The latest on the WNBA’s foray into collectibles

The GIST: ICYMI, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark’s autographed memorabilia sold out in mere minutes last week — a sign that collectibles are just the latest space where the WNBA is making waves. Hooptastic.

The context: It’s no secret that the WNBA’s popularity is skyrocketing. From record-breaking viewership and attendance to fans engaging on social media (the league generated 37B social impressions this season), the W’s unprecedented growth is evolving the game at every level.

The Caitlin Clark effect: Clark made an immediate impact across all facets of the W in 2024, and the collectibles space was no different. In March, Clark inked an exclusive multiyear partnership with collectibles company Panini America, a deal that includes trading cards and autographed memorabilia, and the partnership is already paying off.

• According to eBay, eight of the top 10 most expensive WNBA cards sold on the site are Clark cards, while an autographed Rookie of the Year card sold at auction for nearly $100K earlier this month. Put it in the Louvre.

The trend: The demand for Clark memorabilia is evident, but she’s not the only player fans are after. Per eBay, global searches for Las Vegas Ace A’ja Wilson increased 190% compared to May 2024 after she was named MVP in September. Sales of cards for players like LA Spark Cameron Brink and the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese also jumped over the first three months of the year.

Zooming out: The global sports trading card market was valued at almost $13M in 2023 and is expected to more than double by 2033, but historically, the collectibles space has been dominated by male consumers — a stark contrast to the WNBA’s more balanced demographic split.

• With the demand for W collectibles growing, brands in the space have taken note with initiatives like Topps’ women-centered innovation and eBay’s WNBA “Gametime Gets.” It begs the question: Is the W driving a new collectibles consumer demographic in women? Watch this space.