Fever starting line-up change gives vet the opportunity to show she belongs

The Indiana Fever starting lineup saw a shake-up on Saturday heading into the team's Going into their biggest test of the young season thus far against the defending champions the New York Liberty. That game was a good opportunity to try something new, and Coach White took full advantage of the moment.

Veteran DeWanna Bonner, who came over with coach White from the Connecticut Sun, hasn't yet found her stride with the Fever (Bonner has averaged just 2.7 points per game), something that might have prompted the change-up in the starting lineup. Today's first five saw the return of third-year athlete Lexie Hull, who more than met the moment.

Lexie Hull has major impact on both sides of the ball

Hull, who came on strong in the second half of last season, has certainly made the most of her playing time already this year. Hull has averaged 8.3 points, 42.9% shooting from 3-point range, and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes throughout the team's first games, and for Hull, being in the starting role isn't necessarily a new thing. Hull learned to embrace this role after seeing numerous starts in her 2024 campaign.

She currently holds the best plus-minus (average of 17) off the bench and second best overall in the entire WNBA. Hull is another strong scoring option for Coach White and she can fit into virtually any coaching system. She brings a defensive fire to the team and creates chaos forcing opponents to turn the ball over.

Going into Saturday's game, Hull was faced with the tall task of defending Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu. Hull played solidly in terms of defense, forcing turnovers and offensive fouls on New York, something she is very strong at. Her offensive game didn't show any signs of struggle either after putting on a 15-point performance in her 26 minutes played.

It was Hull who created the much-needed spark to get them back into the game after the Fever started flat. This included one big play where Hull scored five points in six seconds off of an inbound steal created by DeWanna Bonner which brought the entire crowd in Gainbridge to their feet.

Having been on the Fever for a few years is also working out in Hull's favor. She has strong chemistry with her teammates, something the new acquisitions don't have quite yet. White can put her into the lineup with Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston and she'll have an instant connection with them. Clark's passes fall nicely as Hull can predict where they're going to come from and always anticipate them.

Hull and the Fever return to competition Wednesday against the Washington Mystics.