A’ja Wilson Achieves Historic WNBA Triple Crown, Card Market Lags
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson today became the first player in WNBA history to win League MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, yet her trading card market value remains surprisingly low compared to newer players.
Wilson’s accolades are unprecedented; she is the only player to secure four league MVP awards and has led the Aces to championships in three of the last four years. In 2024, she also became the first WNBA player to surpass 1,000 points in a single season, averaging a double-double for the second consecutive year. Despite this dominance, data from Market Movers shows fewer than 800 sales of Wilson cards in the last 365 days, ranking her 16th among WNBA players.
The disparity is particularly striking when compared to recent WNBA draftees like Caitlin Clark, whose cards have seen over 205,000 sales in the same period. While Wilson’s rookie card, a 2018 Rittenhouse WNBA Base No. 48, can fetch around $3,600 in gem-mint condition due to its limited print run (population of 69 PSA 10s), it still trails the public records of players like Angel Reese ($32,700 for a 2024 Rookie Royalty card) and Cameron Brink ($16,287 for a 2024 Panini Prizm Black Finite 1/1). The limited availability of Wilson’s early cards contributes to their value, but doesn’t match the hype surrounding newer stars. You can find more information about card grading at PSA’s website.
Experts suggest Wilson’s relative lack of market attention may be due to a smaller number of cards available compared to recent draftees, and a growing interest in the WNBA fueled by increased media coverage and the arrival of highly-marketable players. This situation highlights a potential undervaluation of a proven champion in a rapidly expanding market, and could influence how future WNBA stars are valued. For more on the WNBA, visit the official WNBA website.
League officials stated they are focused on continued growth of the WNBA and its players’ visibility, hoping to see increased recognition for all of its stars in the collectibles market.
