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Roughly two years after Caitlin Clark’s notable omission from the United States women’s national basketball team at the Paris Olympics, the Indiana Fever star made her long-awaited debut with Team USA while wearing an iconic jersey number.
The No. 12 jersey has long been associated with the Olympic runs of WNBA legend and six-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi. Clark recently took the stand in his first appearance for the senior national team, a move which drew praise from Taurasi.
“It’s so cool to see Caitlin wearing not only the USA jersey, but also the number 12. I spent two decades wearing this jersey and this number, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to take it, put it on and have an incredible career,” Taurasi told Sports Illustrated.
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Caitlin Clark (22) of the Indiana Fever and Diana Taurasi (3) of the Phoenix Mercury smile during the game on June 30, 2024, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)
Clark scored 17 points and averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists during FIBA World Cup qualifying earlier this month, earning MVP honors.
Taurasi, a three-time FIBA women’s gold medalist, praised Clark’s performance and said she looked forward to seeing her this summer as she prepares for her first Olympic race.
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“And Caitlin will. She had a great qualifier in Puerto Rico. It’s going to be fun to see her play this summer, in Germany, and then at the Olympics.”
“No one better to wear 12, and Caitlin is going to put gold medals on that jersey, you know,” she added.
Caitlin Clark (12) of the United States plays during the FIBA World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament match between New Zealand and the United States in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 15, 2026 at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot. (Edgardo Medina/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Clark wore No. 22 during her first two WNBA seasons. She also wore this number during her rise to stardom in Iowa.
While players often wear different jersey numbers in international competitions, Taurasi said she had no role in Clark’s decision to wear number 12, but joked that a familiar figure may have played a part in the decision.
Caitlin Clark of the United States prepares to make a free throw during the 2026 Women’s World Cup qualifier between Puerto Rico and the United States at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on March 12, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Alexa Alejandro/FIBA via Getty Images)
“You know, once I run out of things, I’m gone,” Taurasi said. “Maybe Sue [Bird]you know, she’s a little more calculated than you think. So maybe it was Sue’s job. That wouldn’t surprise me.”
Prior to this month’s FIBA action, a series of injuries kept Clark sidelined for much of the past eight months, limiting the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer to 13 games in her second WNBA season.
