​The Indiana Fever did not expect to enter the final stretch of the regular season having to reconsider Lexie Hull’s role. She returned to Indiana on a two-year, $1.6 million contract after becoming an important part of the team last season, and her ability to defend on the perimeter and knock down open threes made her a natural fit alongside Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.But Hull has struggled to reproduce that impact in 2026. Her numbers have fallen across the board, and Sunday’s loss to the Washington Mystics provided the clearest indication yet that coach Stephanie White may be running out of patience.Hull started against Washington but did not return to the floor to begin the second half, with rookie Raven Johnson taking her place. The Fever ultimately lost 93-77, and Hull finished with only two points and two rebounds in 13 minutes.MORE: Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark could be fined by WNBALexie Hull’s production makes a bench role reasonableIndiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Hull is averaging 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game this season while shooting 43.2% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range. Those numbers are not disastrous, but they represent a clear step back from last season, when she averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc.More importantly, her recent production has been inconsistent. Hull scored 14 points against the Chicago Sky on Aug. 23, but followed that with seven points against the Connecticut Sun, then went scoreless against the New York Liberty. After the FIBA break, she scored five points against the Toronto Tempo before Sunday’s outing against Washington.Raven Johnson deserves a real opportunityThe argument for keeping Hull on the bench becomes stronger if Johnson continues to provide more energy. Johnson played 26 minutes against Washington after replacing Hull, and White specifically pointed to the need for better defense and rebounding when explaining the change.That does not mean Johnson has proven she should permanently replace Hull. But it does signal that White is willing to reward current form over past reputation.The Fever should keep Lexie Hull on the bench, for nowHull still offers something Indiana does not have in abundance: a 6-foot-2 perimeter defender who has previously shown that she can make shots and play significant minutes in important games.The Fever also need to be careful not to lose a player who could become useful again during the postseason. Hull’s 2025 playoff production was considerably stronger than her current regular-season numbers. With Clark and Sophie Cunningham ruled out due to season-ending injuries, she averaged 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over eight playoff games and helped Indiana reach the WNBA playoffs semifinals.However, White has enough evidence to continue with Johnson in the starting lineup, wh