The 2025 WNBA season was a rollercoaster for the Indiana Fever. After an intense rookie campaign from Caitlin Clark in 2024 that electrified the league, expectations soared entering this season. Now, Indy was no longer the “rebuilding” team-they were expected to compete. But as the season unfolded, injuries, rotations, and the constant pressure of growth weighed on every player. That’s where Lexie Hull became one of the unspoken pillars of the locker room. Now, even the head coach has nothing but an honest admission for her.

After all, Hull’s contributions were often behind the curtain. From loose-ball recoveries to defensive stops, her quiet leadership steadied the team through tough nights. And that’s precisely what Coach White’s candid admission hinted at. Speaking to Indy Star on October 22, White shared, “I think that Lexie’s toughness and her ability to play a lot of different roles and play through so much and lead us through that as well, especially by example.”

And yes, her words didn’t just sound like coach-speak; they felt like a tribute. But for “Tough Hull”-that’s a name the Indiana Fever standout craved for herself- it all became a highlight when she took a brutal head-on collision and suffered a visible knot on her forehead. Despite that, she returned in the same game and played for 23 minutes.

“She’s just tough … she’s able to play through levels of pain that would sideline most people,” head coach White shared after the game. While most of us couldn’t predict the level of pain, it was visible through her raccoon eyes. But it wasn’t the only instance when Hull showed her toughness.

During the playoffs, Hull injured her back in Game 1 and was listed on the injury report for Games 2 and 3. But while any player would’ve sat out, she fought through the pain and still showed up for the team-still showing no signs of slowing down. Just consider: she had 82 total points while averaging 10.3 points per game in the playoffs. She even earned her first-ever double-double of the postseason, with 16 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces.

All that came when stars like Sophie, Sydney, Chloe, and Damiris Dantas were battling injuries. She kept her shooting and grit on point to help Indy fight through. With her average of 12.3 points per game and 45% shooting from beyond the arc in the semis, it all seemed possible, too. So, every bit of praise Hull’s earned is well-deserved.

But is all this enough to keep Hull with Indy?

As the Indiana Fever head into a pivotal offseason, the spotlight remains firmly on their roster. That’s because, apart from CC and Aliyah Boston, every other player on the roster will be hitting free agency. While Indy’s got $1,552,300 in maximum cap space and $251,266 in active cap space, they still need to make some big decisions.

No doubt, with the current roster, every player deserves a spot considering the run they’ve had amid adversities. But still, Indy needs to build the roster around Caitlin Clark. And as of now, their priorities belong to Kelsey Mitchell-a scoring phenom who has been the cornerstone of the franchise.

Yet, while Hull remains in a bracket of uncertainty despite her foundational role on the roster, her status adds a layer of urgency. But there’s another part to the story. While Indy’s got cap space and players to choose from, the decision also depends on the CBA.

As the WNBPA is demanding a salary hike, everything depends on the new CBA and the conditions within it. So far, despite multiple meetings between the league and the players’ union, no mutual agreement has been achieved. Now, with only one week left before the October 31, 2025, lockout deadline, the pressure is mounting-and both parties still seem far apart. So what do you think? Will the league ink a new CBA with the players? And if it happens, which players will Indy choose to keep? Stay tuned to know!