Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull are thick as thieves. It didn't take all that long for their friendship to flourish, either.
Shooters shoot, and few players do that as well as the Fever's sharpshooting tandem of Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull.
They're not the same archetype. Clark is a dazzling passer and shot creator best known for her off-the-dribble triples. Hull, meanwhile, is more of the catch-and-shoot variety. She launched shots like daggers, hoping to find her mark not by dancing around defenders, but by launching strikes above them.
And yet, the tandem has worked a charm for Indiana as of late. With Clark driving the offense and Hull providing much-needed floor spacing, the Fever possess one of the sport's most potent attacks.
Clark and Hull have already found individual success at the professional level, but it's their friendship that has made the spoils that much sweeter for the pairing.
With that, here's what you need to know about Clark and Hull's friendship, including how it's aided Indiana's climb to title contention.
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Caitlin Clark-Lexie Hull relationship, explained
Clark and Hull were fast friends, making inroads with one another soon after Clark landed in Indiana.
Prior to Clark's arrival, Hull — the No. 6 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft — was one of the first names on the Fever's team sheet. The Stanford alum started 25 games in 2023.
Clark figured to alter Hull's role in Indiana's backcourt. Neither she nor All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell were heading to the bench. The burden fell upon Hull, who was a below-league-average shooter in her first two years in the league.
Nevertheless, Hull was excited to share the floor with one of the sport's finest playmakers.
“I want to play with the best players and I want to win games,” Hull told USA Today in 2024. “Having her on your team makes your team better. I watched her in college, and I was really impressed with her playmaking. Honestly, I was more excited about her passing ability than her scoring. I was excited to get out and run and make cuts because I knew she’d find me.”
It took a while for the partnership to jell — Hull was jettisoned out of the rotation in the Fever's first six games.
But when she saw the court — and the gaps of space that opened up across the three-point line because of Clark's gravity — Hull flourished. She came into her own after the Olympic break, canning six of seven threes to push Indiana past Seattle in her second game back.
The outburst foreshadowed what was to come. Hull started each of the Fever's final 10 games in 2024, averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks on 47.8/58.3/85.0 shooting splits. Her displays brought her plenty of acolytes, including Clark herself.
This is now a Lexie Hull fan account
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) August 18, 2024
Hull's improved play wasn't merely about opportunity. It also reflected the camaraderie she and Clark had established alongside one another, fortified by a vacation to Mexico and an appearance at a Jordan Davis concert in Indianapolis during the Olympic break.
Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull join Jordan Davis on stage to conclude his show in Indy pic.twitter.com/jqmulLoaNZ
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) August 1, 2024
Clark and Hull look to have formed quite a close bond in the past year or so. That's not only shown in their interactions with one another — teeming with light and humor — but it's also reflected in the performances both players have been able to author up with the other on the floor.
Fever fans hope that such a dynamic will remain in place for years to come.
Category: Basketball
