Chloe Bibby Departs Spar Girona Ahead of Playoffs to Join WNBA Training Camp

Australian forward Chloe Bibby has departed Spar Girona before the team’s playoff quarterfinals, activating an exit clause in her contract to join the Portland Fire training camp in the WNBA, the club confirmed on April 26, 2026.

Bibby’s departure comes immediately after Spar Girona secured an important 58-84 victory over IDK to close the regular season, a win intended to build momentum heading into the postseason. Despite her strong performance in that final regular-season game, the club announced she would not be available for the quarterfinals against Leganés or the remainder of the season.

The Australian international had previously signaled her departure via an Instagram post, after which Spar Girona officially confirmed she had exercised her contractual release option. This marks the second consecutive year Bibby has left the Spanish club mid-season to pursue WNBA opportunities, having done the same in 2025.

According to the club’s announcement, Bibby is expected to report to the Portland Fire’s training camp the week following her departure from Girona. The Fire, who earned the eighth seed in the 2025 WNBA playoffs, have been rebuilding their roster ahead of the 2026 season.

Bibby’s Impact on Spar Girona This Season

During her time with Spar Girona in the 2024-25 EuroCup Women season, Bibby averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game across 38 contests. Her shooting efficiency included 46.3% on two-point attempts and 42.9% from three-point range, while contributing 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game on average.

In EuroCup play specifically, Bibby was even more productive, posting 22.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game with a 21.5 performance rating. Her best individual scoring performance came against NKA on October 23, 2024, when she dropped 27 points on efficient shooting (7-of-15 from the field, including 6-of-8 from three).

Her departure creates an immediate void in Spar Girona’s frontcourt rotation as they prepare to face Leganés in the playoff quarterfinals. Head coach Roberto Íñiguez will need to adjust his lineup without one of the team’s most versatile scorers and playmakers.

History of WNBA Moves

Bibby’s path to the WNBA follows a pattern established last year when she similarly departed Spar Girona mid-season to join a WNBA training camp. Her collegiate background includes stints at Mississippi State (2017-2020) and Maryland (2020-2022), followed by professional experience in Poland where she was named MVP of the Polish League during the 2022-23 season after averaging 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game for Gorzow.

The Australian international has represented her country in FIBA competition and brings extensive international experience to the WNBA landscape. Her ability to stretch the floor as a 6-foot-0 forward with three-point range has been a consistent asset throughout her professional career.

What’s Next for Both Parties

For Spar Girona, the immediate focus shifts to playoff preparation against Leganés without Bibby in the rotation. The club will look to other players to increase their scoring and playmaking output in her absence.

Regarding Bibby’s WNBA prospects, her arrival at the Portland Fire training camp represents an opportunity to earn a roster spot for the 2026 season. The Fire finished the 2025 WNBA season with a 16-24 record, missing the playoffs by one game, and have been active in free agency to improve their roster depth.

As of the announcement date, neither Bibby nor the Portland Fire have released additional details about the specifics of her training camp invitation or potential contract terms. Spar Girona has not announced any corresponding roster moves to replace her production in the short term.

The Australian forward’s departure highlights the growing trend of international players using European leagues as developmental stepping stones before pursuing WNBA opportunities, particularly when contractual exit clauses are negotiated into overseas agreements.

Archysport will continue to monitor Bibby’s progress with the Portland Fire and provide updates on her WNBA status as information becomes available through official team and league channels.

Share your thoughts on Chloe Bibby’s move and what it means for both Spar Girona’s playoff hopes and her WNBA aspirations in the comments below.