Carleton Excited For Opportunity With Connecticut Sun
Bridget Carleton in training camp with the Connecticut Sun – Photo by Chris Poss
Typical to her demeanour, and commitment to excellence, the 21st overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft has been excited to learn from the experience of camp, and improve every day.
She’s also excited to play against the world’s best, including against her own teammates in camp.
“There’s so many people in this league I’m looking forward to competing against, and you want to play against the best and be the best and I’m just looking forward to that, and being in this training camp has helped me a lot, you know there’s amazing world class players in this training camp so I’m taking that as an advantage and experience every single day,” Carleton told the SunCast on Connecticut Sun media day.
So far, for the Iowa State grad, who was the Big 12 Player of the Year, an All-American, and the Cheryl Miller Award winner, the rapid transition from the NCAA to the WNBA has been one to remember.
“It’s been crazy, obviously there was almost a month between the end of my NCAA season and the start of this training camp,” said Carleton. “A lot has happened between then. I’ve received some awards, I went to the final four, and then getting drafted was obviously really exciting. It’s been a lot, it’s been crazy, it’s been super fun, I’ve just tried to enjoy it and get ready and put myself in the best position to be here and be the best I can be in training camp.”
With the Connecticut Sun, Carleton is excited to play a similar up tempo game as she did at Iowa State with Connecticut.
“I love playing like that, I think that’s fun basketball, when you’re pushing in transition. I think that’s so fun playing up tempo, fans like to see that too.”
Coming from the Iowa State hotbed for women’s basketball to Connecticut, which has a similar reputation, Carleton is excited to get in front of the Sun fans this season.
“I’m so excited. Playing in front of crowds who are just as excited for you as you are to be on the court is so fun and energizing you just love it. You have to enjoy every minute you can to play in front of a great crowd so I’m really looking forward to seeing that environment.”
With preseason games underway, and after signing to play professionally in Australia this summer, Carleton is soaking in the Connecticut Sun culture, something she is proud to be a part of.
“Basketball is obviously a big part of all of our lives, but that’s not the most important thing all the time, being part of something bigger than ourselves being a part of a culture or environment that makes you a better player, makes you a better person, i think that’s so much more important.”