Ever walked into a sports bar or scrolled through social media and noticed a sea of Indiana Fever jerseys? It’s hard to miss. There’s one specific digit that’s basically taken over the basketball world lately. If you're wondering what number is Caitlin Clark, the answer is 22.
Simple, right? But honestly, that double-two has become way more than just a piece of fabric. It’s a phenomenon.
From the sold-out arenas in Iowa City to the record-breaking crowds at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 22 is the stamp of a generational talent. It’s the number that sat atop the NCAA scoring charts and the one currently leading the WNBA's massive popularity surge. But why 22? And how did a random choice by a five-year-old end up becoming the second best-selling jersey in all of North American basketball, trailing only Steph Curry?
The Story Behind Why Caitlin Clark Wears Number 22
You might expect some deep, philosophical reason for the choice. Maybe a tribute to a childhood idol or a complex mathematical formula? Nope.
Caitlin is actually pretty blunt about it. She’s mentioned in several interviews, including a funny clip from the 2024 Final Four, that she isn't "a very creative person." The logic was basic: she was born on January 22, 2002. When she started playing organized ball around age five, she just grabbed the number that matched her birthday.
It stuck.
She wore it through her legendary run at Dowling Catholic High School and kept it during her four years at the University of Iowa. By the time she reached the WNBA in 2024, the number was so tied to her identity that the Indiana Fever didn't even have to ask. It was a given.
A Quick History of the Number 22 in Indiana
Before Clark arrived, the number 22 wasn't exactly "empty" in Indiana Fever history. Several players wore it before her:
✨ Don't miss: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
- Stephanie White (2000-04): A local legend and former Fever head coach.
- Erica McCall (2017-19): A solid contributor during her stint.
- Allie Quigley (2010): Though she’s known for her time in Chicago, she rocked 22 in Indy briefly.
Despite those names, the jersey is now inextricably linked to Clark. It’s the "22" that people are buying in droves.
The "Caitlin Clark Effect" and Jersey Sales
When we talk about what number is Caitlin Clark, we’re also talking about a massive economic engine. The "Caitlin Clark Effect" is a very real thing that economists are actually studying now.
In April 2024, when the Fever took her with the #1 overall pick, her jersey sold out on Fanatics in less than an hour. That’s insane. By mid-2025, reports showed that her merchandise sales contributed to a 1,000% year-over-year increase in WNBA player-specific gear.
Think about that.
One player’s number caused a ten-fold jump in how much stuff people were buying. It’s not just little girls in Iowa anymore. You see grown men wearing 22 in New York, kids rocking it in Los Angeles, and fans overseas trying to get their hands on it. According to finance experts like Ryan Brewer from Indiana University, Clark was responsible for over 25% of the entire league’s revenue in her rookie season. That is a lot of weight for two little digits to carry.
Retirement and the Rafters: The Iowa Legacy
If you’re looking for a #22 Iowa Hawkeyes jersey at the team store these days, you might have some luck with replicas, but you won't see anyone else wearing it on the court.
On February 2, 2025, the University of Iowa officially retired her jersey. It was a massive ceremony at a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. They lifted that banner to the rafters, making her only the third woman in the school's history to receive the honor, joining Megan Gustafson (#10) and Michelle Edwards (#30).
🔗 Read more: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
The school basically said, "This is it. No one else gets this number."
It makes sense. She left Iowa as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history—for both men and women. She broke the record previously held by "Pistol" Pete Maravich. When you do that, you get your number put in the ceiling. Period.
Why She Wears a Different Number for Team USA
Now, here is where it gets slightly confusing for casual fans. If you tune into a Team USA game—like the upcoming 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup—you might see Caitlin Clark wearing a number that isn't 22.
Why? Because the national team has its own set of rules.
In a recent chat on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Clark explained that as a newcomer to the senior national team, she doesn't always get first dibs. Veterans who have been on the Olympic or World Cup rosters for years get to keep their numbers.
For some recent camps, she was assigned number 17.
She told the Kelces, "17 is not the best number ever, I wouldn't have picked that, but... nobody asked me." It’s a bit of a "rookie" tax, even for a superstar. However, most fans expect that once she becomes a permanent fixture on the Olympic roster, she’ll find a way back to her signature digits if they ever become available, or she'll make a new number just as iconic.
💡 You might also like: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
Summary of Stats and Impact
Let’s look at why people are so obsessed with this number in the first place. It’s not just the marketing; it’s the production. By the middle of the 2025 WNBA season, Clark was putting up numbers that seemed like they belonged in a video game.
- Scoring: Hovering around 18-20 points per game.
- Assists: Leading the league with roughly 8-9 assists per game.
- Viewership: Games featuring her number 22 jersey averaged over 1.2 million viewers in 2025, even when she was dealing with a minor injury.
The difference between a "Clark game" and a "non-Clark game" in terms of TV ratings is often more than double. That’s why networks like ESPN and ION scrambled to put every Indiana Fever game on national television.
Moving Forward with the 22 Brand
So, if you’re heading to a game or looking to buy some merch, just remember: 22 is the magic number. It represents a shift in how we view women's sports. It’s no longer about "supporting" a league; it's about being a fan of a superstar who happens to be a woman.
If you're looking to grab a jersey, keep an eye on official retailers like Fanatics or the Indiana Fever team store. Because of the high demand, they often do restocks in "waves." Also, if you're a collector, the "Draft Night" editions of the 22 jersey have become somewhat of a holy grail in sports memorabilia.
Practical Steps for Fans:
- Check the WNBA schedule for Fever "road" games; tickets often sell out months in advance because of the "Clark effect."
- If you're buying a jersey, verify it's an official Nike/WNBA product to ensure the sizing and "22" font are accurate to what she wears on court.
- Follow the Indiana Fever's social media for updates on jersey retirement ceremonies or special "Edition" uniforms that might feature the number in different colors.
The legend of 22 is only getting started. Whether she's hitting a logo three or threading a needle with a full-court pass, that number is going to be a staple of highlight reels for the next decade.