Basketball
17 June, 2025
She's back: Bibby a Valkyrie once again
Only weeks after being cut from the roster of the US WNBA's newest franchise, Chloe Bibby has returned to Golden State Valkyries and is set to line up for her debut game tonight as they kick-start their inaugural season.
The first tantalising public hint that Bibby might be back on the Valkyries' radar came on Saturday when she shared a photo of herself once more in the team's home city, captioned simply "Just a girl" and with the location tagged as "San Francisco, California".
The official announcement was made shortly before 4am Monday Australian time by the club and coincided in the US with the former Wimmera local's 26th birthday, Sunday June 15.
"The Golden State Valkyries announced today the signing of forward Chloe Bibby and guard Kaitlyn Chen, who are set to join the team for its upcoming game against the Dallas Wings at 7pm on June 17 in Dallas," a club statement said.
"Bibby will wear number 55... for the Valkyries."
The Valkyries said Bibby "averaged 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and a 37.5 field goal percentage in two preseason contests for Golden State this season".
"The 6’2” forward played collegiately at Mississippi State and Maryland, tallying over 1300 points and 600 rebounds during her collegiate career.
"Bibby also played for the Australian national team, leading the Opals to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup."
Most recently she was voted MVP in 2024-25 in the Spanish women's basketball league, Liga Femenina de Baloncesto, representing Spar Girona.
Acknowledging their latest recruit's double celebration, the Valkyries posted on social media "Back in the Bay on Bibby's big day" accompanied by a heart in the club's signature purple, to which a wellwisher commented "Birthday wishes coming true".
Born in Horsham, Bibby began her basketball career as a schoolgirl in Warracknabeal before relocating to Melbourne in her mid teens to be closer to top-level state competition.
