Sky could lose forward Chloe Bibby to the Lynx

The Sky suddenly have a hole in their frontcourt — and now they might lose one of the players patching it.

Starting forward Azura Stevens has been away from the team for the past week for personal reasons and will miss another game Saturday against the Aces. Meanwhile, the Lynx are attempting to poach one of her backups.

According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Minnesota has offered development player Chloe Bibby a standard contract. The Sky have until 4 p.m. CDT Saturday to promote Bibby to a standard contract of their own or lose her.

That’s easier said than done. With no room under the salary cap, according to HerHoopStats, the Sky would need to cut or trade a player to make the move.

Bibby, a 6-2 stretch big, scored eight points with two assists off the bench in Thursday’s win over the Sun. She also posted a career-high 14 points in a win over Seattle earlier this month. She has contributed to two wins in limited action — tough spare that with Stevens out.

Their only other active forwards are rookie Aicha Coulibaly, who started in Stevens’ place Thursday, and development player Maddy Westbeld, whom the team has been reluctant to use.

This was a guard-heavy roster to begin with, and Rickea Jackson’s season-ending knee injury stretched it thinner. Until Stevens returns, the Sky may need Natasha Cloud, their versatile guard, to spot minutes in the post.

They can also look to sign another forward to a development contract to replace Bibby.