The Golden State Valkyries have resigned Chloe Bibby and Kaitlyn Chen, who each joined the team this preseason, for at least the coming two weeks as several players participate in EuroBasket. Golden State did not specify contract lengths for Bibby or Chen in the team’s press release.
Both players will be immediately available for the team’s June 17 game against the Dallas Wings. Bibby will wear number 55 and Chen will wear number 2 for Golden State.
Bibby, who hails from the Australian National Team, averaged 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and a 37.5 field goal percentage in two preseason games for the Valkyries ahead of this season. Chen, who helped UConn win the national championship this year, was selected by the Valkyries as the No. 30 overall pick in this year’s draft and added two points, three rebounds and one assist to the team in 13 minutes of preseasn play.
Kaitlyn Chen was set to participate in 3XBA
The news likely throws a wrench in Chen’s plans to participate in 3XBA this month — something that’s positive for her, but perhaps not so much for her team. She was slated to play in the Spokane Hoop Fest, which kicks off on June 28, 2025.
FIBA 3XBA is the only professional FIBA 3×3 league in the United States. Like Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled, the league offers women’s basketball players the opportunity to play the sport outside of the WNBA, and without having to travel overseas.
The gameplay is like the 3×3 format in the Olympics — 10-minute games, 12-second shot clock. Players who participate in 3XBA games also earn points toward their own FIBA ranking, which can help qualify the United States for the Olympics.
The Valkyries originally signed Chloe Bibby in February
Golden State picked up Bibby for the first time in early February 2025. At the time, Bibby was averaging 18 points per game and shooting 47% from the 3-point line for Uni Girona CB in EuroCup.
She also has plenty of experience playing in the US at the collegiate level and spent time at both Mississippi State and Maryland.
Golden State has holes to fill
The Valkyries are missing a sizeable portion of the team’s roster due to the EuroBasket tournament, which begins June 18. The list of qualified countries includes France, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, Great Britain, Lithuania, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovakia, Latvia, Hungary, Belgium, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
Julia Vanloo and Kayra Linskens will both play for Belgium this month (and Linskens has already announced she will not return to Golden State after the tournament), and Janelle Salaun will represent France. Cecilia Zandalasini will play for Italy, and it’s unknown if Temi Fagbenle will remain in the US or play for Great Britain in this year’s contest.