[Applause] two players two incredible Journeys one team on the brink of greatness Lexi Hull and Aaliyah Boston just received mind-blowing honors from their high schools the best part their stories are about to collide in a way that could change the WNBA forever are you ready to see how these underdogs alongside Caitlyn Clark and Mitchell might just lead the Indiana Fever to their first [Applause] championship picture this a player on the bench game after game watching her teammates shine that was Lexi Hull's reality not too long ago her early days with the Indiana Fever were tough she barely saw any playing time and her confidence took a hit but Lexi Hull isn't the type to give up easily at the beginning of the Season my playing time definitely looked different than it did at the end so trusting that you know I was staying ready putting in the work so that when I did get the minutes out on the court that I could take full advantage of them so I was just really proud of myself for trusting the process and staying the course something changed Lexi kept showing up putting in extra hours when no one was watching she was determined to prove herself to show everyone what she was capable of and then on August 18th 2024 opport Unity finally knocked in a game against the Seattle Storm Lexi Hull exploded onto the scene she scored a career-high 22 points including six three-pointers it was a performance that left fans and coaches stunned where had this Lexi been hiding all of it comes down to trusting the process and part of that process is making sure that the work's getting done but that wasn't just a onetime fluke as the season went on Lexi's three-point percentage skyrocketed she went from barely playing to a key piece of the fever's lineup by the end of the season she was shooting an incredible 47. 1% from Beyond The Arc that's a massive jump from the 20% she managed in her first two seasons after the Olympic break Lexi took her game to another level she was shooting a RedHot 63% from three-point range defenses couldn't leave her open and that opened up opportunities for her teammates numbers don't lie unfortunately and they're they're very drastic my first two years I was just so upset because I was putting in so much work and my shooting percentages I would granted get like one or two at the max threes a game so it's hard to be super efficient when you you pressure is really on for those couple shots um but the numbers don't lie so it really allows you to look at improvements and really shoot for goals and keep yourself like accountable how did Lexi Hull go from benchwarmer to breakout Star by never giving up even when it seemed like her chance would never come just trying to stay ready and do whatever is asked of me on each night and every night is different Lexi explained but Lexi's Journey was just getting started her High School had something special planned to honor her perseverance a recognition that would bring her full circle back to where her basketball dreams first took flight fer tonight local Legends Lexi and Lacy Hull returned to Central Valley to be inducted into the high school's athletic Hall of Fame the Bears honored their 2016 and 2018 state championship teams which both sisters played on and inducted each into the Hall of Fame individually remember when we said Lexi's Journey was just getting started well her Alma moer had been watching her rise with pride but they weren't content to Simply cheer from afar they were planning something big something rarely done in the school's history back in Spokane Washington Central Valley High School was buzzing with excitement the hull twins Lexi and Lacy were about to receive an honor that few athletes ever dream of as the ceremony began the crowd held their breath what could be so special that it brought these WNBA stars back to their old stomping grounds the twins both went on to play at Stanford after Central Valley and Lexi is now in her third year with the wnba's Indiana Fever they said they didn't miss a beat with their former team it's surreal like the relationships haven't changed it's amazing to be put in a room again and remember all those memories that we had together Freddy Rico was an amazing coach we learned a lot from him from his leadership on and off the court so I think we knew what it took to be a good player be a good teammate and how to work hard the principal stepped up to the microphone recounting the twins incredible High School career Two state championships one in 2016 and another in 2018 broken records leadership that inspired a generation but that wasn't all the hull twins weren't just basketball Stars they were Community Heroes they volunteered with local youth basketball programs and even participated in Deca a national student entrepreneurship organization then came the big reveal Lexi and Lacy Hull were being inducted into the Central Valley High School Wall of Fame but wait there's more their entire championship teams from 2016 and 2018 were joining them in this honor can you imagine the emotions running through that gym Freddy reow their High School coach couldn't contain his pride I couldn't ask for a greater opportunity for those young ladies to be recognized for what they've done he said beaming with joy this is the first time since about 2018 that the whole team's been together so absolutely amazing night and to see them as adults and and doing well that's you know quite the accomplishment off the court uh but we got to you know recognize and celebrate the what they did on the court as all as Lexi stood there surrounded by old teammates and memories she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed it feels like those relationships haven't changed she shared her voice filled with emotion and to be back in this building where so many of our memories were made together it's really fun we're really lucky this wasn't just about honoring the past it was about inspiring the future every young athlete at Central Valley High School would now walk past that wall of fame seeing what's possible with hard work and determination as the ceremony wrapped up Lexi's mind couldn't help but drift to another player making waves in the WNBA someone who like her was about to receive an incredible honor from their High School little did Lexi know their paths were about to intertwine in ways that would change the face of women's basketball forever if you've made it this far and are enjoy the video don't forget to like subscribe and turn on all notifications we know watching this video takes some of your time and we appreciate you now back to the action it is my absolute honor to present to you the first jersey to ever be retired in Worcester Academy's history let's give a big round of applause to Aaliyah Boston whose impact will be felt here at w forever from the Virgin Islands to Worcester Massachusetts one player's Journey was about to come full circle but why was Worcester Academy buzzing with anticipation and how would this ceremony change the school forever Aaliyah Boston the wnba's rising star stepped into the packed gym at her Alma Moder the crowd erupted in thunderous Applause this wasn't just any homecoming something big was about to happen as Boston made her way to Center Court memories flooded back this was Where it All Began her journey Journey from the Virgin Islands to Worcester had been a leap of faith a decision that would shape her entire [Music] career back here but first and foremost also thank you guys for this honor I mean it's amazing God had really opened so many doors for me and he's allowed you guys to be help me get through those doors and so for that I just want to thank you thank you to my coaches to my teammates for pushing me and motivating me every single to not only make me a better athlete but a better person Julie Barbarian Worcester Academy's athletic director took the microphone she painted a vivid picture of Boston's time at the school 86 wins 10 losses Barbarian announced her voice filled with pride the crowd murmured in awe but it wasn't just about the number barbarian's voice softened as she continued she's a role model for our younger kids showing that girls can go off and play college and professional sports Boston's impact went far beyond the court it's so special I feel like I had so many great memories here at wer Academy and so to have my Jor retired after just having so much fun I mean it's a blessing God has opened so many doors for me and this is one of them allowing by number to be the first jersey retired in wer Academy history and so it's so special what are some of your most memorable memories here at wer Academy well first off definitely winning black in tournament going back to back um championships G player of the year I mean just being able to connect though with people that I'm still friends with now and we'll be friends with for the rest of my life I mean it is honestly the best feeling to have then came the moment everyone had been waiting for a jersey was unveiled but this wasn't just any Jersey retirement this was history in the making for the first time ever Worcester Academy was retiring a player's number the crowd held its breath as the Jersey began its Ascent to the rafters but wait there was more three additional banners followed representing one of Boston's Gatorade Player of the Year Awards the gym erupted once again and 15-year-old you told one of your teachers here that you'd go to w WNBA someday that dreams uh come true what's your message to other you know high school basketball players or girls your age when you were 15 my other message would definitely be the dream big write your goals down have a strong Foundation I mean mine is based on faith and if that's the same for you then I absolutely love that because it's so important but I mean just dream big write your goal down and be confident in you as Boston watched her Jersey rise her old coach's words echoed in her mind I knew she was special the moment I saw her play Sher Levan had said those early days of being double and triple teamed seemed so long ago now the ceremony wasn't just about honoring the past it was a bridge to the Future in the stands young athletes watched with wide eyes seeing what was possible and in that moment as her High School Legacy was cemented Boston couldn't help but think about the journey ahead from high school Phenom to WNBA star her story was far from over in fact fact it was just beginning we were just like sick that we had lost so many games and also feeling like we were better than that the transition from college Superstar to WNBA players is notoriously brutal yet for Boston and Hull it wasn't just about surviving it was about thriving how did these two transform from Benchwarmers to game changers in a single season as the 2024 WNBA season kicked off all eyes were on the Indiana Fever Aaliyah Boston and Lexi Hull once celebrated as high school phenoms and college champions now face their toughest challenge yet critics doubted Boston's ability to dominate against seasoned Pros while Hull fought for every minute on a struggling team I mean Aaliyah is probably one of the hardest working players that that I've ever been around um she is um you know everything about her wants to be better uh wants to be great and she does not she does not take any of that for granted I mean she works at her craft and when you do that um a lot of times uh basketball will repay you and this is one of the ways but something incredible happened Boston's Unstoppable post moves became the talk of the league she averaged an impressive 14. 0 points and 8.
9 rebounds per game bullying veteran centers with her strength and finesse her Elite defensive skills and offensive versatility allowed her to to adapt quickly to the pro level meanwhile Paul's three-point shooting caught fire in a pivotal game against the Seattle Storm she exploded for a career-high 22 points draining six of seven attempts from Beyond The Arc this performance marked a turning point in her season the biggest thing is finding people to kind of get you out of that cycle and get you to thinking about the positive things you did even though a lot of times people online aren't talking about the positive things as the games went by their confidence soared Boston's connection with rookie sensation Caitlyn Clark created a potent Inside Out game that left defenses scrambling Hull's improved shooting added a whole new dimension to the fever's offense spreading the floor and creating opportunities for her teammates and Caitlyn knows where Leah Boston's going to be Leah Boston knows where Caitlyn's going to be Clark couldn't help but praise her Sharp Shooting teammate the way she's been able to shoot the ball has been incredible it's added a whole other Dynamic for us after the Olympic break Hull was shooting a blistering 63% from three-point range forcing defenses to respect her presence on the perimeter Lexi Hall has unlocked that for Indiana on Q by season's end the doubters were silenced Boston had earned All-Star honors cementing her status as one of the League's most dominant players Hull once fighting for minutes had become a key starter and vital piece of the fever's success they formed a formidable core alongside Clark and Kelsey Mitchell transforming the team from League laughing stock to legitimate Contender how did Aaliyah Boston silence her critics by becom becoming one of the most dominant forces in the WNBA earning All-Star recognition in just her second season and Lexi Hull she proved that sometimes the brightest stars are the ones you least expect she sees the game at a bigger scale obviously with the platform that she's created for herself and then that's transitioned to the game um it's huge and I think like for me especially as a point guard and as someone that's delivering a lot of the passes that lead to shots like if I miss she's definitely going to say like you got the next one like I can count on her for for keeping me like confident and positive um so yeah I think that just it shows the the player that she is and the leader she is as a point card but as impressive as Boston and Hull's Transformations were the Indiana Fever story was far from over enter Caitlyn Clark the most anticipated rookie in WNBA history could one player really change everything or would her arrival upset the delicate chemistry Boston and Hull had worked so hard to build the early days of training camp were Rocky Clark's lightning style of play clashed with Boston's methodical postup game Paul found herself caught in the middle unsure of her role in this new Dynamic fans held their breath wondering if this experiment would implode before the season even began I mean I I definitely got passes and tried to finish when I wasn't expecting to get the ball so like now it's like okay every cut I have every cut I make every fast break I run like I have a real opportunity to get the ball which definitely like took me a second and I think it really just took one of those to really get my head around like oh she's all the way down at the other end of the floor and she could still make the pass to me down at the Block at this end so um I mean it's it's been awesome but then something clicked in a scrimmage that had the whole team buzzing Clark Unleashed a no-look pass that found Boston perfectly positioned under the basket the resulting bucket was so smooth so effortless that even the coaches stood in awe it was just a glimpse of what was to come as the season progressed the Clark to Boston connection became the talk of the league defenses scrambled to contain them but how do you stop a play you can't even see coming meanwhile Hull's Sharp Shooting from Beyond The Arc created the perfect spacing punishing teams that dared to double team Boston or Clark and let's not forget about Kelsey Mitchell Who provided reliable scoring and steady veteran presence and I think it's it's really fun because they Garner so much attention obviously from the other team's defense so then it allows the other players me included to make Cuts make reads and they're really good at finding you know those openings and giving the ball up when it's needed and finding the better shots so it's really fun um and I I feel really lucky to get to play with them the results were staggering Clark averaged an impressive 19. 2 points 5. 7 rebounds and 8.
