The Minnesota Lynx started the season strong, winning their first three games despite slow starts and looking ready to go on another deep playoff run. After last season’s heartbreak in Game 5 of the Finals, the Lynx are determined to secure the 2025 Championship. They kept their core together and brought back big-time reserve Jessica Shepard to boost the bench. Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams definitely look ready for big seasons.
The Lynx will also need the supporting cast to be at its best, if they want to win at the highest level, however. One player who has struggled somewhat to start the season is Bridget Carleton. She has been good on the boards, grabbing 20 rebounds already, as well as defensively. Her 3-point shot hasn’t been there to start the season, though. That will have to change.
Bridget Carleton is struggling from three
Bridget Carleton had been a solid 3-point shooter for most of her career, but 2024 marked a breakout season. Carelton converted 44.4 percent of her 5.3 3-point attempts per game. That made her one of the best volume shooters in the league. It also made the Lynx lethal from three.
Minnesota led the league in 3-point percentage last season on the backs of strong shooting seasons from Carleton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla McBride, and Alanna Smith. Zandalasini is the only one of those players not on the roster anymore, but McBride has not yet made her regular-season debut due to personal reasons.
To replicate and exceed last season’s success, the Lynx will need Carleton to be deadly from three again. She doesn’t necessarily have to shoot almost 45 percent like she did last season, but she needs to prove that 2024 was not a fluke and she can shoot close to 40 percent consistently. Before last season, Carleton usually shot between 33 and 36 percent and only took around two threes a game. Then, she managed to up her volume and percentage at the same time, giving the Lynx’s offense a noticeable boost.
So far, Carleton’s threes haven’t been falling consistently. Over three games, she made only two of her eleven attempts from long-range. The Lynx still won all three games, but they also haven’t faced a strong opponent yet. They can afford players to miss shots against the Wings and Sparks. Against contenders like New York, Las Vegas, and Indiana, everyone will have to be at their best. Carleton’s 3-point shooting could make a huge difference against strong teams, especially while McBride is out.