In a significant development for the sports collectibles industry, Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)—one of the world’s largest and most influential card grading companies—has released its data on which athletes’ cards collectors submitted most frequently for grading in 2024. The results highlight a shift in consumer interests and a notable surge in the popularity of women’s basketball cards.
At the forefront of this change is Iowa legend and rising WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who achieved a groundbreaking milestone. According to PSA’s newly released figures, Clark became the first female basketball player in history to break into the top 10 most-graded basketball athletes.
While she secured sixth place among basketball players, she narrowly missed joining the overall top 10—an achievement that underscores the growing influence of female athletes in a traditionally male-dominated hobby.
Clark’s momentum reflects a broader trend in the sports card market. PSA reported that women’s basketball cards have been graded at a rate ten times higher than in 2023, a staggering year-over-year increase.
Clark wasn’t alone in sparking this interest. Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, and Cameron Brink also appeared in the upper echelon of female athlete grading volume, demonstrating a broad-based rise in the demand for women’s basketball collectibles.
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The surge in women’s hoops cards isn’t limited to basketball, however. On the women’s sports side, other non-basketball standouts made their mark. Soccer icon Alex Morgan, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and tennis legend Serena Williams ranked highly among female athletes whose cards were sent in for grading.
Still, Clark’s achievement within the basketball niche is especially noteworthy given the historically lower profile of women’s sports cards compared to men’s sports.
On the men’s side, the top 10 athletes in terms of card volume saw a mix of household names, emerging talents, and international sensations:
- Victor Wembanyama – 407,000
- Michael Jordan – 269,000
- C.J. Stroud – 223,000
- Shohei Ohtani – 211,000
- Anthony Richardson – 107,000
- Kobe Bryant – 91,000
- LeBron James – 89,000
- Elly De La Cruz – 83,000
- Anthony Edwards – 80,000
- Ken Griffey Jr. – 77,000
This list reveals a dynamic marketplace. Half of the top 10 athletes from 2023—Ohtani, Jordan, Bryant, James, and Griffey—made repeat appearances, underscoring their enduring appeal.
Meanwhile, the presence of multiple NFL and MLB newcomers, along with basketball phenoms, shows collectors are continuously looking for the next big thing. Notably, the NFL saw fewer players in the top 10 this time around compared to the previous year.
Among rising international stars, no athlete shone brighter than Victor Wembanyama. The French basketball prodigy’s cards experienced a meteoric rise, jumping from just under 28,000 graded cards in 2023 to an astounding 407,000 in 2024.
His immense popularity not only propelled him to the top of the overall list but also played a role in basketball’s overall surge in grading volume, which jumped 77% year-over-year—a rate surpassing both hockey and football growth.
The influence of rising stars like Brandon Miller, Anthony Edwards, and Elly De La Cruz—as well as the sustained interest in legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James—provides a glimpse into collectors’ varied tastes.
This diversity in interest highlights a hobby in flux, with seasoned collectors and newcomers alike driving demand for both established icons and breakout talents.
But the narrative of 2024’s collectibles market would be incomplete without acknowledging the extraordinary stride made by Caitlin Clark and her fellow female athletes.
Their presence in PSA’s rankings signals more than a passing trend. It indicates that collectors are increasingly embracing the broader sports landscape, investing in athletes who, until recently, had not drawn such intense hobby attention.
In this evolving market, Clark’s groundbreaking entry into the upper ranks of graded basketball cards exemplifies a promising direction: a more inclusive hobby that celebrates greatness, regardless of gender.
As the card community continues to expand its horizons, it’s clear that the next wave of collectors and investors will be open to new stories, new faces, and new sports—making for a richer, more diverse collectible experience.
