In the hierarchy of soccer jersey numbers, 20 is a bit of a leftover. It’s not a number that most players would choose; it’s one that they’d settle for after their top picks were already taken.



In particular, strikers don’t have to settle for leftovers. They’re the stars of their teams. They get first shot at their preferred jersey number, and many often pick the striker shirt: No. 9.



American soccer, of course, often defies convention. The game here has never been all that bound to old-world traditions, which helps explain why two of the most accomplished male No. 9s in U.S. soccer history — Brian McBride and Taylor Twellman — spent their careers rocking No. 20. As if that wasn’t enough, U.S. women’s national team all-time leading scorer Abby Wambach also wore No. 20 throughout her career.



The connection between McBride, now GM of the U.S. men’s national team, and Twellman, ESPN’s...