Caitlin Clark Wears Taurasi's Iconic #12, Earns MVP

Two years after missing the Paris Olympics roster, Caitlin Clark finally stepped onto the court in Team USA colors wearing a jersey number that carries serious weight.

The Indiana Fever star chose #12 for her senior national team debut at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. For anyone who follows women's basketball, that number means one thing: Diana Taurasi.

Taurasi wore #12 through six Olympic gold medals and two decades of international competition. Now she's thrilled to see Clark take over the legacy.

"It's so cool to see Caitlin not only wear the USA jersey, but number 12," Taurasi told Sports Illustrated. "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."

Clark made the number her own immediately. She scored 17 points and averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists during the tournament in Puerto Rico, walking away with MVP honors.

The passing of the torch feels especially meaningful given the journey Clark took to get here. After her notable Olympic snub in 2024, injuries sidelined her for much of the past eight months, limiting the NCAA's all-time scoring leader to just 13 games in her second WNBA season.

Taurasi praised Clark's performance and said she's looking forward to watching her shine this summer in Germany and at the Olympics. "Caitlin's going to put some gold medals on that jersey, you know," she added.

Why This Inspires

This story represents more than one athlete wearing another's number. It shows how champions lift up the next generation instead of guarding their legacies.

Taurasi could have been territorial about her iconic number. Instead, she celebrated Clark's choice and publicly endorsed her as the perfect person to carry it forward. That kind of generosity creates a culture where excellence multiplies.

Clark's journey from Olympic snub to MVP debut proves that setbacks don't define careers. She used the disappointment as fuel, and now she's writing her own chapter in Team USA history.

The future of women's basketball is in excellent hands.