Essence Carson

Carson was drafted 7th overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty. She helped the Liberty win the first round series of the 2008 playoffs, but the Liberty fell short in the eastern conference finals against Detroit Shock who won the championship that year. In the 2011 season, Carson was voted a WNBA All-Star for the first time in her career despite being a reserve on the Liberty's roster, she had averaged 11.3 points per game. In the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game, Carson scored 13 points for the eastern conference team.[6]

In 2012, Carson re-signed with the Liberty once her rookie contract expired.[7] On June 9, 2013, during a regular season game against the Atlanta Dream, Carson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and was sidelined for the rest of the season.[8] Prior to the injury she was averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game through the first three games. After recovering from the injury, Carson had a smaller role on the team as her minutes were reduced and was downgraded back to a reserve on the Liberty's roster for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

On March 31, 2016, Carson signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in free agency to fill a gap in their roster left by an injured Riquna Williams who would miss the entire 2016 season.[9] During the 2016 season, Carson became the starting shooting guard for the Sparks after playing small forward during previous seasons with the Liberty. Carson along with Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver helped the Sparks to a 26-8 record and the number 2 seed in the league. Carson would eventually win her first WNBA Championship with the Sparks as they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 3-2 in the finals.

Carson, Maya Moore and Alana Beard during the 2017 WNBA Finals

In February 2017, Carson re-signed with the Sparks in free agency.[10] During the 2017 season, Carson started during the first 10 games of the season but would then be permanently moved to the bench rotation, being replaced in the starting lineup by newly acquired combo-guard Odyssey Sims following an elbow injury. The Sparks once again finished with a 26-8 record and the number 2 seed in the league. The Sparks would once again advance all the way through to the Finals for the second season in a row, setting up a rematch with the Lynx. However, the Sparks would lose to the Lynx in 5 games, failing to win back-to-back championships.

In 2018, Carson would have a slightly increased role on the team from last season. The Sparks however were unable to be a title contender in the league, as they finished 19-15 with the number 6 seed. In the first round elimination game, they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 75-68 to advance. In the second round elimination game, the Sparks lost 96-64 to the Washington Mystics.

In 2019, Carson signed with the Phoenix Mercury.[11] In the 2019 season, Carson missed 11 games while battling a calf injury. She started 13 of the 23 games played for the Mercury. The Mercury finished as the number 8 seed with a 15-19 record. The Mercury were eliminated in the first round elimination game by the Chicago Sky by a final score 105-76.

The following season, Carson signed with the Washington Mystics, making her debut for the team on the opening day of the season.[12] On August 16, 2020, Carson was waived by the Mystics.[13] On August 17, she was signed by the Connecticut Sun.[14] The Sun finished as the number 7 seed with a 10-12 record. The season was shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first round elimination game, the Sun defeated by the Chicago Sky 94-81. In the second round elimination, the Sun pulled off an upset by defeating the 3rd seeded Los Angeles Sparks by a final score of 73-59, advancing to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the Sun fell short after losing to Las Vegas Aces in a hard fought five game series.

In the 2008-09 off-season, Carson played in Italy for Venezia.[15] In the 2009-10 off-season, Carson played in France for CJM Bourges Basket. In the 2010-11 off-season, Carson played in Hungary for CM Cargo UNI Gyor.[16] In the 2011-12 off-season, Carson returned to France to play once again for CJM Bourges Basket.[17] In the 2012-13 off-season, Carson played the first portion of the off-season in Spain for Rivas Ecopolis and spent the second portion of the off-season playing in Turkey for Istanbul Universitesi.[18] In the 2015-16 off-season, Carson played in Turkey once again for Samsun Canik Belediyesi.[19] As of November 2016, Carson had signed with Yakin Dogu for the 2016-17 off-season and won a championship with the team.[20]

Carson was a member of the USA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The event was held in August 2004, when the USA team defeated Puerto Rico to win the championship. Carson helped the team win the gold medal, scoring 8.7 points per game.[21]

Carson continued with the team as it became the U19 team, and competed in the 2005 U19 World Championships in Tunis, Tunisia. The USA team won all eight games, winning the gold medal. Carson scored 5.6 points per game.[22]

Carson went on to compete with USA for the FIBA Americas Under-20 Championship for Women where they won gold in 2006. In 2007, Moscow, Russia she competed with USA once again for the FIBA Under-21 World Championship For Women where she was once again a starter and won a gold medal.