Bibby, Opals crowned golden girls

Chloe Bibby leaves China this week with a little extra weight in her luggage after Australia defeated Japan in Sunday night's Asia Cup final.

By Rosalea Ryan

Chloe Bibby leaves China this week with a little extra weight in her luggage after Australia defeated Japan in Sunday night's Asia Cup final.

The ex-Warracknabeal basketballer was part of the Opals' history-making gold-medal lineup as Australia claimed the women's title for the first time.

Although Bibby had limited court-time in Sunday's final, the 6'2" forward played a pivotal role for the Opals, called up during the final quarter as Australia battled to build on the slimmest of leads on the way to clinching a nine-point win.

Bibby contributed a defensive rebound during those crucial closing minutes.

Earlier in the tournament she chalked up two 'double-doubles' (reaching double figures with both points scored and rebounds) against the Philippines and Lebanon in the Opals' opening two games during the round-robin group stage.

On Saturday she contributed 12 points, three rebounds (one offensive and two defensive) and two assists in the Opals' 13-point semi-final triumph over Korea.

Bibby ended the 2025 Asia Cup in Shenzhen with impressive statistics of 40 points, 31 rebounds (11 offensive and 20 defensive) and nine assists to her name from the Opals' five games, having spent 69 minutes on the boards in total.

Australia's women had previously earned a silver and three bronze medals at the Asia Cup but, unlike their male colleagues, had not managed to have their name added to the trophy.

Bibby is a two-time most valuable player in Europe courtesy of her performances in the Polish and Spanish women's basketball leagues in the past two years and played five games last month for Golden State Valkyries in the US Women's National Basketball Association.

She is due to return to Spar Girona in Spain for the Northern Hemisphere's 2025-26 season.

Bibby was born in Horsham and lived until the age of 15 in Warracknabeal with parents Adrian and Leign-Anne before moving to Melbourne to pursue a professional basketball career.

She was celebrated as Warracknabeal's Australia Day Awards sportsperson of the year in both 2012 and 2013.