Caitlin Clark, the standout player for the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, is not just dominating the college basketball scene with her remarkable performances but is also setting new benchmarks in the sports card market. As the 2023 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year, Clark boasts an impressive 31.7 points per game average and has achieved over 40 points in a game 10 times, more than any Division I player in the last quarter-century. With expectations of being the number one pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, her popularity has soared, drawing parallels to NBA icon Steph Curry for her prowess in long-range shooting.
Off the court, Clark is making a splash in the memorabilia world. Her 2022 Bowman University Superfractor 1/1 Rookie Auto card, graded PSA 10, has become the talk of the January Premier Auction at PWCC Marketplace. The card's value rocketed to $38,000 on the final day of the auction, a sum that is over three times the previous record for a women's basketball card.
Previously, the record for the most expensive women’s basketball card was held by a 2004 Ultra Platinum Medallion Diana Taurasi card, sold for $11,500. Clark's card has even outperformed a 2020 Panini Prizm WNBA Black Gold rookie card of Sabrina Ionescu, which was the first WNBA card to reach a five-figure sale. Additionally, Clark’s card has exceeded the highest private sales of WNBA cards, including a 2021 Prizm Ionescu Black PSA 10 and a set of four 2016 Breanna Stewart PSA 10 rookies.
As Clark continues to excel on the court, leading the No. 5 Hawkeyes towards the Women’s Final Four, her trading cards are expected to further increase in value. In 2022, Fanatics and Topps signed Clark to an exclusive trading card and collectibles contract, ensuring her cards remain highly coveted in the market. This rise in value signifies a landmark moment in the world of women’s sports memorabilia.