Indiana Fever Lock In Rising Star Chloe Bibby With Rest-of-Season Contract, Igniting WNBA Playoff Push

Australian forward Chloe Bibby has parlayed a pair of seven-day hardship contracts into a full rest-of-season deal with the Indiana Fever, the club announced late Friday. The 25-year-old rookie averaged 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and shot 44 % from three in just 14.8 minutes across her first two WNBA games, instantly giving Indiana a stretch-four presence the roster sorely lacked. Coach Christie Sides praised Bibby’s “fearless” perimeter shooting after Wednesday’s win over Phoenix, hinting a longer stay was imminent. Why the Fever moved quickly • Cap flexibility: Indiana had one open roster spot and fewer than 48 hours before the WNBA trade deadline. Converting Bibby now preserves both depth and future draft assets, avoiding a trade-market overpay. • Lineup fit: Playing alongside Aliyah Boston, Bibby’s floor-spacing drags opposing power forwards out of the lane, opening easier drives for Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark. The Fever’s offensive rating jumped from 100.6 to 112.2 in the two contests with Bibby on the court, per WNBA advanced stats. • Long-term upside: At 6-foot-2 with a 6-4 wingspan, she defends multiple positions and brings international experience from the WNBL’s Perth Lynx, where she averaged 15.9 points last season. How the contract works Bibby’s rest-of-season deal is worth $70,122 (pro-rated rookie minimum) and becomes guaranteed after Aug. 10. Indiana can retain her 2026 restricted-free-agent rights by extending a qualifying offer next spring, a low-risk avenue for front-office chief Lin Dunn to keep evaluating upside. What it means for Indiana’s playoff chase At 15-14, the Fever occupy the final playoff seed entering a brutal five-game road swing. Bibby’s shooting (career 38 % at Maryland and Mississippi State) should relieve double-teams on Boston and punish zones that have stifled Indiana late in games. If she maintains even league-average defense, Bibby could close games by sliding NaLyssa Smith to small forward in jumbo lineups. Scouting report Strengths: Quick release, willing rebounder, vocal communicator. Areas to watch: Lateral foot speed when switched onto guards; foul rate (5.6 per 36 minutes). Next on the schedule The Fever travel to Dallas on Sunday before visiting the Liberty on Tuesday. Expect Bibby to remain in the eight-woman rotation; she logged crunch-time minutes in both appearances and practiced with the starters Friday afternoon. Bottom line Indiana found a cost-controlled stretch forward who fills an immediate need and could grow into a long-term piece. For Bibby, the signing caps a rapid rise from undrafted free agent to WNBA contributor—and gives Australia yet another representative in the world’s premier women’s league.