Cheryl Reeve loved every bit of Bridget Carleton’s viral celebration against the Minnesota Lynx, even if it came at her team’s expense. In fact, she believed the confidence behind the shot that helped her sink a clutch three-pointer directly in front of her old bench and the celebration that followed was something the Lynx had been hoping to see from Carleton for years. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen while she was still wearing a Minnesota jersey.

“I’ve seen BC evolve in that space. It’s really easy for her to do that to our bench,” Reeve said during the postgame press conference, a video of which Andrew Dukowitz shared on X.

“And good for her, we have wanted that side of BC for years. So we feel like we took a part in that a little bit. And good for her, because that confidence looks so good on her. I was more worried about what we’re going to do next, what all involved, and what would happen. But yeah, she’s a tough three for sure. She’s happy about it.”

The viral celebration came in the fourth quarter of the game. Bridget Carleton knocked down a corner three-pointer and celebrated by punching her fist toward the Lynx bench, specifically in the direction of Courtney Williams, breaking into a smile as she jogged back on defense.

After seven seasons anchoring Minnesota’s roster, Carleton was selected first overall by Portland in the 2026 Expansion Draft. She had been one of Minnesota’s most trusted players for years. In fact, her final season with the franchise saw her start all 44 regular-season games.

In Portland, Carleton elevated her game immediately. Carleton has started all 25 games for Portland so far this season and is averaging a career-best 13.5 points per game, a massive jump from the 6.5 points per game she averaged during her final season in Minnesota.

Even though the Portland Fire eventually fell 101-93 to the Lynx in this matchup, Carleton once again turned in an impressive performance. She finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Portland fought back hard in the fourth, though it wasn’t enough.

Bridget Carleton Proud of Portland Fire’s Fight to Cut Deficit Despite Loss to Lynx

Minnesota closed the third quarter on an 8-0 run, stretching their lead to 75-60. That rapid blitz stretched their lead to a commanding 75-60 scoreline, giving the Lynx a 15-point advantage heading into the final frame.

The Fire, however, managed to trim that deficit to just eight points by the final buzzer. They outscored the Lynx in the fourth quarter, and that late response was something Bridget Carleton was proud of despite Portland eventually falling 101-93.

“It was at 15. We didn’t want it to get to 20, 25. We wanted to get to five. So I’m really proud of our fight and yeah, obviously Minnesota’s a great team, and they’re able to go on runs like that, and it’s how we answer that and stay together,” Carleton said during the postgame press conference.

“Obviously you’ve seen that throughout the season, but it’s hard to do that against really good teams. So I’m proud that we won the fourth quarter to make it exciting, to make it, you know? We didn’t fold, and I think that’s the most important thing in that fourth quarter.”

Portland now has an 11-15 record this season and will face the Dallas Wings next. They will be hoping to come away with a more favorable result than the narrow eight-point loss against the Lynx.