Minnesota Lynx sixth-year guard Bridget Carleton is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging a career-best nine points per game.
"It's a really hard league to find your way, and it's all about fit and luckily I've found a home in Minnesota," said Carleton, a second-round pick in 2019.
She'll soon head to Paris for her second trip to the Olympics, where she'll play for Team Canada.
"It's incredible. I love playing for my national team, and representing Canada on the highest level," she said. "This is a dream come true representing Canada at the Olympics for the second time and it's kind of surreal."
Her second trip will also provide the chance to share the experience in-person with parents Rob and Carrie.
"To have them in the stands, they're so proud to be from Canada, they love the Olympics as much as I do, and I can feel how proud they are," said Carleton.
The Canadian women's national team has never medaled at the Olympics, something Carleton and her teammates would love to achieve in Paris.
"To be a medalist at the Olympic games would be just incredible and I think it would do so much for our sport and Canada," said Carleton.
Paris will also provide a chance to face her Lynx teammate and member of team Australia Alanna Smith, and potentially a game against Cheryl Reeve and Napheesa Collier in the medal round.
"Obviously when we're in the lines, we're trying to beat each other, but you know those relationships last outside of that, and we get to share that experience, which will be really fun," said Carleton.
What advice would she have for young girls watching Canada on the Olympic stage?
"To be yourself, have fun and work as hard as you can, and the sky is the limit. I never thought I would be a two-time Olympian, I never thought I would be in the WNBA for six years, and hopefully much longer than that. The little things matter and just having fun with it, and at the end of the day, you can do anything," said Carleton.