In our 3rd annual iteration of Hustle Stat All-Stars, we have an ode to the players who go above and beyond in contributions on the court in a way that won’t consistently get recognized in the mainstream. To be a Hustle Stat All-Star, you, of course, cannot have made the All-Star team this year or any year prior. That’s not to say that some of these players won’t warrant that nod in the future, but with their present roles, they shine through for how they make those around them better and do the unheralded aspects of the game.
Carleton is enjoying a career year for the Lynx, her 6th season in the WNBA. She’s served as a vital part of one of the best teams in the league, all the more important considering she filled in budding star Diamond Miller’s spot in the starting lineup after her early season injury.
She’s started 21 straight games since, averaging 9.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. She’s been an absolute sniper this season, shooting 43.5% of her attempts from outside the arc. Carleton is 9th in the league in total made 3’s and 5th in three-point percentage amongst players who have taken at least 30 threes this season.
While shooting is her standout elite skill, how she’s filled out the rest of her game has been crucial for Minnesota. The Lynx are on pace to set the WNBA record for assist rate in a season, and Carleton’s ability as a secondary playmaker and ball mover has shined. Minnesota is also the top-ranked defense in the association, and her improvement on that end has been key. She often guards some of the top perimeter options in the league and provides enough resistance consistently to maintain the Lynx’s defensive shell. She’s been active and engaged off the ball, arguably even more important than stopping ball handlers herself.
The Lynx succeed because Carelton so consistently does her job, and part of the difficulty in recognizing that is that it’s more noticeable when she’s not on the court. She makes her teammates better by being on the court and thriving in her role.
