At the inaugural Olympic women's football tournament at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Carlsen was sent-off in Norway's semi-final defeat by the United States. She was suspended for the subsequent bronze medal match in which Norway defeated Brazil 2–0. Carlsen played in Norway's 1997 UEFA Women's Championship campaign, then retired from international football to concentrate on her professional club career in Japan. She won 97 caps and scored 17 goals.