Lynx Offer Chloe Bibby a Standard Contract, Sky Must Decide

The Minnesota Lynx have offered a standard contract to Chicago Sky forward Chloe Bibby, sources told WNBA Roundtable. Chicago holds the right of first refusal. The Sky's deadline to match is Saturday, and a team that declines to match releases the player.

Bibby signed her player development contract with Chicago on June 30. WNBA teams received 12 standard roster spots and two developmental spots in the collective bargaining agreement ratified in March, and they pay the developmental players outside the $7 million cap. Chicago can use Bibby in 12 regular-season games under that deal. Minnesota would pay her the 2026 minimum of $270,000, prorated from her signing date, and could use her in every game left on the schedule.

Rookie forward Emma Cechova tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee in May and has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said last week that Minnesota planned to apply the season-ending injury exemption to Cechova once the trade deadline passed, which would open a standard roster spot and clear her salary. Teams have 72 hours to fill a standard spot once they drop below 12 players. The deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

Eliska Hamzova holds one of Minnesota's two developmental contracts. The other has been open since late June, when the Lynx moved Liatu King to a standard deal.

Bibby spent 2022 training camp and the preseason with Minnesota after going undrafted out of Maryland.

Chicago has used her in 3 games. Her totals there through Thursday: 14 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists in 33 minutes. She is 5-of-13 from the field and 2-of-8 from three. The 6-foot-2 forward wears No. 55.

Golden State signed Bibby to a training camp contract in February 2025, waived her in May, and brought her back a month later. She played 5 games for the Valkyries and scored 32 points. Indiana signed her to a seven-day contract on July 25 and kept her through the rest of the season. She played 9 games there and shot 39.1% from three. Her season ended in August with a left knee injury.

The Portland Fire selected Bibby 11th overall in the 2026 Expansion Draft. She played one preseason game for Portland before a May trade sent her to the Phoenix Mercury for Julia Ayrault. Phoenix waived her two days later.

Bibby spent three seasons at Mississippi State and two at Maryland. She played 150 college games and averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds on 35.5% shooting from three. At Maryland she averaged 12.5 points and 5.0 three-point attempts.

Chicago promoted Aicha Coulibaly to a rest-of-season contract in late June, and Bibby filled the developmental spot that opened. Maddy Westbeld holds the Sky's other developmental contract. The Sky had used 12 of their 24 developmental game appearances at the time of the signing.

Chicago beat the Connecticut Sun 94-88 on Thursday and is 10-18, sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Sky host the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. Minnesota beat the Toronto Tempo 104-72 on Thursday for its ninth straight win and is 24-6, the best record in the league. Napheesa Collier returned from double ankle surgery on July 22 and played her first home game since September on Tuesday. The Lynx host the Indiana Fever on Sunday.