Caitlin Clark Rookie Card Sells for a Record-Breaking $366,000, Beating Serena Williams

On March 29, 2025, Caitlin Clark’s signed, one-of-a-kind rookie card sold for $366,000. This broke the world-record sale price for a women’s sports card of $266,400, which was set in 2022 by Olympic gold medalist Serena Williams’s autographed 2003 NetPro card. 

This makes Clark’s rookie card the most expensive women’s sports card ever sold. 

But why is this card so valuable? And just who is Caitlin Clark? Keep reading to learn all about this rising star in women’s basketball, her record-breaking rookie card, and her many accomplishments from across her short but illustrious career. 

What Makes Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Card So Valuable? 

Caitlin Clark’s signed, one-of-a-kind rookie card from Panini.
Image source: Goldin

Caitlin Clark’s Panini Prizm WNBA Signatures Gold Vinyl Prizm Signed Rookie Card is so valuable that collectors drove its price all the way up to $300,000 from a starting bid of just $10,000 during its intense, weeks-long bidding war on the memorabilia auction site, Goldin. The remaining $66,000 in the card’s sale price was the 22% buyer’s premium. 

But why do so many collectors find this card so valuable? The answer is multifaceted. 

First of all, the card is completely unique. The publisher, Panini, only printed one copy of this debut-year commemorative card; notice the “1/1” on the card’s label. And Panini really took out all the stops with this one, giving it a dazzling Gold Vinyl Prizm effect that makes it a magnificent showpiece that would stand out in any collection. 

The card has also been signed by Caitlin Clark herself, and sports memorabilia is always more valuable when it bears a player’s autograph. Additionally, rookie cards are typically of special value to collectors of sports memorabilia. 

All that being said, though, many of Clark’s other sports cards have also sold for six figures at auction, so it clearly isn’t just this card’s unique qualities that gave it such a commanding value. The consistently high sale price of all of Clark’s sports cards is due to who she is as a player.

Who Is Caitlin Clark?

Caitlin Clark on the court during a preseason game in May of 2024.
Image source: NBC News

This isn’t the first time that Caitlin Clark has broken a record. The WNBA point guard from Des Moines, Iowa, has been catching the nation’s attention with exceptional gameplay prowess since her time playing college basketball with the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

While playing for the Hawkeyes, she led the team to their first ever—and later their second ever—national championship game, and she also became the NCAA D1 all-time leading scorer in both the men's and women's categories. She even set the NCAA D1 single-season 3-point record. And these are just a few of her many collegiate accomplishments.

Then, in the 2024 WNBA draft, she was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever. In her debut year with the Fever, she racked up a similar list of achievements by leading the WNBA in assists, being named Rookie of the Year, and being chosen as Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year.

All of Clark’s success in collegiate and professional basketball has, unsurprisingly, had a dramatic effect on the popularity of women’s basketball. Several of her games have broken women’s basketball viewership records. In fact, Clark’s impact on the popularity of women’s basketball has been so pronounced that commentators refer to it as “The Caitlin Clark Effect.”

So, while the sale price of Clark’s rookie card is certainly impressive, it’s only one more jewel in this incredible player’s crown. And remember that Clark is still at the beginning of her professional career, so she’s likely to reach even greater heights in the years to come. 

Protect Your Sports Cards With Goat Armor

While none of your sports cards may ever sell for as much as Caitlin Clark’s rookie card, you never know! Many sports cards drastically increase in price as they age—so long as they’re kept in excellent condition, that is. That’s why it’s so essential to protect your collection from the negative effects of moisture, sunlight, and the natural oils in your hands.

That’s where we come in.

At Goat Armor, we create card binders and top loaders that keep cards in like-new condition for decades. Our products allow collectors to enjoy and display their favorite cards without lowering any card's quality or resale value.