Demand for Caitlin Clark trading cards is high.
Just minutes after it was made public, the rookie card of the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, the first pick in the WNBA Draft, went for an astounding $10,000 on Tuesday. Included in the sale was the 2024 Instant WNBA Draft Night series by Panini America, which also saw the release of trading cards featuring players from this year’s draft class.
A bidder snapped up Clark’s “Blue Viper 1/1 Auto” card very fast, demonstrating the enormous market worth and popularity of the Iowa superstar. This card was sold utilizing a Dutch Auction format, which is different from regular auctions in that the price decreases every five minutes. But because Clark’s memorabilia was in such high demand, the card sold out right away at the original price, negating the necessity for a price drop.
Panini issued other iterations of Caitlin Clark’s cards in addition to the sale. According to Will Stern of Cllct, they included a base card that sold for $9.99 and an autographed Blue Viper 1/1 that sold for $3,000 in a matter of minutes.
The same series of cards was released for other top WNBA draft choices, such as Los Angeles Sparks’ No. 2 pick Cameron Brink, Chicago Sky’s No. 3 pick Kamilla Cardoso, and the Sky’s No. 7 pick, Angel Reese. Some of the most expensive cards, starting at $1,500 and $1,000, are held by Brink and Reese. At their original cost, both of these cards sold out rapidly. Alissa Pili, Jacy Sheldon, Rickea Jackson, and Nika Mühl were among the other WNBA rookies to get cards.
There were 64 different iterations of the cards available.
The effect of Caitlin Clark on the sports card industry
Because of her propensity to score points, Clark—who was awarded the 2024 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year and guided the Hawkeyes to their second straight NCAA championship game appearance—has been compared to Steph Curry of the NBA.
With her contract signed in March, Clark became Panini’s first female athlete to be an exclusive for multiple years. Her amazing scoring records were honored with a unique Panini Instant Card, one of the first products to be released under the deal. Panini intends to keep releasing limited edition memorabilia, which will include signed artifacts, exclusive prints, and unique inserts, in addition to regular card releases.
As Panini wants to increase its presence of women’s sports, this relationship is anticipated to open the door for potential agreements with other female players. The notable market potential and enthusiast interest in women’s basketball collectibles is demonstrated by the success of Clark’s card sales, which include the quick sell-out of her Blue Viper 1/1 Auto card.