WNBA fans did not get to witness many No. 22 moments this past season, as injuries limited Indiana Fever icon Caitlin Clark to just 13 games. And as it seems, they might need to wait further to find the No. 22 on hardwood.
With the 2026 WNBA season in jeopardy, thanks to the ongoing discussions surrounding a new collective bargaining agreement, Clark’s next appearance might come in September at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. However, while participating in the Team USA training camp for the event, she was spotted wearing the No. 17 jersey. In a recent podcast appearance, Clark explained the reason for the change.
Caitlin Clark Didn’t Get To Choose Her Number
Clark has worn the No. 22 for most of her life in recognition of her birthday (Jan. 22, 2002). And the number has already been part of several historic occasions. At the University of Iowa, she set the NCAA record in career points and led the Hawkeyes to two consecutive national championship games, donning it. As she brought that to the WNBA, Fever’s No. 22 became the most-purchased jersey in the league.
So, when USA Basketball posted images of Clark wearing No. 17 in the training camp earlier this month, it garnered a lot of attention. The 23-year-old explained the reason for the number change during the Dec. 31 episode of the New Heights podcast with NFL brothers Jason and Travis Kelce.
“I didn’t get to pick,” Clark said when Travis Kelce asked her where the number 17 came from. “17 is not the best number ever. I wouldn’t have picked that. So the players who have been on the national team prior get to continue wearing their jerseys, like that practice number jersey or their jersey, until they’re done playing in the Olympic team, or whatever happens for the next Olympics.
“And then all us newcomers — and there was a lot of young players at that camp — we just get assigned a random number. I guess I got 17. Nobody asked me, it was fine,” Clark continued with a smile.
Caitlin on her jersey number for Team USA
“I didn’t get to pick…17 is not the best number ever I wouldn’t have picked that but…we just get assigned a random number…if I eventually make the team in international basketball it’s 4-15 those are the only numbers.” pic.twitter.com/RxM3HVQ4gN
— correlation (@nosyone4) December 31, 2025
Jason Kelce, who retired in 2023 after a 13-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, then asked if Clark is stuck wearing the unwanted number “in perpetuity,”. The WNBA superstar stated that she’ll have another number if she ultimately makes the final Team USA roster, while also revealing a rather strange USA Basketball norm for assigning the jersey numbers.
“If I eventually make the team — it’s weird because in international basketball you can only (wear) 4-15, those are the only numbers,” Clark explained. “Isn’t that weird? And you don’t get to pick, at least for the United States (national team).”
What Clark was referring to is basically a long-gone rule. Back in the days, international rules mandated players wear a number between four and 15 to make it easier for referees to communicate with hand signals to teams that often spoke different languages, according to Nick Zaccardi of NBC Olympics. FIBA dropped the rule in 2014, but the USA still goes by tradition.
So, just like Michael Jordan’s iconic 23 never appeared on an international platform, Clark’s No. 22 might have the same fate. However, if you are a Clark fan, don’t rush to purchase a No. 17 jersey just yet, as that number might change again if she officially becomes part of the 12-member roster.