Struggling to keep the side together, fit and running, if there was one thing the Indiana Fever would have begged the basketball gods for before tip-off, it was: no more injuries. Yet barely three minutes into the game, their worst fear unfolded when Lexie Hull collided head-on with Seattle’s Gabby Williams while diving for a steal. Both players lay on the floor, clutching their heads, and as Hull walked to the locker room with a visible knot swelling on her forehead, the mood inside the arena dropped heavy for a moment. Even Fever head coach Stephanie White said, “That was disgusting,” fearing loss of another player.

Hull was taken back to the tunnel with a towel over her head, but soon returned to the bench and re-entered the game in the second quarter and five minutes later drilled a 24-foot triple to extend the Fever lead to 42-29, forcing a Seattle timeout. “I didn’t know exactly what happened when it happened. It was kind of just a clash,” Hull said. “Looking at the video, Gabby and I just ran into each other. Unfortunate, unlucky. I think we both have knots on our heads, (but) we just kept playing.”

Hull described the moment after the collision as surreal, noting that she was caught off guard by the impact and immediately felt the swelling on her face, which was uncomfortable. She also laughed off the swelling, saying, “I knew that’s yeah, yeah, everyone’s like you look beautiful. I’m like. I know I look insane, but it honestly looks better now than it did when it first happened.” Hull even joked about seeing the bump in her peripheral vision when it first happened: “I could see it with my own eyes. I knew it was going to be big. It was literally sticking out.” Despite the scary moment, Hull played through it and made a huge impact on the game, logging five points, nine rebounds, and an astounding +31 rating over 23:19 minutes.

This victory was a major boost for the Fever, coming at a crucial time with playoff positioning on the line. Indiana moved up from 8th to 6th in the WNBA standings with a 20-18 record. The team still has key games ahead against the Valkyries and Sparks, who are in a similar state to that of the Fever, and are trying to walk up the ladder. Even the game against Phoenix and the closing game against the Lynx will be a deciding factor, and at such a crucial juncture, they can’t lose another player.

Her toughness was also crucial given the Fever’s ongoing injury crisis—Caitlin Clark has been out for 16 straight games with a groin injury, Chloe Bibby has missed three contests with a knee issue, and Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson are all done for the season. White admitted she was relieved Hull’s injury wasn’t worse, saying the team simply cannot afford any more injuries the rest of the way. Hull’s grit helped the Fever pull off a key win while keeping their playoff hopes alive, and fans didn’t miss a chance to show their support for the Fever’s No. 10.

Fans show love for Lexie Hull after tough knock

Fever fans were quick to rally behind Lexie Hull after her hard collision, flooding social media with praise and humor. One fan wrote, “Lexie is one tough lady. I loved hearing the crowd roar for her when she went to check back in. Lexie deserves that for the way she works so hard on the court. Great job Lexie!!!” Despite the fan support, concern lingered over Hull’s injury. Her mother, Jamie Hull, offered a reassuring update, tweeting, “She is okay! Sore neck & jaw, but she is okay. One tough kid that can take a hit and never complain!” Built differently, yes.

Another added some lighthearted advice, “Such a tough cookie! Glad you’re okay, Lexie!!! Maybe you ladies should start wearing these masks to protect your pretty faces!” Though funny, the Fever camp might actually try anything and everything to keep the new core running. The Fever confirmed Hull would undergo further evaluation, though no new medical updates have been released. Even with the scare, Hull’s toughness and quick return to the game highlighted her resilience, leaving fans feeling relieved and impressed.

Another fan pointed out Hull’s toughness, writing, “Poor Lexie, especially considering right after the elbow she took to her jaw in the Lynx game! But she didn’t let it deter her & played great as usual.” During the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup, Hull took a nasty elbow from Lynx guard Kayla McBride while vying for a rebound, immediately dropping to the floor and cradling her face in pain, which sparked concern from teammates, coaches, and fans.

But there’s a unique perspective too. One fan commented,

“Won’t be traded,” reflecting confidence in Hull’s value to the Fever. Selected No. 6 overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Hull is now in her fourth season, with the team exercising her fourth-year rookie scale option alongside Kristy Wallace. With injuries hitting hard, HC Stephanie White has shuffled the lineup frequently. Hull started against the Lynx, replacing Cunningham, after being benched in the previous game against the Sun. Despite the rotation changes, Hull has delivered, averaging 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 38 games this season. While next season’s trade outcomes are uncertain, this year, Hull is playing solidly and making her presence felt.

The wishes weren’t limited to Hull, as many were concerned for Gabby Williams, too. One comment read, “Does the other player also have a knot?” The collision sent both Williams and Hull to the floor, but they returned to the game. While Hull logged 23 minutes with five points and nine rebounds, Williams clearly wasn’t herself, playing 18 minutes and scoring just two points on 1-for-5 shooting. She normally averages 12.2 points and 32.2 minutes per game. After the contest, Storm coach Noelle Quinn addressed her condition, saying, “Gabby said she was OK but clearly, that was a very physical hit. But she’s doing OK.” So while there’s no official update on a knot, it’s clear Williams felt the impact too.