Overview
- Taurasi, in a Sports Illustrated interview published Monday, said she "couldn't think of anyone better" than Caitlin Clark to wear her longtime No. 12 and joked she had no role in the choice, suggesting Sue Bird might have helped arrange it.
- Clark debuted for the senior national team at the March World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico, opening with 17 points and 12 assists against Senegal and finishing as the tournament MVP as the U.S. went 5–0.
- Across five games, Clark averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists on efficient shooting, leading the field in assists and showing she can run the offense against top international teams.
- Clark wears No. 12 because USA Basketball traditionally assigns only numbers 4–15 for international play, a long-standing practice that explains why she did not keep her WNBA No. 22 and why Taurasi’s number carried symbolic weight.
- With Taurasi retired from international play after six Olympic golds, outlets note Clark’s rise could position her for the World Cup in Berlin, while CBS Sports also points to her WNBA return on May 9 as another key step in her fast-building résumé.