the frontcourt. When all five are operating at top speed, with the chemistry they have, they are arguably the best full lineup in the WNBA.

Carleton has stepped up many times this season in big moments as well. When the Lynx won the Commissioner’s Cup in June, Carleton scored 23 points on 6-8 shooting from three point range. She shot 80% from the field and 75% from three in that game, adding 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and three steals to that impressive statline. Maybe we are biased as Canadians, but that deserved an MVP award.

Just recently, the Lynx played the New York Liberty, the only team in the league ahead of them in the standings. New York would have clinched the no.1 seed in the league with a win, but the Lynx were not about to let that happen. Carleton scored 19 points on 70% shooting from the field, and 71.4% shooting from three. She shot 5-7 from distance, and also recorded 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. The Lynx made a statement that they are coming for the championship with that 88-79 win, delaying New York’s celebration.

Even when she represented Canada at the Olympics, Carleton was the best player on the court. Despite Canada’s losses, she averaged 13.3 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. In Canada’s game against Australia, she scored 19 points, shooting 5-7 from three point range.

She’s a top contender for the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award as well. While there are a few other contenders including Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington and Carleton’s own teammate Alanna Smith, Carleton has a great shot. We don’t have a vote, but in our (kinda biased) opinion, she deserves it.

It’s currently the last week of the WNBA regular season, and the Lynx will head into the playoffs starting on Sunday September 22nd. Right now, they could end up being the 2nd or 3rd seed — but either way seem to be finals favourites. The team is 13-1 since the Olympic break. They have peaked at the right time to make a real run at winning a WNBA championship. Carleton will be a huge part of that.

Canadians have watched Carleton on the National Team for years now, and followed her pro career from her days at Iowa State to the WNBA, and even overseas. Is it racing ahead too much to say she could be a centrepiece of Toronto’s incoming WNBA team?

Carleton could be the only Canadian making an appearance in the postseason as well. Kia Nurse’s LA Sparks have been eliminated from playoff contention, while Aaliyah Edwards’s Washington Mystics and Laeticia Amihere’s Atlanta Dream are both fighting for the 8th and final playoff seed.

Canadians will have Carleton to cheer for as the Lynx seem poised to make a long run in the WNBA playoffs, starting next Sunday!