NEW YORK — Former Iowa State women’s basketball star Bridget Carleton was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA expansion draft Friday by the Portland Fire.

Carleton played for the Cyclones from 2015 to 2019 and averaged 17.3 points per game. During her senior season in 2018-19, she was honored as a second-team All-American by the AP and ESPN.

Carleton was drafted 21st overall in the 2019 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun, made the opening-night roster but was later cut during the season.

Carleton has built a professional career in the WNBA, primarily with the Minnesota Lynx. She has played with the Lynx from 2019 to 2025.

The breakout season for Carleton came in 2024 with Minnesota, where she doubled her minutes from the previous season and ranked in the top five in 3-point percentage across the league.

The WNBA has continued to expand, and this season, two new teams will enter the league: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo.

Portland will play its home games at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, home of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.

Portland Fire general manager Vanja Černivec emphasized selecting veteran players with experience who can lead the team through its first season.

“Our goal coming out of this expansion draft is that we have great teammates, players that will help us recruit players in free agency, will want to play team-oriented basketball,” Černivec said. “This team will be competitive on the court and will bring so much joy to fans when they come to Moda. And I think we did an incredible job.”

Carleton is heading into her eighth WNBA season and will play a bigger role on a new team ready to make noise.

Portland and Carleton will open the regular season May 9 against the Chicago Sky.