The WNBA's highest-paid stars are now securing contracts over $1.2 million, but their sports card values don't always reflect this financial success. A comparison of their card sales reveals insights into the evolving sports card market.
Do the WNBA’s Highest-Paid Stars Command High-End Hobby Prices?
In the WNBA, the financial landscape is rapidly shifting. The recent collective bargaining agreement has officially changed the sport. Multi-year deals are finally pushing into the seven-figure range, establishing a clear upper echelon of top-paid talent. But in the sports card hobby, a massive real-world contract doesn’t always translate to massive cardboard capital.
We decided to look at seven of the highest-paid players in the WNBA, all of whom hold contracts valued at $1.2 million or more, to see how their most expensive card sales stack up. Then, we’ll compare them to the new generation of hobby titans to see exactly where the market’s money is moving.
Drafted first overall in 2018, A’ja Wilson has cemented herself as one of the greatest to ever play, securing four WNBA MVP awards and three WNBA Championships with the Las Vegas Aces. She is the first player in history to win a scoring title, Championship, Finals MVP, regular season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year all in the same season. Her most expensive card, a 2018 Rittenhouse WNBA Inscription Auto Game Action PSA 10, sold for $6,500.
2018 RITTENHOUSE WNBA INSCRIPTION AUTO GAME ACTION A'JA WILSON PSA 10
Collier burst onto the scene by winning the 2019 Rookie of the Year and has since developed into a franchise cornerstone for the Minnesota Lynx. The multi-time All-Star recently led her team back into deep playoff contention while frequently landing on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. Even as a top earner, the most expensive Napheesa Collier card is still very cheap by hobby standards. Her 2022 Panini Prizm WNBA Far Out Prizms Gold Vinyl #5 PSA 10 was purchased off eBay for $1,839.99.
2022 Panini Prizm Wnba Far Out #5 Napheesa Collier Gold Vinyl 1/1 PSA 10
Drafted second overall in 2018, Kelsey Mitchell has been a consistent, prolific scoring machine for the Indiana Fever throughout her entire career. The multi-time All-Star routinely ranks among the league’s top scorers and continues to be a focal point of the Fever offense. Mitchell has a number of multi-player cards featuring her star teammate Caitlin Clark that have sold for several thousand dollars, but her highest solo card, the ultra-rare 2025 Panini Prizm White Sparkle Auto 1/1, peaked at just $520.
2025 WNBA Panini Prizm Kelsey Mitchell WHITE SPARKLE AUTO 1/1 Card ULTRA RARE
Ezi Magbegor is a premier defensive anchor for the Seattle Storm, earning a WNBA Championship in 2020 and establishing herself as a perennial shot-blocking threat. The Australian star is a multi-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection and continues to lead the league’s defensive metrics year after year. Despite pulling down a massive $1.25 million contract, her hobby market is incredibly affordable; her top card, a 2022 Panini Prizm WNBA #145 Gold Vinyl 1/1 PSA 9, sold for only $300.
2022 Panini Prizm WNBA #145 Ezi Magbegor Gold Vinyl 1/1 PSA 9 Seattle Storm
Kahleah Copper’s journey from a role player to a true superstar reached its pinnacle when she led the Chicago Sky to a title in 2021 and was named the WNBA Finals MVP. Now a primary offensive weapon for the Phoenix Mercury, the four-time All-Star remains one of the most explosive scoring guards in the entire league. The trading card market hasn’t fully embraced her real-world dominance yet, as her most expensive card, a 2016 Rittenhouse WNBA Rookie in a perfect PSA 10 grade, sold for just $699.
2016 Rittenhouse WNBA /500 Kahleah Copper #105 PSA 10 GEM MT Rookie RC
Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo) – $1.2 million
Known for her lethal three-point shooting and fiery competitiveness, Marina Mabrey has bounced between several WNBA teams before landing a lucrative role with the 2026 expansion franchise, the Toronto Tempo. She previously starred for the Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Connecticut Sun, building a reputation as a high-volume scorer and dynamic playmaker. Mabrey’s high-end, low-numbered cards haven’t quite cracked the 4 figure mark, with her 2024 Panini Select WNBA Black Finite Prizms 1/1 topping her market at a modest $703.
2024 Panini Select WNBA Marina Mabrey #95 Black Finite Prizms 1/1
Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury) – $1.2 million
Long known as “The Engine,” Alyssa Thomas is the WNBA’s all-time career leader in triple-doubles and a completely unique point-forward playmaker. Now starring for the Phoenix Mercury, the multi-time All-Star and 2023 WNBA rebounding champion continues to fill every column of the stat sheet. She has a reputation as one of the most versatile players in basketball history, her top card, a 2014 WNBA Alyssa Thomas Rookie graded a BGS 9, reached $647 on eBay.
2014 WNBA Alyssa Thomas Rookie BGS 9 Phoenix Mercury
If the highest-paid veterans aren’t breaking cardboard records, who is? The answer lies in the new generation. The veterans paved the way for the league’s financial growth, but these young stars are completely rewriting the WNBA’s hobby market.
2024 Panini Flawless WNBA Platinum Caitlin Clark ROOKIE LOGOWOMAN PATCH AUTO 1/1
2023-24 Bowman University Chrome Prospect Autographs SuperFractor #BCPA-PB Paige Bueckers Signed Rookie Card (#1/1) - PSA GEM MT 10
2024 Panini Royalty WNBA Kaboom! Green Angel Reese ROOKIE 1/1 #5
2024 Panini Prizm WNBA Black Finite Prizm #127 Cameron Brink Rookie Card (#1/1) - PSA MINT 9
The WNBA card market is incredibly top-heavy. While the established veterans are finally getting the million-dollar contracts they deserve on the court, the sports card hobby is pouring almost all of its capital into the hype, projection, and massive narratives of the new generation.
If you’re a new WNBA collector, you can look at this data in one of two ways. You could be sour and feel like you completely missed the boat on grabbing Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers rookies before they skyrocketed out of your price range.
Or, you could look at the established greats—the absolute future Hall of Famers with million-dollar contracts—and realize their markets are criminally undervalued. If you bet that the WNBA’s explosive growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon, right now is the perfect time to swoop in and grab some of the absolute best cards in existence of the players who built the league.
Personally? I’m doing the latter.
Let us know who in the WNBA your collecting on Mantel.
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The article examines seven WNBA players whose contracts are valued at $1.2 million or more.
Despite high salaries, the card sales of top WNBA players do not always match their financial contracts.
A recent collective bargaining agreement has led to significant increases in WNBA player salaries, allowing for multi-year deals in the seven-figure range.
The article analyzes how the market is shifting by comparing the card sales of top-paid WNBA players with those of new hobby titans.
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