Caitlin Clark, a prominent figure from the 2024 WNBA draft class, made a splash in the trading card world as her debut WNBA cards were quickly snapped up on Panini's website. Released on the night of the draft, the cards featured Clark along with other first-round picks like Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, and Angel Reese. The series offered various card variations, including autographed editions, with players pictured holding their new team jerseys.
Clark's base card started at a price of $9.99, with the final print run determined by the week's sales. Both signed and unsigned parallel versions of her cards were sold within minutes of release. Highlighting the demand, a rare 1/1 "Blue Viper parallel" autographed card started at a Dutch auction for $10,000 and was immediately purchased, avoiding any price drop. This specific card, along with others numbered to 99 or less, quickly sold out, totaling $152,000 in sales within just an hour. Should sales of the base card reach 25,000 units by May 7, it would generate an additional $250,000. Meanwhile, cards of several other players also saw rapid sales, though some base and parallel cards remained unsold by Tuesday evening.
Panini anticipates shipping these cards within 15-20 business days after the closing of sales on May 7, marking a successful launch that underscores the high demand and market value of Caitlin Clark's inaugural WNBA cards.
Caitlin Clark's first WNBA trading cards, released by Panini, saw an overwhelming demand, selling over $150,000 worth within an hour. The collection, featuring various players from the 2024 draft class, includes rare autographed versions and is expected to generate significant sales before it closes on May 7.