Q&A: Chatham basketball star Bridget Carleton on the WNBA finals and life as a pro | CBC News

Chatham’s Bridget Carleton just finished playing in the 2024 finals for the Minnesota Lynx against the New York Liberty. The series was tightly contested with the Liberty eventually prevailing in five games. The 2024 season was a historic one in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) with record-setting attendance at games across the league, and an expansion of the finals from five to seven games. The league also announced it would be creating a new expansion team in Toronto in 2026.

Carleton, who has played in the league for five years, is also a proud Olympian and a champion for women in sports. 

She spoke with CBC Afternoon Drive host Matt Allen about the team’s finals run and the future of the women’s game.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Matt Allen: It’s been a few days since the end of that epic final. How are you feeling after that series and that final game?

Bridget Carleton: Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Right now, I’m pretty tired and processing the entire season. But it was long and hard and obviously going to the final game of the finals, it was a lot on our shoulders. So, to have a couple of days now to reflect and kind of process everything that’s happened. It’s been cool. As you’ve mentioned, the season did not end how we wanted it to. But nonetheless, I think it was a very successful season. 

MA: What’s it like trying to recover after the intensity of an overtime game where you’re playing basically every minute?

BC: Yeah, it’s challenging I think. Every single possession matters so much, so the level of play is just so intense and it’s hard on the body. But it’s our job to take care of ourselves and to recover as quickly as possible. Luckily I have some time off and I’ll get a well-needed physical and mental break. 

MA: How long do you go after the end of the season before touching a basketball again?

BC: Only a couple of weeks. I’m actually going to head overseas to play in Hungary and the European season over there. So I’ll get a couple of weeks at home to rest and try not to think about basketball for a while. But then I’m right back to it.

MA: It’s been a big year for the WNBA and that’s reflected in the size of the crowds throughout the playoffs, in the Finals and throughout the season. What’s it been like from your perspective to see that growth in your 5th year?

BC: Yeah, it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of the growth and the energy around our sport right now. Arenas were sold out all over the country all season long. It didn’t matter if it was the beginning of the season, the end of the season or the middle of the season, there was so much energy. And you felt that on social media and walking around cities. People recognize us a lot more than they have in the past. You just feel a different energy. More and more people are getting their eyes on us which I think is helping continue to grow the game. And people are really loving our product, which we knew they would. WNBA is in a really good place and it’s fun to be a part of it.

MA: What do you think this growth will mean long term for players?

BC: Hopefully some financial benefit. I think a lot of times people get caught up in comparing the WNBA to where the NBA is. But you know, the NBA is way older than we are. If that could be a future for us, that would be pretty incredible. But just continuing to grow the game, bringing in more and more fans, maybe having a longer season, obviously more and more money as the business continues to grow. So it’s hope. We’re definitely hopeful for where the league will go.

MA: I understand that the players union is asking for an increase in salaries and upgrades to facilities. Why is improving all of these things so important to the future of the league?

BC: Yeah, it’s huge. The addition of charter flights was very helpful for us this year. We played 40 games in the season and we were flying commercially in comfort plus seats a year ago. We’re not average-sized humans, so sitting in those seats was not comfortable, especially after playing forty minutes a game and then having to recover and go play the next game. 

I think that’s a huge reason why our product was so entertaining this year too. Because we were able to recover. So that was a great addition this year and we just want to continue to fight for things that we deserve as professional athletes. This is our job, this is our livelihood. We have women in our league who are taking care of families, who want to have families one day. So we just want to fight for what we deserve and will continue to push the boundary on what women’s sports look like and how successful they can be. That’s what the W always has always stood for and what our players association will continue to fight for.

MA: You’ll soon be flying overseas to play in Hungary. Do you think that you might see a day where you don’t have to do that to supplement your income during the offseason?

BC: I think we’re getting to that point already. There are many reasons why I choose to go overseas. It’s not just the financial part of it. That definitely does help, but I think there was a major jump financially in the last CBA. I enjoy going overseas. So I’ll continue to do that for as long as I see fit. But everyone’s different and I think we are starting to see that people are able to make different choices for themselves.

MA: The WNBA is expanding to Toronto in 2026. What do you think that’s going to mean for female basketball players and basketball players in general here in Canada?

BC: It’s huge. I’m so excited. As a kid growing up, I wasn’t really able to see WNBA games. I wasn’t able to see women’s college basketball. It wasn’t on TV. It was hard to watch in Canada.  So to be able to have a team in Toronto that young women and young boys can go and watch is incredible. Not only that, but it’ll help the business side of things and build excitement around the sport in our country. 

I think it’s super fun and I think there’s a culture around basketball in Toronto right now that everyone wants to be part of. So I’m really, really excited for the city to experience the WNBA and for the WNBA to experience Toronto.