Carpenter was the oldest player ever to be awarded a debut international cap in the England national netball team, which she received in December 1997 at the age of 32. During her senior international career she amassed 33 international caps, representing England and winning a bronze medal, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She also won a bronze medal at the 1999 Netball World Championships in New Zealand. She also represented Great Britain in basketball at the 1987 World Student Games in Zagreb.