Indiana Fever Sign Chloe Bibby Until Season’s End! NOW is the Time to Cut Brianna Turner! – What the WNBA Move Really Means
The Indiana Fever, riding a stormy yet promising 2024 WNBA campaign, have stirred the league’s waters yet again. After weeks of injuries, highs and lows, the front office made a bold move: Australian forward Chloe Bibby has signed with the Fever through the end of the season. While this is a strategic play to shore up their frontcourt depth, it comes hand-in-hand with another hard-hitting reality—the time has truly come for Indiana to move on from Brianna Turner.
Let’s dig deeper:
Who is Chloe Bibby?
Bibby, a 25-year-old, 6’1” forward from Warracknabeal, Australia, is no WNBA rookie. After shining for Maryland in college, Bibby has spent the last two seasons building a respectable pro reputation in Europe and Australia. She’s known for her high basketball IQ, strong rebounding, three-point touch, and infectious energy—traits that every playoff hopeful team needs in the treacherous stretches of a WNBA season.
Bibby signed a hardship contract with the Connecticut Sun earlier this year, impressing coaches and analysts alike with her hustle and versatility. Now, Indiana is gambling that her combo-forward skill set can steady an inconsistent rotation and give the Fever’s young stars a chance to breathe.
Why the Signing Makes Sense
Depth, shooting, and versatility. Those have been the Indiana Fever’s Achilles’ heels during the first half of the 2024 season. Outside of Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith, the Fever have lacked a true stretch-four who can rebound, knock down shots, and defend multiple positions. Sure, Kelsey Mitchell has carried a big scoring load, Caitlin Clark has electrified at point guard, and Kristy Wallace has given energy on the wing, but the Fever frequently get punished when their bench comes on.
Chloe Bibby is a Swiss-army knife for coach Christie Sides. She brings:
- Size: Standing 6’1”, Bibby can slot in as a 3, 4, or even small-ball 5 in pinch situations.
- Shooting: She hit over 35% from three in college, stretching defenses and opening the lane for Boston and Clark to operate.
- Motor: Bibby’s never-give-up attitude resonates with blue-collar Indiana.
- International Experience: Playing in Australia’s WNBL and Europe’s tough leagues has sharpened her adaptability and poise under pressure.
With heavy minutes taking their toll on Smith and Boston, Bibby’s freshness and spark off the bench could be a season-saving move for the Fever.
The Brianna Turner Problem: Change Is Overdue
At the same time, Indiana faces a tough decision. Brianna Turner has not lived up to expectations since being acquired. Once a staple of Phoenix’s defense, Turner’s role in Indiana has been an awkward fit. She’s struggled to click with Boston, offers virtually no offensive threat, and the defense that made her a prized WNBA talent seems to have regressed.
The Case for Moving On
- Offensive Struggles: Through the 2024 season, Turner’s field goal attempts and point production have flatlined. Teams don’t bother guarding her beyond 6 feet, clogging up the lane for Boston and Clark.
- Defensive Slippage: Turner—once a top-tier shot-blocker and rim protector—has shown lapses in communication and transition defense. The energy level isn’t what it was in Phoenix, and opponents are exploiting the drop in intensity.
- Crowded Frontcourt: With Bibby’s arrival, and the ongoing development of Smith, Wallace, and Temi Fagbenle, minutes at the 4 and 5 spots are a premium. Keeping Turner for “potential” rather than “production” is a recipe for mediocrity.
- Locker Room Chemistry: Reports from beat writers have hinted at “fit” issues with Turner off the court as well as on. The WNBA demands cohesion—Bibby, with her positive reputation, may prove a better cultural fit for this young Fever locker room.
Why Now?
The Fever are in playoff contention. The schedule gets brutal midseason, and every rotation spot matters. Turner’s lack of fit—combined with Bibby’s signing—makes holding onto Turner dead weight. The WNBA’s 12-team structure means every roster spot is precious, and tough decisions separate pretenders from contenders.
What Changes Next?
With Bibby on board and Turner likely on the way out, Indiana signals that they are done settling for “almost” and ready to pursue “winning now”. Expect coach Sides to use Bibby as a stretch big in spot minutes, especially when Indiana needs a scoring burst or a defensive spark. This change keeps Boston fresher, opens up the floor for Clark’s drives and kick-outs, and brings needed rebounding grit.
If Indiana waives Turner, they free up flexibility for another shooter, passing big, or defensive specialist should further injuries arise. The Fever haven’t had this much meaningful depth in years—this could be the patch that finally lets their young core take off.
The Big Picture for Indiana
This isn’t just about numbers or stat sheets—it’s about identity. The Indiana Fever, thanks to stars like Aliyah Boston and the national phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark, are becoming a destination for talent again. Front offices that refuse to pull the plug on stagnant pieces don’t win titles.
By signing Bibby—and preparing to part ways with Turner—the Fever have shown:
- Willingness to adapt
- Commitment to winning basketball, not just charisma
- Belief in a young, evolving core
This is a team on the rise, a team that might finally be ready to step forward not just by hope, but with real, pragmatic moves.
Final Word
Chloe Bibby’s signing is more than just a fresh face—it’s a shot of adrenaline for a Fever squad hungry to prove they belong among the W’s elite. Cutting Brianna Turner might be tough, but if Indiana is serious about building a winner, tough calls are how you get there.
For Fever fans, for WNBA observers, this is a can’t-miss development—one that could make or break Indiana’s playoff dreams in 2024 and beyond.
Get ready, Indianapolis. The Fever just turned up the heat.
