Diana Taurasi Endorses Caitlin Clark Carrying On Her Iconic No. 12: “Going to Put Some Gold Medals in That Jersey”

Caitlin Clark was chosen to wear the No. 12 jersey for USA Basketball, something Diana Taurasi wore for two decades.

Diana Taurasi Endorses Caitlin Clark Carrying On Her Iconic No. 12: “Going to Put Some Gold Medals in That Jersey”

Caitlin Clark wears Diana Taurasi's No. 12 Team USA jersey (Image via FirstSportz)

Caitlin Clark has just returned from playing her first few games as a member of Team USA’s senior national women’s basketball team.

The Indiana Fever superstar has played at various junior levels and has experienced success wearing the stars and stripes when she won the MVP at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

After that, she was expected to get opportunities in Paris, but USA Basketball chose to stick with their veterans, citing the need for continuity in an era where international teams were knocking on their doors.

Diana Taurasi, who was a part of that Paris Olympics team, was often cited as someone who was preferred over the then-rookie. Many criticized the decision, but eventually stopped when the WNBA legend won her sixth gold medal and retired after the 2024 season.

Now, Caitlin Clark has won the MVP award again at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico despite playing alongside some Paris Olympics veterans.

I spent two decades wearing that jersey and that number, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to take it and put it on and just have an amazing career… It’s just going to be fun to watch her play in the summer, in Germany, and then the Olympics. No one better to wear the 12, and Caitlin’s going to put some gold medals on that jersey, you know.

Diana Taurasi told SI’s Grant Young

This was Diana Taurasi’s response when asked what she felt about Caitlin Clark wearing her iconic No. 12 jersey. From her answer, it seems the 43-year-old is happy that the Iowa native was the one chosen to continue her legacy.

Diana Taurasi did not have a hand in Caitlin Clark wearing her jersey

Diana Taurasi won a record six gold medals wearing the No. 12 red, white, and blue jerseys for USA Basketball. Now that the Phoenix Mercury legend has expressed her excitement over Caitlin Clark wearing her jersey number, Grant Young asked if she had a hand in this decision.

Team USA Director Sue Bird and Caitlin Clark
Team USA Director Sue Bird and Caitlin Clark (Image via USA Basketball/X)

You know, once I’m out of things, I’m out. Maybe Sue, you know, she’s a little bit more calculated than people think. So maybe that was a Sue job. That wouldn’t surprise me.

Diana Taurasi replied

The de facto GOAT of women’s basketball deflected this as more of a Sue Bird decision than hers. Taurasi believes this was a calculated decision from USA Basketball’s director.

Bird sure has shown her affinity towards Caitlin Clark, and so has her UConn teammate, even though the latter was initially painted as a ‘hater.’

With both WNBA greats seemingly giving the Indiana Fever guard their blessings, the 6’0″ guard could become a mainstay as one of Team USA’s most important athletes.

Diana Taurasi proud of new WNBA CBA

Some of Caitlin Clark’s peers are going to be the first WNBA players in the league’s history to earn more than a million dollars in salary, something the likes of Diana Taurasi and other past players could only dream of.

When you spend 20 years at a company, you want it to be better than when you got there. … I’m really proud, I’m really joyful for everyone.

Diana Taurasi told Yahoo Sports Daily

The three-time WNBA champion clarified that she was happy for everyone, as this landmark deal is about to change the narratives about women’s sports.

Taurasi pointed out how the women have had to fight for more than two decades to come to this point, but also stressed that it is important that the fight continues, as they need to demand what they deserve.

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