Caitlin Clark wasn’t only the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft; she is now on the same level as Michael Jordan in one important way that shows how much of an impact she has had on basketball culture: she is the best player in the sports trading card market, which shows how much of an impact she has had on the game.

Robin Lundberg, a sports insider, talked about this in a recent YouTube video in one basketball metric sports trading cards, saying, “The basketball player closest to Michael Jordan is Caitlyn Clark, above Victor Wembanyama, above Kobe Bryant, above LeBron James.” “For Caitlyn Clark to be above all those other players is another sign of the cultural phenomenon that she’s become based on her basketball abilities.”

The data backs up this statement. Professional Sports Authenticator says that Clark has more than 136,700 graded cards, which is more than the total of LeBron James (59,000), Stephen Curry (33,000), and Anthony Edwards (30,000). Clark is the second-most collected basketball player in history, behind only Michael Jordan, who has 206,000 graded cards. This number, which is not at all silly, shows real demand from collectors all over the world and shows that it has a cultural significance that goes beyond normal sports metrics.

When you look at Clark’s path compared to other top athletes, the importance becomes clearer. Victor Wembanyama has 110,200 graded cards, which is a lot less than what he should have because he is a generational talent and was picked higher in the draft. Clark’s rise from sixth place in 2024 to the top spot among active players in 2025 shows an increase in speed that usually only happens with the most talented basketball players.

How Caitlin Clark proved injuries can’t stop a phenomenon

The crazy thing is that 2025 was supposed to stop Clark’s progress, but it didn’t. She missed most of the year because of injuries. She only played 13 games because of a groin injury, a quad strain, and ankle problems. Still, her trading card numbers went through the roof. Collectors kept buying her cards even though she was hurt. That kind of loyalty says a lot about how famous she is. People had faith in her future even when she couldn’t play.

This month, Team USA put Clark back on the court. She joined a scrimmage with seventeen top players and looked great from the start. “I feel like when I touched the basketball to start warming up before practice even started. That’s when I felt pretty comfortable,” she said.

What fans didn’t see was the work that went on behind the scenes. “I’ve worked so hard. I haven’t taken a break since the beginning of the WNBA season, just with all of my rehab and getting back to where I want to be and getting even better,” Clark revealed.

When Clark comes back next season fully healthy, she’ll show everyone again why she changed the card market like no other player ever has.

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