Carleton has been key player for WNBA’s Portland Fire

Bridget Carleton has been a steady role player in the WNBA for the past six years, but now playing her first year with the expansion Portland Fire, she is being asked to be the team’s star.

So far, Carleton has performed as a star. In Portland’s first five games she has scored in double-figures every game. She leads the team in scoring (16.8), minutes and steals.

Portland is 2-3, and will travel to Canada to take on fellow expansion team Toronto Tempo on Saturday (May 23).

Being the team’s main focus is not new to Carleton, she has been a key player for Canada’s national women’s team, in college with Iowa State and in high school with the McGregor Panthers.

Carlelton was named Basketball Canada’s female Player of the Week for May. 11-17. She opened her seventh WNBA season with the Portland Fire after being selected first overall in the league’s expansion draft prior to the 2026 season.

So far, a highlight for Carleton was a standout 26 point, four steal performance against the New York Liberty where she shot 45% from beyond the arc, knocking down five three pointers.