Get to Know Portland Fire SF Bridget Carleton
Bridget Carleton, a 6'2" 177 pound small forward from the Minnesota Lynx, made history today as the first member of the Portland Fire's 2026 WNBA expansion team.
From this day forward, Bridget Carleton’s name will be forever tied to the history of professional women’s basketball in Portland.
Earlier this afternoon, the Ontario Canada native and Minnesota Lynx small forward was selected first overall by the Portland Fire in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft.
This piece is the first 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.
Carleton grew up in the southwestern Ontario city of Chatham-Kent (population just above 100,000), and was recognized for her basketball prowess at an early age. She competed for Canada’s U16, U17, U18, and U19 teams, and was rated as Canada’s top prep basketball prospect in 2015 by Crown Scout Recruiting Service. Her first basketball experience stateside came at Iowa State, where Carleton was a four-year starter. She went to win the Big 12 Player of the Year award and the Cheryl Miller Award winner, be named an All-American by multiple outlets, and more.
Accolades have been harder to earn for Carleton in the W, but her career has steadily progressed since a humbling start. After being drafted in the second round and making the Connecticut Sun’s opening day roster in 2019, she was cut after just four games. A month later, Carleton signed a seven day contract with the Minnesota Lynx. They would later sign her to their full roster for the remainder of the 2019 season.
After gradually earning respect and trust as a role player, Carleton broke out in 2024. She started a career high 36 games, playing 29.9 minutes per game, and made the most of it: 44% field goal shooting, 44% three point shooting, plus career highs in points per game (9.6), rebounds per game (3.8), steals per game (1.0), and blocks per game (0.3).
Entering the upcoming whirlwind free agency period, Carleton’s contract was up. Sensing an opportunity to add an emerging talent, the Fire selected her first overall in today’s expansion draft. When the pick was announced, ESPN personality Monica McNutt raved about the move.
“Bridget Carleton is someone who is tested in this league. She’s been a part of that Lynx organization, played in big games, hit big shots, and is praised for her versatility as a defender as well. So I think that’s an exciting first selection in this expansion draft.”
The Fire now hold exclusive rights to negotiate on a contract with Carleton before WNBA free agency starts later this month.
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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.
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