Is Caitlin Clark the WNBA's best transition player? The numbers disagree originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Last week, Caitlin Clark made some waves with the bold claim that she believes herself to be the most dangerous transition player in the entire WNBA.
It was especially audacious of Clark to make those comments after injuries shortened her second WNBA season to only 13 games. Few though doubt how effective Clark can be in high tempo; she set the WNBA's assists record (if only for one season) in 2024, and her reputation as an elite 3-point shooter was forged long before she entered the league with the Indiana Fever.
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Clark's claim as the WNBA's best player on the break further raised eyebrows because, statistically, it isn't true.
Dallas Wings All-Star Arike Ogunbowale can more than legitimately challenge Clark as the league's premier transition threat. In 2024, Ogunbowale ranked eighth in percentage of points scored on the fast break, among players with at least 25 minutes played per game. Clark ranked 27th. Both players lagged far behind Alyssa Thomas, then playing her final season with the Connecticut Sun.
FUN STAT: Arike Ogunbowale has led the WNBA in transition scoring in four of the past six seasons. πββοΈβ¨ pic.twitter.com/YEuLyiClOA
β I talk hoops π (@trendyhoopstars) April 22, 2026
In 2023, Ogunbowale led the league in transition points scored or assisted per game as she helped the Wings to the WNBA semifinals. In four of the past six seasons, Ogunbowale has placed first in the WNBA in transition points scored per game, though she struggled last season amid injuries and inconsistency.
While Clark's vision and shooting are unique attributes that are fully unlocked on the break, Ogunbowale's gaudy points-per-game numbers throughout her career are figures Clark -- as of now -- can only aspire to achieve.
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