Sports Card Portal What’s Hot List for the Week of August 17, 2026
Sports Card Portal’s weekly What’s Hot List takes a quick look at the players and products drawing the most attention across the hobby. This week’s group includes a breakout basketball release, several rising stars in baseball, football, hockey and the WNBA, plus a few names that have cooled off in collector conversation.
The Hot List
2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball
The debut of 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball continues to generate strong collector interest. Even after the most coveted card from the product was found, there is still plenty left to chase, including variations, parallels, autographs and rare inserts.
The set made an immediate impact because it is the home of the Debut Patch Autographs, and last week the redemption card for Copper Flagg’s card from the set was pulled in Rhode Island. That discovery only added to the attention surrounding a product that has already delivered a strong first impression.
Collectors have also been chasing the product’s other chase elements, which have helped keep it near the top of the hobby conversation.
Jac Caglianone
Caglianone opened August with a 13-game hitting streak, and the numbers during that stretch were eye-catching. He hit .431 with 5 home runs, 18 RBI, 9 runs and 3 stolen bases, raising his batting average from .251 to .274 in the process.
He also turned in a career-high five RBI in a 3-for-5 performance during a win over the Angels. For collectors, that kind of production keeps the spotlight on one of baseball’s most closely watched young bats.
Caitlin Clark
Clark delivered another reminder of why she remains one of the most watched names in basketball. She had 29 points and 10 assists in Indiana’s 98-87 win over the Dallas Wings in a matchup of No. 1 overall picks, then followed that with 26 points and 9 assists in a 95-91 overtime victory against the Atlanta Dream.
The Fever are in strong playoff position, giving Clark a chance to return to the national stage in a major way for the first time since 2024. That combination of big games and meaningful team success continues to keep her cards in demand.
Drake Maye
Reports from New England’s training camp have been positive for Maye, who appears to be carrying momentum into the new season. Accuracy has been a major talking point, and that matters because it was a key part of his success last year.
Maye led the NFL with a 72.0 completion percentage and threw only eight interceptions in 17 starts. If he builds on that foundation, he will remain one of the more closely tracked quarterbacks in the hobby.
Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty is working to expand his role in the Las Vegas offense after a strong rookie push last year. He caught 55 passes in 2025, and training camp has focused on improving his work in the passing game.
Raiders running backs coach Omar Young said Jeanty identified route running as one of his offseason goals, and that effort has reportedly shown up in camp. Jeanty also enters 2026 looking to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark after finishing just 25 yards short last season.
Logan Cooley
Cooley’s 2024-25 season was interrupted by injury, but he still produced 24 goals and 19 assists in 54 games. The Utah Mammoth have reason to be optimistic about what comes next, especially with Cooley signed long term on an eight-year contract.
The 22-year-old has scored at least 20 goals in each of his first three seasons, and his 40 assists in 2024-25 showed he can also create for teammates. That blend of scoring and playmaking has made him a player collectors continue to watch closely.
Olivia Miles
Miles continues to build a strong case as one of the most compelling rookies in the WNBA. Over the weekend, she scored 23 points against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, becoming the third rookie ever to score 20 or more points against the reigning champs three times in a single season.
Already viewed as the likely unanimous Rookie of the Year, Miles has also entered MVP discussion, which has only increased interest in her cards.
Brock Faber
Faber’s strong postseason finish has kept him on collector radars as the 2026-27 hockey season approaches. In 11 postseason games with the Wild, the defenseman scored four goals and added six assists.
Going into his fourth full season, the soon-to-be 24-year-old could be positioned for his biggest year yet. That kind of late-season surge often gets collectors looking ahead to the next breakout.
Kade Anderson
Anderson has been dominant at Double-A for the Arkansas Travelers. Since July 3, the 22-year-old left-hander has thrown 20 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Overall, Anderson is 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA and 135 strikeouts across 93 1/3 innings. The strong numbers have put him in the conversation for a possible late-season call-up to the majors.
The Cold List
Not every name stayed hot this week. The Cold List included Jacob Wilson, DK Metcalf and Zion Williamson.
- Jacob Wilson - 2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects Blue
- DK Metcalf - 2022 Panini Elements Fusion Swatches
- Zion Williamson - 2019-20 NBA Hoops
Collector Supply Notes
Sports Card Portal also highlighted a few common supplies for keeping cards protected and organized, including penny sleeves, top loaders, binders and 9-pocket card pages.
- Penny Sleeves
- Top Loaders
- Binders
- 9-Pocket Card Pages
With a major basketball release still drawing attention and several young stars making noise on the field, ice and court, the hobby conversation remains centered on both current performance and long-term upside.
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