When Indiana Fever got the top draft pick in 2024, the franchise braced for changes. Caitlin Clark came in with a burgeoning reputation that would transform the franchise, with newfound popularity in ticket sales and viewerships, rising to a .500 team, and a first playoff appearance in eight years. Naturally, her arrival also led to changes within the team, as Lexie Hull, a 2022 first-round draft pick, saw her role changed.

In 2023, Hull started 25 games of the 30 for the Fever, averaging 20.6 minutes per game, which was a sizeable increase in game time from her rookie season. But with Clark coming into the team, Hull started only 11 games, averaging 19.7 minutes. But instead of harping over losing her place to the former Iowa standout, Hull has nothing but praise for Clark and her growing leadership skills.

Hull stopped by to talk on The Ringer WNBA Show and discussed how Clark has helped the Fever become a better team overall. She mentioned that the rookie is extremely competitive during practice, which translates into how she performs during game day.

She also brought up the overall impact of Clark stating, “I think you know she sees the game at a bigger scale obviously with the platform that she’s created for herself and then that’s transitioned to the game. It’s huge.”

“I think for me, especially as a point guard and as someone that’s delivering a lot of the passes that lead to shots, if I miss, she’s [Clark] definitely going to say you got the next one. I can count on her for keeping me confident and positive. So yeah, I think that shows the player that she is and the leader she is as a point guard” she added.

Her mom admitted that staying on the bench in Indiana’s 2024 season opener affected Lexie’s confidence. Having taken a backseat to Clark, she didn’t come off the bench in six of the Fever’s first 21 games. She admitted feeling dismayed over how things were going. Talking to USA Today last month, she said, “It was frustrating because I was in the gym every single day, but I felt like my performance wasn’t matching up with the amount of work I was putting in.” But she worked hard in the gym and her way back into the starting lineup after the Olympic break.

She started the last 10 games of the season, averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists during the final stretch of the regular season.

Notably, against the Seattle Storm on August 18, the second game after the Olympic break, she put up a career-best 22 points, including a 6 for 7 from beyond the arc to lead Fever to a 92-75 victory.

Meanwhile, the bond between Clark and Hull proved to be vital in the Fever’s run to the playoffs and it has only gotten stronger over time.

Caitlin Clark and Hull’s friendship has grown stronger

Following Hull’s incredible comeback against the Seattle Storm, Clark was in awe of her teammate’s performance. Taking to X, she wrote, “This is now a Lexie Hull fan account.”

Even Clark was floored by Hull’s shooting ability. She called Lexie “incredible” and skilled at playing from both ends of the floor. Moreover, the duo has developed a great bond, even spending the off-season playing golf with each other. The rookie even had a cute surprise for her teammate on her birthday last month.

Hull finished the 2024 season averaging 20 minutes per game along with 5.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 1.1 ASG. But more importantly, she became an integral part of the Fever’s lineup despite struggling to find a place early on. Anyone who thought the starting position would cause friction between Clark and Hull was sorely mistaken.