Bridget Carleton: The First Name on the Board
219 WNBA games. A three-point stroke that stretches defenses. Portland made her pick number one for a reason.
The Pick
Pick number one. Not the first pick off an existing roster. The first pick, period. Portland used their top selection in the expansion draft on Bridget Carleton as an unrestricted free agent, and that tells you everything about how the front office sees her. They didn't want to risk Toronto getting the Ontario kid. They didn't want to play games with draft order strategy. They wanted Carleton, and they made sure they got her.
It's the right call. You're building a franchise from nothing. You need players who have been in the league long enough to know what winning looks like, who can absorb the chaos of a first season and still produce. Carleton has 219 games on her resume. She shoots 38.5% from three. She can guard three different positions. That's the foundation you build on.
The Iowa State Years
Carleton came out of Chatham, Ontario and went to Ames, Iowa, which is exactly the kind of move a Canadian kid makes when she's good enough to play anywhere but wants to prove it in the Big 12. She proved it. Finished second in Iowa State's all-time career scoring with 2,142 points. That's four years of being the best player on the floor most nights in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.
The Minnesota Years
The road wasn't straight. Connecticut drafted her 21st overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft (second round). She played four games with the Sun before Minnesota signed her, and that's where most of the career took shape. The numbers climbed steadily: her 2024 season was a breakout, doubling her playing minutes and ranking 5th in the entire league for three-point percentage. By 2025, she was putting up 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in nearly 28 minutes a game. That's a player who earned every minute she got.
Here's the stat that jumps off the page: on August 5, 2020, in just her first career start against the Liberty, she dropped 25 points with 7 rebounds. She became the third player in WNBA history to do that in a first start. Third. Ever.
Why Portland
Versatility. Carleton can play the 2, the 3, or the 4. In a league where switching on defense is everything and spacing on offense is the difference between good and great, having a 6'2" forward who shoots 38.5% from deep and can guard multiple positions is gold. Portland is building a roster from scratch for a 44-game season. They need players who can fill roles, not players who need the ball in their hands to be effective. Carleton makes the team better whether she's the first option or the fourth. That's why she's the first name in Portland Fire history.
What to Watch in 2026
Paired with Emily Engstler in the frontcourt, Carleton gives Portland two forwards who can switch everything on defense and stretch the floor on offense. With Sug Sutton running the point and Haley Jones adding another versatile wing, there are real pieces here. Over a 44-game schedule, that depth matters.
What to look for: spot-up shooting from the corners when Sutton collapses the defense, transition threes in the open floor, and that switchable defense Portland is building its identity around. If the Fire are going to surprise people, it starts with Carleton spacing the floor and making the right play every possession. The May 9 home opener vs Chicago Sky will be the first real test.
The Person
Carleton is from Chatham, Ontario, a city in southwestern Ontario. Not exactly a basketball factory. She represents Canada internationally and has been one of the country's most consistent players on the national team circuit. Small town kid who went to Iowa State, built a long WNBA career, and now finds herself as the first name ever associated with the Portland Fire since 2002.
Think about that for a second. She walked into a franchise that didn't exist 24 hours before the expansion draft. No culture, no playbook, no locker room chemistry. Just a name on a board. She'll play at Moda Center, the same arena the original Fire played at when it was called the Rose Garden. Different era, different roster, same city that's about to fall in love with women's basketball again.
Career Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bridget Carleton?
Bridget Carleton is a 6'2" forward for the Portland Fire. She was the first overall pick in the 2026 expansion draft. Carleton is a WNBA veteran with 219 career games. She debuted with Connecticut in 2019 before spending the bulk of her career with Minnesota. She played college basketball at Iowa State, finishing second in career scoring with 2,142 points. She's a Canadian national team player from Chatham, Ontario, born May 22, 1997. She'll debut at Moda Center for the May 9 home opener.
What are Bridget Carleton's career stats?
Over 219 WNBA games: 5.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.6 APG. Her best season was 2025: 6.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG in 27.9 minutes per game. She shoots 38.5% from three and ranked 5th in the league for three-point percentage in 2024. Check the Fire schedule to see her in action.
Why did Portland pick Bridget Carleton first?
Portland targeted Carleton for her versatility and shooting. She can play positions 2 through 4, shoots 38.5% from three, and brings 219 games of WNBA experience. Portland also didn't want Toronto to select the Ontario native. She's the kind of player you build a franchise around: consistent, experienced, and effective in multiple roles. Read more about the full draft at the expansion draft tracker.
What position does Bridget Carleton play?
Carleton is listed as a forward but can play the 2, 3, or 4. At 6'2" with a 38.5% three-point shot, she provides spacing at any position. Paired with Emily Engstler, Portland has two switchable forwards who can guard across positions. That positional flexibility is a major reason Portland made her the first pick in franchise history.