Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jaylen Clark left wearing No. 0 and says he picked jersey No. 22 ‘because of Caitlin Clark’ even hoping her fans and a new audience buy his new jersey
18:47 ET, 21 Oct 2025Updated 18:47 ET, 21 Oct 2025
Caitlin Clark inspired Jaylen Clark’s jersey choice
Caitlin Clark’s global reach has eclipsed the WNBA and spilled into pop culture and NBA locker rooms. The Indiana Fever star’s $1 billion presence evaluation in the sport has grown so massive that even male pros are trying to ride the CC wave, one in particular with the perfect combination of timing, proximity, and self-awareness to pull it off.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark is the latest athlete to tap into what has been dubbed “The Caitlin Clark Effect.” The 23-year-old guard revealed ahead of the NBA’s 2025–26 regular season tip-off that he’s switching his jersey number to No. 22, the same number worn by the Fever’s two-time All-Star.
“I wore 0 and then when Donte came … I gave the number to him,” Clark said across NBA digital content. “And then I’m like, ‘I’m close to Iowa and Caitlin Clark,’ so I put 22. … Hopefully, I get some jersey sales.”
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The irony is that the Timberwolves’ G League affiliate Iowa Wolves, play just a few hours from Clark’s record-breaking college days at the University of Iowa.
It’s also where Jaylen spent time rehabbing his torn Achilles after being drafted in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft (No. 53 overall).
Caitlin’s Indiana Fever jersey ranked as the second-best-selling basketball jersey of 2024 behind NBA superstar Stephen Curry, according to Fanatics. Her star power hasn’t slowed down since.
Clark’s WNBA season broke several league records, notably the highest average attendance ever and a single-game record of 20,711 fans during a matchup between the Fever and the Washington Mystics, a game dubbed after her namesake.
She has signed a signature line with Nike, with area releases and a signature sneaker in the works, and her appearances continue to boost TV ratings and in-arena attendance.
Clark changed his jersey to No. 22
Jaylen Clark recorded averages of 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in limited NBA minutes last season, with shooting percentages of 46.7 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three.
ESPN Research shows that as the contesting defender, he’s held opponents to 41 percent shooting, and was frequently assigned to MVP and champion guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
During his G League stint with Iowa, Clark averaged 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, hitting 44 percent from beyond the arc across four starts.
Coaches have praised his toughness, film study habits, and resilience following his Achilles rehab, which mirror the mindset Clark has come to deal with on the women’s side.
Caitlin missed almost 30 games of the WNBA season because of groin and quad injuries.
She couldn’t take part in All-Star weekend, where she was named a team captain, and also missed the Fever’s semifinal run in the WNBA playoffs.