Breadcrumb Trail Links
Bridget Carleton is thrilled all she’s heard about Portland’s passion for women’s sports is true.
Published May 11, 2026 • 3 minute read
Bridget Carleton (6) of the Portland Fire reacts after her three-point basket against the Chicago Sky during the second half at Moda Center on May 9, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Article content
Bridget Carleton is the face of the franchise for the Portland Fire, and that face is already known around the city.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Chatham native said all she’s heard about Portland’s passion for women’s sports is true.
Article content
Article content
“This past week, feeling it on social media, feeling it in the city,” said Carleton, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA expansion draft. “Going on a walk and people recognizing me already and I hadn’t even played a game yet.
“It’s just incredible the amount of support and how excited people were to see us and meet us and be a part of this experience. It’s been surreal.
“So, yes, I knew about it, but to experience it is different and something I couldn’t even imagine. It was really cool.”
The Fire made their regular-season debut Saturday with a 98-83 loss to the Chicago Sky in front of 19,335 at Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
It was the biggest crowd to ever watch a WNBA team’s inaugural game.
Fire owners Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal also own the Portland Thorns, who are annually at or near the top of National Women’s Soccer League attendance.
“It was incredible to have a sellout, 19,000,” Carleton, 28, said to reporters. “They were in it the whole game. We were down 13 at half and came out in the third quarter with so much energy. The crowd was so into it. It was so much fun.
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“We know they were excited about this game, about this season, and we felt that. We’ve been feeling it since we got to training camp. Today was just a great experience, I think, for everybody, so we’re really thankful for them.”
Carleton tied for second on the Fire with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting. She was 3-of-7 on three-pointers.
The eight-year veteran also had four assists while playing a team-high 30:23.
The Fire trailed by 17 in the first half. They were down 52-43 early in the third quarter until Carleton hit back-to-back treys.
She sank her third three-pointer with 8:39 left in the fourth quarter for a 70-70 tie.
“Hopefully it doesn’t take me long to get going every game,” she said with a laugh about the second-half baskets.
“I just want to be aggressive. I think coach is always in my ear to be aggressive, obviously shoot it when I’m open, hunt my shots, hunt my opportunities and I got some good looks in the second half.
“Obviously, I want to be super aggressive in the first half, too, but I also enjoy playing team basketball and so I’m going to make the right play, no matter what that is.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“I want to be aggressive. I want to be the person that can be relied on to get a shot up if we need a shot.”
Portland continues its four-game homestand at Moda, nicknamed the Fire Pit, against the New York Liberty Tuesday and Thursday.
The Fire are the league’s second-youngest team. Players are still getting to know each other and the coaches, Carleton said.
“Every single game we’re going to continue to grow and learn each other and learn the system and get incrementally better,” she said. “There’s small wins in every single possession, every single game that we’re going to take and run with.
“The ‘not giving up,’ the ‘staying together’ – we want to be really annoying to play against. We don’t want any team to enjoy coming here and playing against us. I think we have that identity already and we’re going to continue that the entire season.”
Article content
Share this article in your social network