Carleton’s game ready to take flight
Rising talent from NCAA’s Iowa State making impression with women’s hoops program
EDMONTON — Bridget Carleton has always been a sharpshooter on the basketball court and now she’s making the most of her shot with the Canadian women’s national team.
The 20-year-old was one of 12 players named to the roster for the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup tournament Aug. 7-13 in Buenos Aires.
A top-three finish in the tournament will qualify Canada for the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
This isn’t her first opportunity to show what she can do on the big stage. Last summer when Canada was gearing up for the Olympics in Rio, Carleton got an opportunity to play in a pre-Olympic exhibition tournament.
She didn’t play a big role in that tournament as most of the playing time was set aside for the players headed to the Olympics, but when she got her chance to get on the floor, she showed she belonged.
“My first shift I was so nervous. We were playing Spain and they were ranked No. 2 in the world,” said the native of Chatham, Ont. “I got an open three-point look and in my head I was thinking, ‘Please don’t let it be an air ball, let it hit the rim at least.’ But it went in and the bench went crazy. It wasn’t an important three at all, but I can remember that moment still to this day.
“That was the moment when I realized this is where I want to be and it started to sink in for me. I want to be part of an Olympics for Canada and 2020 is in my sights.”
Carleton has become a fixture on the national team this year. She’ll be representing her country for a third time this summer when she suits up at the AmeriCup tournament.
Her role has also become bigger for Team Canada, too, but that’s not surprising.
Every level Carleton has played at over her career, she’s been a go-to player her teammates and coaches rely on to be a scoring presence and a leader.
“She brings tremendous character and that’s one of the many reasons why we’re so high on her. She has tremendous work ethic. She’s not a vocal leader, but she leads by example,” said Canada head coach Lisa Thomaidis. “She’s still so young and she is going to be a big part of our program for years to come.”
Carleton had a huge year in her sophomore NCAA season at Iowa State University, averaging 15 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30 starts.
Her numbers aren’t as big for Canada this summer. She’s averaging 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds through the first two tournaments, but she’s using this summer to reinvent part of her game.
“She did a pretty courageous thing this summer in that we talked about changing her shot with an eye to look long term. She decided on the spot she was going to change it from right then and there,” said Thomaidis.
Carleton’s commitment to working on her shot had some mixed results, but it’s getting stronger.
In Canada’s final practice this week before leaving for Argentina, Carleton was the last one on the court, taking every extra moment to work on her shot.
“It’s something I’ve committed myself too and I’m sticking to it,” said Carleton. “There are times where I may not make as many shots as I normally would, but it’s for the better and in the long run it will benefit me and the team.”
Canada’s women’s program has never been stronger. Last month, the under-19 women’s national team won its first bronze medal at the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The senior women’s program has a strong core of veterans who have worked tirelessly over the years to help the program move up in the world rankings and become a powerhouse program.
There’s also a young nucleus of players that is knocking on the door, ready to become the next wave of talent to help Canada reach new heights on the court. Carleton is part of that nucleus. Canada will have a solid group of veterans that will be returning and gunning for an Olympic medal in 2020 and Carleton has a very good shot to be part of that team.
She’s just 20 and when she steps on the court for Canada’s opening game of the tournament, she will be playing in her 50th game for the national program and her 18th with the senior women’s team.
“We see Bridget as someone who will be part of our program for a long time much like Kim (Gaucher) and Tamara (Tatham) were. She has the ability to be a player that can make an impact within our program. She will definitely be in the mix for 2020,” said Thomaidis. “She will be one of the women that we build around and carries the flag to show what Canada basketball is all about and the values that we’re trying to portray. She epitomizes all those things.”
“She’s still so young and she is going to be a big part of our program for years to come.” — Lisa Thomaidis