Just when Caitlin Clark thought things couldn’t get any hotter—bam—a game-changing deal with Panini America takes her brand to the next level. The spotlight is blinding, the endorsements are rolling in, and the fans are eating it up. But hold up—behind the glitz and glam, there’s some severe heat coming from a whole different angle.

With Caitlin Clark rising to superstardom and the massive hype around her Panini deal, fans are calling out what they see as a play against them—not just by her partner, but by the brand itself. Take the 2024 Prizm cards, for instance. Panini plans to drop them in 2025 and market them as rookie cards, even though they’re technically second-season cards with a 2025 date on the back. This move raises eyebrows, and fans are voicing their frustration, feeling like they’re getting played.

Could this be a classic money grab by Panini to cash in on the hype without delivering the real deal? With one card already selling for a record-breaking $78,000, it’s no surprise that collectors are getting antsy.

The prices are reaching their limits, and the integrity of the release is being called into question. But that’s not all—there’s a whole legal drama unfolding between Panini and Fanatics, and with Caitlin’s brand growing so rapidly, you can bet that tension’s spilling over.

In previous instances, Caitlin Clark locked down a massive deal with Panini America, pulling in over $1 million in the first year—a significant flex for a female athlete! But it gets spicy when that kind of money and the monopoly with Panini, you gotta wonder if there’s anything fishy going on behind the scenes. Fans are starting to ask questions about the moves being made off the court, and it’s no longer just about her game.

With increased trading card submissions and rising values, Caitlin’s popularity is making her a target for serious financial moves—some of which fans might not be comfortable with. If her partner manages or profits from these deals, could this be the setup for a shady profit scheme? It’s got fans riled up, feeling like they’re getting hustled.

Caitlin’s putting in serious work on the court—becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and dominating this season with 27+ points per game. But even with those numbers, some fans question whether they’re being taken advantage of off the court.

The backlash is mounting, and fans aren’t holding back. The relationship between Caitlin Clark, her brand, and her partner is under a microscope now, and the hardcore WNBA fanbase feels more betrayed than ever. Could this be a game-changer, or is it just the beginning of a bigger storm? Fans aren’t sure—but one thing’s certain: they’re not going down without a fight.

WNBA Fans React: Caitlin Clark’s partner allegations spark backlash

First up, someone pointed out six days back, “Yeah… IMO no one cares if a product was printed late. If it says RC on it, it’s a rookie. It will still say 2024 even if printed in 2025. This happens pretty often in other sports.” This comment pushes back against the idea that a product isn’t a true rookie card just because it’s being released late. The comment highlights that as long as the card has “RC” (Rookie Card) on it, it’s still considered a rookie, even if it’s printed in 2025 but labelled as a 2024 card. They argue that this kind of thing happens often in other sports, where cards are printed late but still carry the rookie label.

“This is prizm. Prizm is the flagship product line that collectors seek out. This will be the set to get her rookie card. No one cares about release date.” This comment essentially defends the idea that, regardless of when the card is released, Caitlin Clark’s rookie card in the 2024 Prizm set will be highly sought after because Prizm is the flagship product line that collectors prioritize.

A commentator weighed in on the controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark’s Panini deal, emphasizing “This is very common in sportscards especially  panini or upper deck. Just see upper deck the cup hockey. 2022-23 just released like last summer, so 2 years late. The 2024 prizm wnba will still have all the same rookies from that class and will have the rc logo.”

A comment referencing MJ 86, “Try telling this to the MJ 86 Fleer community.” draws a comparison to the iconic 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer rookie card, considered one of the most valuable and sought-after cards in basketball history.