Canada’s Bridget Carleton drafted 21st overall by WNBA’s Connecticut Sun

Canada’s Bridget Carleton had dreams of playing in the WNBA. But they were never more than dreams, never something that seemed realistic.

But as her game steadily improved in her junior season at Iowa State, and then she put in a solid summer with Canada’s national team, Carleton started believing she might actually one day play in the world’s marquee women’s basketball league.

Then came her record-breaking senior season with the Cyclones that left little doubt.

On Wednesday, the 21-year-old from Chatham, Ont., was selected 21st overall by the Connecticut Sun, becoming the 17th Canadian drafted into the WNBA.

Moments after her name was called, Carleton talked — over celebratory noise in the background — about the steady rise to led her to this night.

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“It was always a dream, but something I didn’t think was very realistic for me,” Carleton said over the phone from Ames, Iowa. “But as my four years went along and as I grew into the player and person I am, it became more and more realistic. So I think that was a huge reason why the end of last year, and all of this year, I got more and more excited about it and more and more driven to achieve that.”

Carleton collected several awards this season in leading the Cyclones to a 26-9 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament. She became the first Canadian to win the Cheryl Miller Award as the NCAA’s top small forward, plus was named the Big 12 player of the year honours. 

She rewrote the Cyclones record book, setting single-season marks for scoring, averaging 21.7 pionts per game, plus points scored (760), field goals made (254) and field goals attempted (543).

“Realistically, end of last year it became more of a reality, and that’s when it kind of became a goal in the forefront of my mind . . . end of last year and into the summer, playing with the national team and obviously this whole year it was a goal for me for sure,” she said.

Her parents — mom Carrie and dad Rob — had to work Wednesday and so couldn’t make the trip to Ames. They followed the evening’s proceedings with Bridget on Facetime.

Carleton received a call from Sun coach Curt Miller shortly after she was selected.

“He said congrats,” Carleton said. “I’m really excited to play for him, he’s a great guy , and I’m really really excited to be at their training camp and work as hard as I can.”

Carleton has also been a staple for the Canadian team, appearing in 69 games over the past six years including Canada’s victory at the 2017 Americup. She also a member of Canada’s team at the World Cup last fall in Tenerife, Spain.

Carleton still has finals to write at school, so will head straight to Connecticut after classes finish rather than return home to Chatham. The WNBA regular season tips off May 24.

Stacey Dales was Canada’s highest draft pick, going third overall to the Washington Mystics in 2002. Kia Nurse was selected 10th last year by the New York Liberty.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press