After coming within a single win of reaching the WNBA Finals, the Indiana Fever are entering the offseason with both optimism and difficult decisions ahead.
General manager Amber Cox made it clear that Kelsey Mitchell sits at the top of the team’s re-signing list, though the Fever have several other names to consider.
Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, Damiris Dantas, Sydney Colson, Brianna Turner, Odyssey Sims, and Aari McDonald are all unrestricted free agents, while Lexie Hull and Kristy Wallace enter restricted free agency.
The small forward position, which has alternated between Hull and Cunningham, is one of the biggest question marks.
Cunningham’s experience and offensive spark can’t be dismissed, but her ongoing recovery from a torn MCL raises uncertainty.
Hull, meanwhile, proved her worth through availability, defensive consistency, and meaningful progress on both ends of the court, making her the logical cornerstone at the position.
Lexie Hull’s durability and all-around growth give Indiana stability
When the Fever needed reliability, Lexie Hull delivered. She was one of only four Indiana players, joining Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Natasha Howard, to play in every single game this past season.
That consistency became invaluable for a roster that dealt with constant lineup changes due to injuries. Hull‘s toughness stood out throughout the grind of the regular season and playoffs; she even played through visible bruises, including multiple games with a black eye, without missing time.
Her growth on offense also told the story of a player evolving into a legitimate two-way contributor. After a breakout 2024 season in which she shot 47.1% from three-point range, Hull expanded her volume while maintaining efficiency, converting 36.7% from deep on double the attempts.
Her scoring average rose from 5.5 to 7.2 points per game, and she elevated her performance under playoff pressure, averaging 10.3 points while hitting double figures in half of Indiana’s postseason contests.
Hull began 2025 coming off the bench, but when injuries hit, she seamlessly transitioned into the starting lineup. Her defensive versatility became a major asset, guarding perimeter scorers one night and taking on bigger wings the next. That willingness to adapt and fill gaps was one of the defining traits of Indiana’s resilience throughout the season.
Cunningham, before her injury, had been enjoying a career-best year from the field, posting personal highs in both field goal and three-point percentage.
Still, Hull’s dependability made her indispensable, particularly for a team that’s still building chemistry around its young core.
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