From Kobe Bryant’s 24 to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 7, their jersey numbers are more synonymous with them than mathematics itself. With the world’s next versatile sports star emerging in the WNBA, a new jersey number is on the rise – Caitlin Clark’s 22. The world’s eyes are set on the Indiana Fever Guard and her record-breaking rookie season. So here’s the story behind her number 22 inspiration.

Ever since the first time in her life that Clark touched a basketball, the people around her knew greatness was brewing. Her skills were so beyond those of her grade school peers that her parents signed her up to play on the boy’s team. Wearing the number 22, though she couldn’t lead the Iowa Hawkeyes to an NCAA Division I championship, she became the all-time scoring leader among both men and women, scoring 3951 points.

But ahead of the Hawkeyes’ second-straight national final in April 2024, Clark revealed how 22 came about. “Honestly, I’m not a very creative person,” the 6ft Guard candidly told journalist Lex Stone. “I was born on January 22nd, so that’s what I went with when I was about 5 years old,” she revealed, letting out a laugh.

However, she had to part ways with 22 when playing for Dowling High School. A strange rule in the school, possibly superstitious, disallowed players from donning even numbers. So, Clark went with 11 for the 4 years playing for Dowling. But the treatment that the University of Iowa gave her jersey number compensated for its 4-year hiatus.

Iowa immortalizes Caitlin Clark’s 22 to a standing ovation from Iowa fans

After the Iowa Hawkeyes’ second consecutive runner-up finish in 2024, Caitlin Clark & Co were honored at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Indiana Fever star thanked the fans for her “special” experience. To everybody’s surprise, Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz announced that Clark’s number 22 will be retired as the fans rose to their feet to applaud Clark.

“It’s super incredible, something I’m very thankful for,” Clark said. She immediately credited the players who wore 22 before her. “There’s been a lot of good 22s who have come before me and played for this program, whether it was Kathleen Doyle or Sam Logic. That number holds a lot of weight, far beyond me. I’m really grateful, and it will be a special day when it happens.”

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft broke countless record wearing the number 22. As a result, the draft’s viewership rose 4x, as per ESPN. Moreover, licensed sportswear retailer Fanatics also revealed that Caitlin Clark’s 22 Indiana jersey became the top-earning ever for a draft pick. Woah! Her on-court exploits are creating off-court records as well. With a stellar WNBA career awaiting her on the other side of her rookie year, she has only just begun.