Well, well, well. They call her the golden goose for a reason, and Caitlin Clark just keeps proving it. Everything she touches turns straight-up gold. Her college program saw an economic boom. The franchise that drafted her? The hottest ticket in town. The city she’s playing in? Yes, they’re already feeling the financial ripple effect. And now, the latest proof of her Midas touch- the WNBA trading card market is going absolutely nuclear.

For the first time ever, Panini’s WNBA Prizm hobby box is selling for nearly double the price of the NBA. Yes, you read that right—WNBA Prizm is outpricing NBA Prizm! According to Wax Stat, WNBA Prizm hobby boxes are flying off shelves for around $1,200 a pop. Meanwhile, Panini’s 2024-25 NBA Prizm set is sitting at a comparatively modest $599.95 per box.

And if you’ve been keeping an eye on the market, this shouldn’t come as a total shocker. We saw a glimpse of this madness with the release of the 2024 Select set, where WNBA hobby boxes nearly hit $1,000 and CC’s PSA 10 base rookie cards were regularly fetching $100. 

And you know what? Back in 2023, Prizm WNBA boxes were floating around for $200-300. So, that’s a price jump worthy of a standing ovation. Collectors already knew something big was coming when Select prices shot up, but this is next-level.

But are you also wondering what could the reason be? Well, first, it is obvious that the Caitlin Clark Effect is real. Then, there’s the strength of this year’s WNBA rookie class. Beyond Clark, you’ve got Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and a handful of other rising stars who have made this draft class one of the most exciting in years. 

More star power means more hype! 

Meanwhile, over at the NBA, the 2024-25 NBA rookie class is not generating the same level of excitement. Without a generational talent to rally around, collectors are shifting their focus elsewhere—straight to WNBA products. But can this market expand? So, with hobby boxes going for a small fortune, is it really worth the gamble to chase CC’s rookie card? Or maybe one from Reese or Brink?

See, Clark is THE name driving this market, and the price gap reflects it. Instead of dropping over a grand on a hobby box, many are turning to breaks or retail boxes. But even breaking has its drawbacks. With only 12 WNBA teams, random team spots will still run you about $100. 

That leaves retail boxes as the best budget-friendly play. They won’t have the same pack odds as hobby boxes, but under $100, they still offer a shot at some big hits—just less frequently.  At the end of the day, people are going to buy into Prizm WNBA, one way or another.

So, whether you’re ripping packs, buying singles, or just watching the madness, keep your eye on the Fever superstar. But is she getting back what she’s been putting in? That’s the real question. With the league benefiting from her star power, it’s worth wondering if Clark herself is seeing a fair slice of the pie.

Caitlin Clark’s agent thinks the WNBA can’t afford her  

Just when you think it couldn’t be a one-woman show, the numbers prove otherwise. CC is pumping millions into the economy. As ESPN’s Michele Steele pointed out, Clark’s impact in Indianapolis alone is insane. An economist at Indiana University Columbus crunched the numbers and found that she’s responsible for a $36 million economic boost to the city. And she’s driving almost 27% of the WNBA’s total economic activity for the 2024 season. 

Read that again. One rookie is basically carrying a quarter of the league’s financial impact. So, you’d think she’s rolling in cash, right? Well… her agent, Erin Kane, just dropped a truth bomb—Clark’s probably never going to be paid what she’s actually worth.  

“Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league? I don’t think that’s possible,” Kane told ESPN. To put that into perspective, Clark’s literally reshaping the league’s financial landscape, yet she’s set to make just $78,000 in 2025. 

And Kane wasn’t just talking about Clark. She made it clear that all WNBA players need to be paid more. The league is cashing in like never before. And yet, the paychecks are not matching up. The good news, though, is the players’ union has already opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement, which means big salary negotiations are coming once the 2025 season wraps up if all goes well.

Will Caitlin Clark and the rest of the WNBA finally get their bag? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.