PORTLAND, Ore. — Bridget Carleton has officially arrived in the Rose City, stepping into a role that feels like the ultimate culmination of a journey that began as a dominant collegiate star and evolved through years of professional grit.
Although she arrived later than her teammates due to finishing her season in Prague, Carleton remained tethered to the franchise’s inaugural steps. “The whole practice film was sent to us, so I was in Prague watching the whole thing in my off time,” Carleton said.
From Iowa State Legend to WNBA Resilience
Carleton’s arrival as a franchise cornerstone is particularly poignant given her history. She entered the professional ranks following a storied career at Iowa State University, where she was the first Cyclone women’s basketball player to named Big 12 Player of the Year (Ashley Joens won the award in 2023) and was the recipient of the 2019 Cheryl Miller Award as the nation’s top small forward. Despite leaving Ames as the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,142 points, her transition to the WNBA was far from guaranteed.
Drafted 21st overall in the second round, Carleton faced immediate adversity when she was waived just one month into her rookie season in Connecticut. “I think it’s kind of surreal,” Carleton said reflecting on a path that saw her fight for roster spots in Minnesota before becoming a full-time starter.
“To be where I am today, I know younger me would not believe it and just – really proud of all the work I’ve put in, and I just love the game so much,” she added.
A Choice Based on Value
Her decision to sign with Portland was rooted in a desire to play where her contributions were not just useful, but essential. “I wanted to go somewhere where they wanted me, and Portland showed how much they wanted me here,” Carleton said, pointing to the fact that the team selected her first in the expansion draft. At nearly 29 years old, she views this transition as a definitive new chapter. “I’m ready just to take that next step… and show a little bit more of what I can do,” Carleton stated.
This belief is shared by General Manager Rana, who has publicly challenged her to reach an All-Star level—a goal the forward has fully embraced. “She sees that in me, and I see it in myself,” Carleton said.
The Analytical Approach and Chemistry
Carleton’s excitement is further fueled by the tactical vision of Head Coach Alex, whose system favors the fluid, “read-and-react” style she mastered while playing internationally. “It’s not a lot of X’s and O’s,” Carleton said. “It’s just reading, reacting, driving, cutting, shooting threes. It’s all things I like to do, and high IQ players do well in that system.”
In the whirlwind of a first-year franchise, Carleton has found an anchor in assistant coach Sylvia Fowles, a legend she spent four years playing alongside in Minnesota. “Seeing Syl’s face, it was like automatic comfort,” Carleton said., whom she has leaned on since 2019.
To bridge the gap of unfamiliarity among a new roster, Carleton is preaching a philosophy of radical transparency: “It just starts with communication, over-communicating even, because we don’t know each other as well yet.”
Reviving a Legacy
As she plays in her first game at the Moda Center on Sunday, Carleton is acutely aware that she is part of a larger movement to return professional women’s basketball to a city that has long championed the sport.
“My first time in Portland, but I know, especially for women’s sports, the Thorns do so well and draw such a great crowd,” Carleton said. “Really big fans of women’s sports here, so I’m excited that the W is back here, and we have a piece in that. So I’m really excited. I feel the excitement on social media a little bit, but I’m excited to see it and feel it in person.”
As the Fire have their second oreseason game Sunday, Carleton has a goal as “one of the best shooters in the league right now”: “I would like to be even better. So hopefully … All the three-pointers go in.”