Forward Chloe Bibby is leaving the Chicago Sky after appearing in just four games, accepting a standard contract offer from the Minnesota Lynx.
The Sky held the right of first refusal on the 28-year-old Australian but declined to match Minnesota’s bid. Cap constraints left the team with little flexibility to elevate her from a developmental deal.
Bibby signed with Chicago on June 30 to fill an open developmental roster spot. She averaged 5.5 points, 1.5 assists and 0.5 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range.
Her strongest outing came July 15 against the Seattle Storm. Bibby scored a career-high 14 points and dished out four assists in 19 minutes during a 95-90 victory.
She followed that with another solid contribution Thursday against the Connecticut Sun, finishing with eight points, two assists, one rebound, one steal and one block in 18 minutes of a 94-88 win.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou first reported the Lynx offer.
“The Minnesota Lynx have offered Chicago Sky developmental player Chloe Bibby a standard contract; Sky have right of first refusal and must decide by tomorrow whether to retain her,” Philippou wrote.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh addressed the departure Saturday.
“It’s bittersweet,” Marsh said. “You’re always happy for them. This is what development spots are for. Bibbs deserves to be in this league. We love and appreciate the things she’s been able to do during her time here.”
Marsh noted that Bibby provided size and spacing off the bench at a time when starting forward Azurá Stevens has been away for personal reasons. The team already leaned toward smaller lineups even with Bibby available.
The move opens a developmental slot for Chicago, which can now pursue another forward. Minnesota, meanwhile, gains a versatile stretch big under a full contract with no restrictions on remaining games this season.
Bibby, a 6-foot-2 forward, began her WNBA career last season with the Golden State Valkyries. She averaged 6.4 points in five games there before finishing the year with the Indiana Fever, where she posted 3.9 points per contest across nine appearances.
The Portland Fire selected her in the 2026 expansion draft, then traded her to the Phoenix Mercury. Phoenix waived her shortly afterward, clearing the path for her free-agent signing with Chicago.
College experience included stops at Mississippi State and Maryland, where she averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds over 150 games. At Maryland she put up 12.5 points per game while launching five three-point attempts nightly.
The Lynx sit near the top of the Western Conference standings and continue to bolster their roster for the stretch run. Bibby becomes available immediately under the new standard deal.
Chicago remains focused on its current group amid ongoing injury challenges and the approaching trade deadline. Marsh emphasized confidence in the players still in the locker room as the Sky chase a playoff berth.
