Citing Caitlin Clark's mania, Fever teammate pinpoints the exact moment they felt recognized by fans

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull knew early on that the team had gained something special with the arrival of Caitlin Clark. Hull said it did not take long for her impact to become apparent as fans began paying closer attention to the team.

Selected first in the 2024 WNBA draft following an illustrious collegiate career at Iowa, Clark helped infuse renewed interest not only for the Fever but for the entire WNBA, resulting in marked improvements in both game attendance and television viewership.

Speaking on the latest episode of "The Ringer WNBA Show" podcast, which dropped on Wednesday, Hull recalled the moment the team realized they have a special player in their fold in Caitlin Clark, which she said was even before the Fever officially acquired the do-it-all guard.

She said:

"Honestly, at the start when people knew we had No. 1 pick and once Caitlin declared herself, that kind of changed things for the entire city. People were excited to support us. We sensed that in preseason game, on draft night."

Caitlin Clark indeed proved to be a boon to the Fever in her rookie season. She posted steady all-around numbers of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists (league-high), 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. With her on the roster, Indiana also ended an eight-year playoff drought.

Throughout their campaign, fans never failed to show their support, filling up Indiana's Gainbridge Fieldhouse every home game. Even on the road, old and new Fever fans made their presence felt.

Lexie Hull impressed with Caitlin Clark both on and off the court

Having spent an entire season with Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull said she had grown to appreciate the reigning rookie of the year both on and off the court.

The three-year WNBA veteran out of Stanford spoke a lot about the prized Indiana Fever rookie through the course of their campaign, particularly how impressed she was with the way Clark handled everything on her plate.

Lexie Hull said of Clark as a player (via Sports Illustrated):

"I think her maturity has really shown and has impressed me and a lot of us. When you come in as a rookie, it's tough for anyone. But when you have someone like her with expectations that are higher than anyone on the court, I can't imagine the pressure that she felt. I think it's really amazing to see her stay the same througout all of that."

Hull also shared her thoughts on Clark as a person off the court (via The Spokesman-Review):

"She's a great person... It's fun to get to know her outside of the court, outside of basketball."

Hull and Clark have continued to hang out even after the WNBA season is over, often sharing moments from their outings on social media, highlighting the growing bond they have developed.