Lexie Hull has garnered a ton of praise during her three-year WNBA career, especially during this past season with the Indiana Fever.
Hull, both as a starter and role player off the bench, is best known for her ability to push the envelope. Whether as a heady wing on offense or a high-motor pest on defense, Hull makes her impact felt through her hustle and intensity. She is a head coach's dream, a spark plug that can turn the tide in favor of the Fever.
But Hull has also gained another reputation: an elite three-point shooter
It probably has something to do with Hull's exceptional three-point field goal percentage in 2024. The Stanford alum shot a whopping 47% from beyond the arc, giving her the best percentage on the team by a wide margin. But Hull only shoots about two shots from three-point range per contest, meaning she has not had the opportunity to shoot three's at a high volume.
Unrivaled, it should be noted, is a completely different game. The 3-on-3 format opens up opportunities inside because of less help defense, as well as plenty of transition baskets. But the drive-and-kick is also effective, and Hull has gotten plenty of opportunities.
Hull is currently 5-for-21 (23.8%) from deep in Unrivaled. She has failed to hit from deep in the Rose's last three games, going 0-for-7. But what fans do not realize is that this has nothing to do with Hull's shooting ability.
This speaks to the difficulty to create space off the dribble in Unrivaled. Hull thrives in the catch-and-shoot opportunities that the WNBA play style makes possible. Unrivaled hones in on a player's ability to play isolation basketball, which Hull is not known for.
This does not mean Hull's 2024 season was a fluke-- it just means Unrivaled is a different style of play than she is used to.
Look at other stars in Unrivaled, on Hull's own team. Chelsea Gray is averaging 18.3 PPG in Unrivaled, which is higher than any of her point totals in her ten WNBA seasons. It's also almost 10 PPG more than her 2024 average, mainly due to the fact that she is a great isolation scorer. While that is not as efficient in the WNBA, Gray has thrived in Unrivaled.
Hull is experiencing a similar swing, just in the other direction. It does not mean she was a one-year wonder-- she just plays better in 5-on-5 situations. When you have Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston on your team, you are bound to end up with open shots. Hull capitalized.
Fever fans can rest easy. This season has little to no impact on Hull's ability. If anything, the Unrivaled season will only help her this upcoming season when she finds herself with an iso opportunity.