Caitlin Clark returned to the Indiana Fever’s annual media day on Wednesday hale, healthy, and with no shortage of confidence. When asked about her role and how the team plans to manage her usage in year three by Chloe Peterson of IndyStar, Clark made a claim that quickly circulated across the basketball world.

“I think mostly on dead balls, I’m the best. I think I’m the best transition player in the league,” Clark said. “That’s where I thrive. Everybody knows that’s my game. Getting the ball off a rebound or in transition, that’s probably when I’m going to be a primary ball handler more than anything.”

Caitlin Clark also addressed the need for support in the backcourt, pointing to how the Fever have prepared for that this offseason.

“It is exhausting bringing the ball up the floor 94 feet versus pressure every single time,” she said. “We certainly need to find someone who can handle the ball and give me a little bit of a break. I think Raven and Ty, even other people through camp, have done a great job.”

Clark’s comments arrived in the context of a broader discussion about how Stephanie White’s staff plans to use her differently in 2026.

With first-round pick Raven Johnson and veteran free agent signing Tyasha Harris both expected to take on more responsibility as initiators, Clark will have the opportunity to operate in secondary actions and off-ball situations more frequently, all while remaining the engine in transition.

Caitlin Clark led the league as a rookie in 2024 in assists at 8.6 per game and averaged 19.6 points, winning Rookie of the Year and earning All-WNBA First Team recognition.

Last season, critical injuries limited her to just 13 games, and she shot just 27.9% from three, a sharp drop from the threat she had shown the year before.

That being said, getting back to that level from deep is one of the key storylines heading into the 2026 campaign.

Caitlin Clark Eyes Dominance as WNBA Rivals Remain Strong in Transition

The claim is a bold one, and the data on transition play complicates it, as in 2024, Clark ranked outside the top ten in fast-break scoring percentage, with much of her transition impact coming through assists and pace-setting rather than finishing at the rim.

Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury, who led the league in assists in 2025, has historically ranked higher in fast-break scoring percentage given her ability to finish in traffic. Courtney Williams of the Minnesota Lynx was also among the leaders in fast-break scoring, while Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream contributed consistently in transition as well.

Having said that, Caitlin Clark’s edge in transition is less about being the finisher and more about being the initiator.

Her court vision, pace, and ability to create from the outlet pass reshape how defenses have to approach full-court situations, and when she catches the ball with open floor ahead of her, the options multiply quickly.

And whether the data supports the claim fully or not, Caitlin Clark is entering her third season with something to prove.

The Fever open their 2026 campaign on May 9 against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Arvind Rao