Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark recently grabbed the spot for the most expensive women’s athlete card ever sold.
Recently, Caitlin Clark’s rookie athlete card was reportedly sold for a whopping $366,000. The amount shattered the record previously held by tennis legend Serena Williams, who sold one of her cards for $100,000 less than that of Clark’s.
The most popular WNBA trading card set is Panini’s Prizm, and the company has an exclusive license for it. So, when the rarest Clark autograph rookie card from that set was opened and sold, it was almost guaranteed to become her most valuable card. The previous three highest-selling Clark cards are all from Select, which is one of the other two 2024 WNBA Panini sets released before Prizm.
Serena Williams’ rookie card, specifically the 2003 NetPro International Series Apparel Autograph card, sold for an impressive $266,400 in May 2022. This card was highly valued because it included a piece of match-worn tennis apparel, making it a unique collectible.
Caitlin Clark has had a monumental impact on WNBA merchandise sales. Since her arrival, the league has seen a 1,000% increase in player-specific merchandise sales compared to the previous year.
These numbers do not solely account for Caitlin Clark merchandise, as other rookie starts such as Angel Reese also saw a massive market for their merch during the 2024 season.
Aside from her athlete cards and league merch, Caitlin Clark has also become a highly valued name for NIL deals, with her collected brand deals reportedly reaching $3.5 million. TRhis makes her one of the highest-earning college athlete in the country.
How Big Has Has The Impact of Caitlin Clark Been?
Caitlin Clark‘s financial influence as an athlete began during her college basketball career and has been transformative. Her electrifying performances and record-breaking stats at the University of Iowa garnered national attention, increasing ticket sales, merchandise sales, and media coverage for the university.
The WNBA experienced a surge in attendance, television viewership, ticket sales, and merchandise revenue during Clark’s rookie year. Her significant impact also led to increased brand endorsements, benefiting both her team, the Indiana Fever, and the overall growth of the league.
Beyond the numbers, Clark has inspired a new generation of athletes and fans. Her ability to draw attention to women’s basketball has proven its potential as a lucrative and impactful industry, reshaping the narrative around the sport.
Right now, Caitlin Clark continues to prepare for the 2025 WNBA season.
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