Lexie Hull takes first step toward alleviating major offseason concern
Lexie Hull couldn’t miss from three
Indiana Fever Lexie Hull (10) smiles Sunday, May 4, 2025, during a preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Brazil national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Indiana Fever defeated the Brazilian National Team, 108-44. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Lexie Hull’s third season with the Indiana Fever was a breakout year. She averaged a career-high 5.5 points per game and significantly increased her 3-point percentage. Hull shot 47.1 percent on 2.1 attempts per game after shooting only 18.6 and 21.7 percent in her first two seasons.
All of a sudden, Hull emerged as one of the best three-point shooters in the league and became a key rotation piece for the Fever. She looked just like the type of 3-and-D wing the Fever would need next to Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
Then, Hull struggled to shoot the three in Unrivaled. Over 16 games with the Rose Basketball Club, she only converted nine of her 39 3-point attempts and played some of the fewest minutes among non-relief players.
So, fans started to wonder whether Hull’s 2024 season with the Fever had simply been a fluke. Hull has taken the first step toward proving that her shot is still where it needs to be.
Hull shot the three well against the Brazilian national team
Hull’s first preseason game with the Fever was not a great shooting performance. In 33 minutes, she only hit one of her three attempts from long-range. Nevertheless, she finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Against Brazil, Hull only played 10 minutes—likely because she had played so much the day before, and the Fever didn’t want to overtax her in preseason. In those ten minutes, Hull converted all three of her 3-point attempts. She couldn’t miss from long-range and looked much like the shooter Fever fans got used to seeing last season.
Hull’s playing time will depend on her ability to make threes
Unlike last season, Hull will have to fight hard for her minutes this year. The Fever are now a much deeper, more veteran team with championship aspirations. Hull’s defense will be important to the Fever, as they try to become a better defensive team, but her minutes are not guaranteed.
Hull will have to do more than just play good defense or risk sitting on the bench while head coach Stephanie White relies heavily on veterans DeWanna Bonner, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson. Hitting some threes is the easiest way for Hull to claim and solidify her spot in the Fever’s rotation.
While DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sydney Colson were great veteran pickups in the offseason, none of them has been an exceptional 3-point shooter over their long WNBA careers. The Fever need to be able to space the floor around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. Doing just that could be the key to Hull playing meaningful minutes.
Now, she just has to carry her good shooting over to the regular season.
