Bridget Carleton

In between letting accurate, clutch shots fly from the perimeter and ascending through the skies on her own during the Minnesota Lynx’s most impactful sequence, Bridget Carleton’s performance in Game Four could be best explained through one word: heroic. Among the last players an opposing defense wants to see with a wide-open shot in a must-score situation, Carleton kickstarts her fourth quarter magic by rewarding her teammate’s unselfish feed by draining a 3-pointer, building a five-point advantage. Poised, unphased, and sporting her trademark smile, even with Minnesota’s season on the ropes, the sixth-year veteran prepares for her greatest act yet, offsetting Sabrina Ionescu’s boxout with a perfectly-timed jump and rebound, prompting a foul with just two seconds remaining. Cold-blooded and yet scorching-hot at once, Carleton steps to the line, finding the net’s bottom on both free throw attempts to help the Lynx survive for a thrilling, series-tying victory over the New York Liberty. Permanently etching a moment into the WNBA’s history books, Carleton contributed 12 points (on three-of-six shooting), four rebounds, one steal, and two 3-pointers on October 18, 2024.