The Indiana Fever are making moves to secure their core as WNBA free agency opens, extending a restricted qualifying offer to guard Lexie Hull. This follows their recent core qualifying offer to star Kelsey Mitchell, signaling a clear intent to build continuity around their key players.

This was an anticipated step after Hull completed her four-year rookie contract following the 2025 season. By making her a restricted free agent, the Fever retain a crucial advantage: the right of first refusal. Hull is now free to explore the market and negotiate with other teams, but if she signs an offer sheet elsewhere, Indiana can match it and bring her back for the 2026 campaign.

The 2022 No. 6 overall draft pick earned this show of faith with a breakout 2025 season. Stepping into a starting role for 30 games, particularly after Sophie Cunningham's injury in August, Hull showcased her two-way potential on the wing. The 6-foot-1 guard posted career-high averages of 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting a respectable 36.7% from beyond the arc.

With 134 regular-season games and 70 starts under her belt, Hull has developed into a reliable rotational piece for Indiana. As the Fever look to climb the standings, retaining versatile, homegrown talent like Hull is a foundational piece of the puzzle. All eyes are now on the free agent market to see if an offer sheet emerges, testing Indiana's commitment to keeping their core intact.