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Posts tagged as “Bridget Carleton”

Ionescu, Plum, and Mitchell Among Stars “Cored” for 2026 WNBA

April 8, 2026

Alexa Philippou, writing for ESPN;

Ten of 15 WNBA teams have extended core qualifying offers to players since free agency started Monday.

Players who have been “cored” — akin to being given the NFL’s franchise tag — include Sabrina Ionescu, by the New York Liberty; Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx); Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever); Kelsey Plum, (Los Angeles Sparks); and Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings).

The core designation gives a team exclusive negotiating rights to a player and comes with a baseline contract of a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax ($1.4 million in 2026), though the player can negotiate different terms.

Here’s the full list of cored players, via @alexaphilippou

  • Atlanta: Allisha Gray
  • Chicago: Ariel Atkins
  • Dallas: Arike Ogunbowale
  • Indiana: Kelsey Mitchell
  • LA: Kelsey Plum
  • Minnesota: Napheesa Collier
  • NY: Sabrina Ionescu
  • Portland: Bridget Carleton
  • Seattle: Ezi Magbegor
  • Toronto: Marina Mabrey

Minnesota Lynx forces a “Winner-Takes-All” Game 5 of WNBA Finals behind Bridget Carleton Free Throws (82 – 80)

October 20, 2024

WNBA;

Bridget Carleton made two free throws with 2 seconds left, and the Lynx beat the New York Liberty 82-80 on Friday night. The teams will meet Sunday night in New York in the first Game 5 of the Finals since 2019, when Washington topped Connecticut.

All of Minnesota Lynx starting five scored in double-digits; Kayla Mcbride, lead the team with 19 points, Courtney Williams added 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Napheesa Collier chipped-in 14 points and 9 rebounds with 4 assists and 4 steals. Both Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton scored 12 points apiece but it was Carleton final free throw that sealed the game for the Lynx.

It was a close game and the largest of any team is just 6 points and there have been 14 lead changes and 13 ties.

Lynx was able to contain Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina to a combined 21 points, and limit their impact to the game. Lynx appeared happy to just let other Liberty players score particularly Jonquel Jones, who scored a game-high 21 points and 8 rebounds.

Game 5 of the WNBA Finals will this Sunday, October 20, 2024 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Here’s the high-lights of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.