When Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull was handed the keys to the Caitlin Clark bandwagon, she wasn’t just getting a ticket to ride; she was in for an entire theme park of basketball pandemonium. From the moment the Fever snagged the No. 1 pick, the hype machine went into overdrive, revving up fans and pulling attention like a tractor beam aimed right at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fever games went from sparsely populated to packed with fans waving “Clark for President” signs before she’d even clocked her first WNBA minute.
As Hull recounted on a recent episode of The Ringer WNBA Show, “Honestly, from the second people heard we’d secured the first pick and Caitlin declared, the Fever could do no wrong. The entire city was on fire — and that was before she’d even signed a contract!” Hull, a three-year Fever vet, noted that the buzz was felt far and wide, with people flocking to preseason games as though they’d heard free hot dogs were up for grabs.
Clark, Iowa’s unstoppable NCAA scoring phenom, officially made her WNBA debut to roars that Hull could only describe as “college football in the Midwest meets the Jonas Brothers circa 2008.” It didn’t take long for Clark to silence any doubters who thought the Fever’s playoff drought was as unshakable as a Midwestern winter. Game after game, she showed off her scoring fireworks, distributing assists at a league-high clip, and filling Gainbridge to the rafters with fans eager to witness “The Caitlin Show.”
The stats? Oh, they were solid: Clark’s rookie averages were 19.2 points, a league-best 8.4 assists, and a neat 5.7 rebounds per game. But Hull says what’s most impressive is Clark’s ability to stay cool under the intense spotlight. “Imagine everyone’s expectations stacked on your shoulders, and you just step on the court like, ‘What pressure?’” Hull said. “I’d be sweating bullets, but Caitlin’s out there like she’s just walked into the grocery store.”
Clark’s off-court presence has proven just as magnetic, as Hull shared in an interview with The Spokesman-Review: “She’s such a cool person to be around. Seriously, she has this ability to make everyone feel like a close friend, whether it’s the fans or her teammates.” Hull chuckled as she recounted their post-season shenanigans, with photos of their goofy outings popping up all over social media, much to fans’ delight.
And it’s not just home games in Indiana where Clark Fever (pun totally intended) has taken hold. Road trips have become unofficial Caitlin Clark appreciation tours, with fans in visiting arenas chanting her name and waving “Marry Me, Caitlin!” signs. Fever fans who haven’t had much to cheer for in recent years are suddenly witnessing record-setting attendance numbers and more merch sales than the team’s ever seen — not that anyone’s complaining.
So, here’s to Caitlin Clark, the Fever’s walking hype machine, stats-stuffer, and unintentional revivalist of a franchise. And here’s to Lexie Hull, who’s enjoying every second of riding shotgun on one of the WNBA’s most entertaining rides yet.