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

Bridget-Carleton

Iowa State guard Bridget Carleton, centre, drives as Missouri State guards Brice Calip, left, and Elle Ruffridge, right, defend during a second-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Monday, March 25, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. (Matthew Putney / AP)

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.

"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."

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