Caitlin Clark isn’t just rewriting the history books—she’s chucking them out the window and setting them ablaze on her way to WNBA dominance.
The Indiana Fever sensation added another jewel to her crown of achievements by becoming the first woman to crack Professional Sports Authenticator’s (PSA) top 10 most-collected basketball players of the year. Yes, the only woman. The feat is impressive enough, but when you realize she’s rubbing elbows with icons like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James—let’s just say the air up there is rarefied.
While San Antonio Spurs prodigy Victor Wembanyama predictably leads the list (fine, we’ll give him his due), Clark’s rise to No. 6 has sent shockwaves through the trading card universe. Not bad company for a player who’s still in the early chapters of her professional journey.
But wait, there’s more!
Paige Bueckers? More Like Busted Bueckers
In what might be the most lopsided victory since Space Jam, Clark obliterated her closest competitor, UConn star Paige Bueckers, in trading card demand. How lopsided, you ask? Try 77,000 cards graded for Clark to a mere 5,400 for Bueckers. That’s over 14 times the difference—essentially the sports card equivalent of a 50-point blowout.
And if you thought Paige’s numbers were rough, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese fared even worse. Reese managed just 4,700 graded cards, putting Clark ahead by a jaw-dropping 16x margin. Someone grab a mop; the floor’s a mess.
Clark’s dominance in the card-collecting world has turned her into the undisputed queen of hoops memorabilia, leaving her competitors grasping for crumbs.
From Iowa Darling to Fever Frenzy
Clark’s meteoric rise isn’t confined to trading cards. The Fever’s box office is on fire—literally. StubHub reported a 90-fold surge in ticket sales for the team this year. (Seriously, when was the last time you heard the words “Indiana Fever” and “sellout crowd” in the same sentence?)
The phenomenon is as much a testament to Clark’s talent as it is to her charisma. Reflecting on her transition from college to the pros, Clark admitted she had her doubts about whether fans would follow her to the WNBA. Spoiler alert: they did—and then some.
“It’s crazy. I didn’t know how it would translate, but it’s basically the same thing,” Clark told TIME, casually brushing off what’s essentially a cultural revolution. Oh, and did we mention she’s also TIME’s Athlete of the Year? Just add it to the trophy case.
The Queen of Basketball
What’s next for Caitlin Clark? At this rate, probably owning the entire PSA top 10 list by herself. With every shot, every record shattered, and every trading card graded, she’s not just playing basketball—she’s redefining it.