Caitlin Clark drives market growth of “nostalgia”

Even with his injury this season, Caitlin Clark has continued to boost the growth of the market for collectible women’s sports cards.

---

Caitlin Clark He has made his career breaking records: leader of annotations of all time in the male and female categories of Division I of the NCAA, more points and assists achieved by a rookie in the history of the WNBAfirst triple-double achieved by a rookie in the history of the WNBA.

AND This year, at two separate auctions, Clark collectible cards established new sales records for women’s sports cards: The first was sold for 366 thousand dollars in March and the second for 660 thousand dollars only four months later.

Experts in the sports collection articles industry say that interest in the star cards of the Indiana Fever It is generating some growth in the female memories market in general, particularly for basketball players.

“Nothing has gone to a significant amount,” said Ryan Hoge, president of Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a card classifying company and collectibles. Added that interest in Women’s Sports Cardsbeyond those of Serena Williams and Mia Hammit barely existed three or four years ago. “Compared to all other cards we see, it is still small, but it has to start somewhere, and growth rates are surpassing those of many other categories.”

In recent years, the popularity of Clark He has promoted broad interest in women’s sports. The regular seasons of the WNBA of 2025 and 2024 were the most viewed in history, although Clark He only played 13 games this year for injury. Professional basketball and women’s soccer teams are reaching record figures in expansion and valuation installments, and both professional and university athletes are signing sponsorship contracts valued in millions of dollars.

While the value of the memories of Clark It can be an anomaly, industry experts say they are seeing signals that collectors are looking to enter the market of other basketball players.

An initial market growth signal is the increase in cards sent for classification, indicating that collectors seek to set the price of their items with the intention of selling them. From January to September 2024, PSA classified 58,000 cards from the WNBAaccording to data provided by the company. During the same 2025 period, PSA has classified almost triple that amount, about 159,000.

Hoge said that a female athlete had never figured in the top 50 of qualified athletes in all sports, but Clark Now it is found in the Top 10. Clark She is also the second player (man or woman) of the most qualified basketball in PSA this year, only surpassed by Michael Jordan. The company is also qualifying more cards Paige Bueckersbasis of Dallas Wings and first general selection of the draft of the WNBA of 2025; Angel Reeseeaves Chicago Sky; Juju Watkinsbase of USC; and Cameron Brinkeaves Los Angeles Sparksaccording to Hoge.

“It’s shocking, and (Clark It has) an attraction effect for other WNBA players. We are seeing interest in women’s football cardsso it’s a movement, “Hoge said.” If she is like Michael Jordanpeople will want to collect the Charles Barkleythe Scottie Pippenthe Hakeem Olajuwon“

So far from 2025, about 11,200 have been sent to PSA cards Bueckers and 9,300 of Reese, more than triple than for both stars last year. Also, the company has received about 5,600 Watkins cards In 2025, more than double than in 2024. PSA has also received approximately 11,900 cards BRINK In 2025, 10 times more than last year.

Ron Jaiven, General Manager of Collectible Articles of the United States in eBayclaimed to have observed a “Notable” increase in WNBA cards sold on the platformand not only thanks to Clark. (EBAY refused to provide data on the number of cards sold during the last year).

“We are seeing incredible increases this year, even compared to 2024,” said Jaiven. “Caitlin Clark It is undoubtedly the largest, but we are seeing searches and sales of modern, and even traditional players, such as Candace Parker’s novice cards and Sue Bird“

Javien said that three of the four most wanted university athletes on eBay during the last basketball season of the NCAA were women: Bueckers, Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dameall behind only the then star of Duke, Cooper Flagg.

According to data compiled by Cardder, which tracks the sales of collectible cards, there have been 13 Bueckers card sales for at least $ 10,000 since April 1. Two card sales Reese They have exceeded 30 thousand dollars since July 24 and, five days after Watkins The anterior cross ligament was broken in the NCAA tournament, a collector paid more than 40 thousand dollars for a Watkins Autographed and numbered superfractor 1.

Also this summer, collectors acquired novice cards from Cameron BrinkPanini Prizm WNBA Black Finite 2024 and Panini Royalty Wnba Kaboom! Green 2024, numbered 1 of 1, for $ 16,287 and 15 thousand dollars, respectively.

“Fifteen thousand dollars for a card of the WNBA that is not Caitlin Clark? That is also impressive, “said Hoge.” I don’t know if it will run completely to other sports … but we will see if they continue to sell. “

Whatnot, a Livestream Shopping platform, recently registered its most lucrative day and week in sports card sales in the company’s history, according to Eric Shemtov, general sports manager of the company. Shemtov added that this record day coincided with the launch of the card collection that included the card Clark of 660 thousand dollars.

“Collectors are always looking for the next major novelty, how they get ahead of everyone else, and we have already overcome that point with the cards of the WNBA“SHEMTOV said.

Even so, other auction houses and observers of the industry wonder if, in addition to Clark And other basketball players, appetite for women’s objects will extend to other sports.

“It has been a very specific niche until recently, with the arrival of Clark“said Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auction at Heritage Auccans.” They are modern athletes, the WNBA He is gaining popularity; I think there are more products available for people to buy retail. … The field of athletics is dominated by men, and collectors too. “

Shemtov said that he sees a potential future for women’s sports collection articles as more people see women’s sports. He pointed out “Formula 1: Drive To Survive” and “Full Swing” by Netflix, which attracted new motor racing and golf fans, respectively, and, according to him, collecting did the same.

“A few years ago, (those sports) did not receive enough investment,” said Shemtov. “Collectors love (connect) to the fans with the hobby. … is one of the areas where the WNBA It is at the forefront. “