Caitlin Clark Makes Senior Team USA Debut Wearing Diana Taurasi's No. 12 Jersey

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark debuted for the senior U.S. women's national basketball team nearly two years after her omission from the Paris 2024 Olympics roster.[1] The debut came during FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 qualifying games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 12 against Puerto Rico and March 15 against New Zealand, where Clark wore jersey No. 12, a number long associated with Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi.[2][3]

Taurasi, a five-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), wore No. 12 during her Team USA career spanning five Olympics.[4] She has also won two FIBA Women's World Cup golds (2010, 2018).[4]

Clark averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game in the qualifiers and was named tournament MVP.[2] She scored 17 points in one of the games.[2]

Taurasi praised Clark's selection of the number, telling Sports Illustrated: "It's so cool to see Caitlin not only wear the USA jersey, but number 12. I spent two decades wearing that jersey and that number, and I couldn't think of anyone better to take it and put it on and just have an amazing career."[5]

Taurasi added: "No one better to wear the 12, and Caitlin’s going to put some gold medals on that jersey."[5] She noted Clark's strong showing in Puerto Rico and anticipated her play in upcoming events, including preparations in Germany ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.[2][5]

Clark, the 2024 WNBA No. 1 draft pick and former University of Iowa star who holds the NCAA women's all-time scoring record with 3,951 points, typically wears No. 22 for the Fever.[6][7] Taurasi said she had no involvement in the number choice and jokingly suggested retired U.S. legend Sue Bird might have influenced it.[5]