Like many fans of the WNBA, Lexie Hull follows Caitlin Clark’s journey closely.

Whenever Clark makes headlines—whether she breaks a record, makes a notable statement, or even sneezes—Hull is promptly informed.

However, during a recent beach trip to Mexico with Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson (who is now married), Hull discovered a new side to Clark.

The 2024 draft’s top pick and heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year is . . . quite humorous.

In fact, she’s quite the jokester and a bit of a troublemaker.

“She really enjoys causing a little chaos. If you’re looking for a laugh, she’s your go-to,” Hull shared with YSL News Sports.

The bond between Hull and Clark, along with the chemistry they exhibit on the court, may prove pivotal as they head into the WNBA playoffs.

The Fever, who haven’t reached the playoffs since 2016, will begin their postseason quest this Sunday against Connecticut in a best-of-three series against the Sun. They hold the sixth seed, having triumphed in nine of their last thirteen encounters. Everyone knows what to expect from Clark (19.2 points, 8.4 assists per game), 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston (14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds), and two-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell (19.2 points).

However, Hull’s performance this season has been both remarkable and somewhat unexpected.

Drafted as the sixth pick in 2022, Hull started frequently last season. With Clark’s arrival, expectations for her role shifted, especially once Clark was confirmed as the No. 1 pick for the Fever last December. When Indiana made the announcement on April 15, a viral video captured Hull, Erica Wheeler, and Maya Caldwell celebrating by putting on No. 22 Fever jerseys.

Hull recognized that her role might evolve, but she was eager to team up with someone who made a significant impact in college basketball.

“I want to compete alongside the best and achieve victory,” Hull remarked. “Having her on the team elevates everyone. I admired her playmaking while she was in college and was genuinely more enthused about her passing skills than her scoring ability. I was thrilled to run and maneuver because I knew she’d find me.”

Finding instant rapport and becoming close friends was an added benefit of their partnership.

Despite this, Hull acknowledged that the beginning of the season was challenging.

Not featuring in the rotation early on—she sat out six of the Fever’s first 21 games—Hull experienced a turnaround following the Olympic break. In a game on August 18, the second match after the month-long hiatus, Hull came off the bench and hit six out of seven 3-point attempts in a 92-75 victory against Seattle.

“It was disheartening because I was in the gym every day, yet I felt my results didn’t reflect the hard work,” she explained. “So, to finally find my rhythm felt fantastic. Things were coming together, changing the game for both myself and the team.”

After that performance, Clark tweeted, “This is officially a Lexie Hull fan account.”

Hull has been on fire since then. She entered the starting lineup on August 28, and Indiana has accumulated a 6-3 record in those initial games. Currently, she boasts the second-best 3-point shooting percentage in the WNBA, with 47.1% success from beyond the arc. Notably, she has converted 24 of 38 attempts post-Olympics, an impressive 63.2%.

Hull’s confidence has notably surged during the latter half of the season, particularly when she shares the court with Clark, who consistently boosts Hull’s spirits every time she passes her the ball from the perimeter.

“There’s a lot of belief coming from her, but she also sets high standards for the entire team,” Hull noted, often spotted sharing a laugh with Clark on the bench. “She creates numerous scoring opportunities. We benefit from the open looks her skills create, and when we make those shots, it builds our confidence.”

Clark has noticed Hull’s transformation as well.

“Her contribution is immense, especially defensively,” Clark said. “She’s the one diving for loose balls and marking our opponents’ top players throughout the game. Plus, her improvement in shooting has been phenomenal. The way she’s performed since the Olympic break adds a new layer to our game.”

Hull attributes the break to allowing her, and others, to form a bond with Clark outside of basketball. She understands that good camaraderie in the locker room can enhance their game performance.

“Reflecting on our success at Stanford, it heavily stemmed from truly caring for each other and cultivating relationships off the court,” Hull remarked, who played an essential role in the 2021 NCAA championship win for the Cardinal.

Even from 1,800 miles away, Kate Martin, Clark’s former teammate at Iowa now playing for the Las Vegas Aces, noticed Hull’s improvement and guessed that her bond with Clark was a contributing factor. Clark’s ability to enhance her teammates’ confidence is evident.

According to Martin, she is a game-changer.

“Her greatest strength lies in her ability to enhance her teammates’ performance,” Martin noted. “When you have such an outstanding player who exudes confidence, it inspires others to see that potential in themselves as well.”

At Iowa, Martin mentioned that Clark seemed to recognize her potential long before Martin did. While she may be taken aback by making a WNBA roster, Clark had already anticipated it.

Indiana’s coach, Christie Sides, has also noticed this. She stated that beyond all of Clark’s achievements, it’s her talent for uplifting her teammates that truly distinguishes her.

The boost in confidence for Hull has positively affected her performance not just on offense but also in defense. Hull frequently takes on the challenge of guarding the opponent’s top outside shooter, showcasing her hustle in ways that statistics may not fully capture.

Since her comeback in mid-August, Hull has been crucial in late-game scenarios, whether it’s sinking a game-changing shot, securing vital rebounds on defense, deflecting important passes, or drawing charges. TV analyst Debbie Antonelli, who has been covering every Indiana game this season, recently praised her performance as “vintage Lexie Hull.”

For the Fever, this surge in form comes at a critical juncture.

Reach out to Lindsay Schnell  on social media @Lindsay_Schnell