Bridget Carleton’s remarkable journey to the WNBA Finals is a testament to her steady rise as one of the most important players for the Minnesota Lynx this season.
Not only did she set a Canadian record with 91 three-pointers this season, but she also became just the fourth Canadian to reach the WNBA Finals, joining the ranks of Tammy Sutton-Brown, Kim Smith, and Natalie Achonwa.
Now, as the Lynx face the New York Liberty for the championship, Carleton has the chance to cap off her finest season with a title, further cementing her legacy in Canadian and women’s basketball.
Carleton’s 91 three-pointers this season were a defining element of her game, setting a Canadian record by a significant margin. She left Stacey Dales and Kia Nurse—both of whom are the only other Canadians to hit 60-plus three-pointers in a season—far behind, establishing her as Canada’s best long-range shooter.
Her 91 triples also rank her among the top 20 in WNBA history for a single season, putting her in elite company alongside players like Diana Taurasi, Kelsey Plum, and Sabrina Ionescu, whose record of 128 three-pointers in 2023 is the all-time high.
The 2024 season was a career year for Carleton, who averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over 36 starts in 39 games, logging a career-high 29.9 minutes per game. She shot an impressive 44.4% from both the field and from three-point range, making her one of the league’s most reliable shooters. Her contributions didn’t go unnoticed, as she finished third in voting for the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award.
In addition to her shooting, Carleton’s 1,166 minutes played during the regular season set another Canadian WNBA record, demonstrating her endurance and importance to the Lynx’s lineup. She was instrumental in the team’s victory in the Commissioner’s Cup, where her six three-pointers were crucial in securing the title.
As the 2024 WNBA Finals unfolded, Carleton’s presence on the court has been pivotal. Minnesota rallied from an 18-point deficit in Game 1, tying the largest comeback in WNBA Finals history.
The Lynx’s remarkable 95-93 overtime victory, capped by Napheesa Collier’s game-winning jumper with 8.8 seconds left, stunned the New York Liberty and stole homecourt advantage in the best-of-five series. Carleton’s contributions, while not always reflected directly in the box score, were critical to the team’s composure during this historic comeback.
With the series now shifting back to Minnesota for Game 3, both teams are chasing their place in history. The Liberty, still seeking their first WNBA title, are eager to redeem themselves after falling short against the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Lynx, looking for their fifth championship, are back in the Finals for the first time since 2017, when they won their fourth title in seven years.
For Carleton, this season has been a whirlwind of milestones, not just in the WNBA but on the international stage. She was Canada’s best player at the 2024 Paris Olympics, scoring in double digits in two of Canada’s three games, even though the team’s performance fell short of expectations. In her second Olympic appearance, Carleton showed that she is a leader both at home and abroad.
As the Lynx battle to win their fifth championship, Carleton’s contributions—whether through her deadly shooting, her defense, or her leadership—will be key to Minnesota’s success.
The WNBA Finals could be the crowning moment in a season where Carleton has already made history and solidified her place as one of Canada’s finest basketball exports.
