Lexie Hull began the season as a backup to veteran forward DeWanna Bonner in the Indiana Fever rotation. But after just three games, her energy and consistency earned her a spot in the starting lineup, pushing Bonner to the bench. Though Bonner has denied any tension, many believe the lineup shift contributed to her eventual departure from the franchise. Interestingly, Hull never saw Bonner as competition. The veteran was a mentor for Hull, and she was eager to learn from her experience.

“I was super, super, super excited because finally there’s a [player in my position] that I can look up to that has won in the league and has all these accomplishments and knows what it takes, and I can learn something from her,” Hull said in an interview with Glamour. “And then she randomly leaves, and we’re all just kind of like, ‘What happened?’ We were never given an explanation.” But how did it affect the Fever locker room, who brought Bonner with much fanfare?

Hull explained that her exit actually helped them gel better. “To have no explanation was really challenging, but I think that helped us grow closer together because we’re like, ‘All right, this is us. We’re here, we’re going to support each other, we’re loving each other; we’re going to fight for each other. We’re not going to leave. We’re in this together.’” Hull said.

Much has changed since the scandal that shook the start of the season. After admitting that the “fit did not work out” with the Indiana Fever, DeWanna Bonner found a fresh start by reuniting with her fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, at the Phoenix Mercury. Interestingly, Sophie Cunningham also hinted at the same earlier this season.

“I want her to end her career and be happy,” the Fever star said, “but I also think it’s okay to be professional about it and send a text to your teammates. Send a text and be like, ‘Hey, love you guys.’ Or, you don’t even have to say ‘Love you guys.’ Just like, ‘Hey, sorry this didn’t work out. Good luck.’ You know what I mean?”

There was little communication behind the scenes as Bonner abruptly stopped showing up and demanded a trade. Tensions flared again when she faced her former team, hitting a deep three-pointer over Lexie Hull and staring her down for several seconds while reportedly calling her a “bum.” Despite the drama, the Indiana Fever stayed composed and focused, as they continued to strengthen their team culture and push forward together to go into a deep playoff run even without key stars like Caitlin Clark and Sophie.

Their teamwork and the ability to gel with each other in-season signing is what made their semifinals run possible. Be it Odyssey Sims, Shey Peddy, Aari McDonald, Chloe Bibby, or Aeriel Powers, everyone has talked highly of the Indiana Fever unity. Most of them played their best basketball in the last few years. So, maybe Bonner’s leaving was a necessity for the Fever to succeed later on. However, that sense of dislike from Bonner stretches beyond just her, according to Lexie Hull.

Caitlin Clark Effect Fuels Fever Jealousy, Says Lexie Hull

Yes, we are back to the same conversation from last year. Caitlin Clark was being battered on the court with multiple flagrant fouls, which was considered normal treatment for a rookie. There is a long-standing tradition for the newcomers to get a ‘welcome to the WNBA’ moment from the veterans. Many on the outside felt it was becoming too much for Clark. 

“I think there is a level of jealousy when it comes to the Fever, just because of the media attention and the fans that have shown up for us ever since Caitlin got here,” Hull said. “We’ve heard people and players and teams talking in their locker room about, ‘We can’t let the Fever win.’” You can’t confirm it unless someone from the other side admits it. Still, every athlete knows that rivals and even refs seem to have it out for you. However, this is not the first time a Fever player has said something like this.

“I know the talks Phoenix had in their locker room of, like, ‘We’re going to show her what the W really is,'” Cunningham said. “I get it to a certain extent. Every rookie coming into the league, that’s how you’re going to treat them. But there’s just more for her. It’s her second year. Now, being on her team and seeing it, I’m like, ‘What are people doing?’ It’s just too much.”

There is a blurry line between being driven by competitive spirit and hate. Some feel the intense competition among elite athletes brings this out. Any player wants to eclipse the best players in the league. So, there will be that added fire going up against the likes of Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, or Napheesa Collier. Hull agrees that this motivated them to perform better. 

“If you have extra motivation to beat us because of something out of our control, that’s fine, if that’s what it takes for you guys to come and try extra hard,” Hull said. “I think a little bit of that is needed across the league…. Everyone should feel like they’re getting everyone else’s best, and I do feel like we get everyone else’s best.” It seems this was one of the reasons behind Fever’s fairytale playoff run this season. Hull maintained that this feeling does not affect her stance in the CBA negotiations.