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Team USA Rule Explains Caitlin Clark Change

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Mar 8, 2026 8:32 PM ET

Caitlin Clark last played competitive basketball in July. The Indiana Fever star used the last eight months to recover from the groin injury and bone bruise that ended her 2025 WNBA season prematurely.

Now, Clark is set to compete in the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament with Team USA this March.

Clark, who has WNBA career averages of 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.4 steals, arrived in Miami on Friday and joined Team USA's practice the next day. She is expected to be a significant contributor for a squad filled with young stars and veteran players.

On Sunday, the players had their official photoshoot with their Team USA jerseys. Interestingly, Clark's jersey number was changed to No. 12.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on during a WNBA game.Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

During Team USA's training camp back in December and over the weekend, Clark wore jersey No. 17. As many fans would also know, she wore No. 22 in college and continues to wear that number with the Fever.

That being said, some might be surprised to see her not pick No. 22 when she's already changing numbers for Team USA.

However, it's actually out of Clark's control. While she would likely want No. 22 if she had the choice, the problem is that she didn't.

According to Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports in an article published back in 2024, previous international basketball rules restricted players to just Nos. 4-15 when picking their jersey numbers. The rule was implemented to help officials communicate more easily using hand signals.

FIBA dropped the rule in 2014, but Team USA apparently still keeps it in place for both the men's and women's teams partly due to tradition.

For what it's worth, Clark herself was aware of the rule and previously explained it when she was given the jersey No. 17 in her first training camp with the senior team in December.

"If I eventually make the team, it's weird. In international basketball, I think it's four through 15," Clark said on the "New Heights" podcast back in December when asked about her Team USA jersey number. "Those are the only numbers... Isn't the weird? Like, you don't get to pick, at least for the United States."

Unless USA Basketball changes its rule, fans won't see Clark wear No. 22 on the back of her Team USA jersey.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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