March Madness performances have the opportunity to boom or bust a player's draft stock and card values. While professional scouts grade how players handle the big moments, collectors monitor the draft boards to see which No. 1 overall pick's rookie card they will be hunting in next year's packs.

• Players like Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Carmelo Anthony saw their draft positions improve due to March Madness success, positively impacting their rookie card values.

• Oppositely, players who struggle or miss the tournament have seen their draft stock and card values decline, as exemplified by Ben Simmons – a player whom scouts worried about because of his lack of experience in high-pressure situations.
  

Ready For Launch: Paige Bueckers

As Paige Bueckers approaches her professional debut, anticipation for her WNBA cards is reaching an all-time high:

• Projected as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Bueckers' official rookie cards won't hit shelves until late 2025.

• Currently, collectors are focusing on her collegiate cards, with at least 73 different Paige Bueckers cards being tracked by Sports Card Investor.

• Popular Bueckers cards include the 2023-24 Bowman Chrome University series and various autographed editions.

Bueckers' potential impact on the card market is further shown thanks to her off-court success, including sponsorship deals with Nike, Gatorade, and an ownership stake in pro sports league Unrivaled.

A Generational Talent For A Generational Stage

Dubbed by many as a "once-in-a-generation" player, Bueckers' dominance on the court speaks through her numbers. Over 29 games this season, she has averaged 18.6 points per game (PPG), 5.0 assists per game (APG)—leading the league—and 4.5 rebounds per game (RPG).

Bueckers is known for her versatility as a three-level scorer and her ability to facilitate the UCONN offense. Larry Bird himself has praised Bueckers' ability to "hurt you in a lot of ways," highlighting her scoring versatility, passing vision, and composure under pressure.

Bueckers, UCONN, and Panini have collaborated to release season cards for her 2024-25 collegiate season. Out of the 73 different cards featured on Sports Card Investor, the 2023-24 Bowman Best University Triple Auto featuring Bueckers alongside Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese is increasingly intriguing. With Paige set to become the final member of this trio, a sequel version of this triple auto is anticipated. 

The growing popularity of women's basketball, seen through record viewership for the 2024 NCAA women's championship game (18.9 million viewers), suggests that the market for WNBA cards, especially for standout performers like Clark and Bueckers, will continue to expand. 

As March Madness approaches, collectors and investors should keep a close eye on standout performances, as they could signal the next big leap in card values. While the fifth-year senior has undoubtedly solidified herself amongst the elite players in the nation, a shaky performance in March could impact the projected #1 overall pick's collectible future... and she has enormous expectations to meet.

Caitlin Clark: Setting New Records

Caitlin Clark's college career culminated with breaking the NCAA Division I all-time scoring record. This milestone could be a reason why here trading cards saw such an instant rise:

• In December 2024, a Caitlin Clark Indiana Fever rookie card sold for $234,850, becoming the most expensive women's basketball card ever sold.

• This 1/1 2024 Panini Select Signatures Gold Vinyl card with Clark's autograph received a PSA Gem Mint 10 grade.

• The previous record for a Clark card was set in October 2024 when a Panini Instant Rookie of the Year 1/1 Blue Viper Autograph sold for $97,212.

Clark's impact extends beyond individual card sales. Women's basketball cards are now being graded at a rate 10 times higher than in 2023. Clark ranked as the seventh most graded player by PSA in 2024, surpassing NBA stars like Steph Curry and Luka Doncic.

The Tournament Effect

March Madness represents more than just the top of the mountain for college athletes—it's become a proving ground that can make or break a player's collectible value. Due to her injury history, the stakes couldn't be higher for a star like Bueckers to prove that she can put up consistent numbers on the biggest stages.

A deep tournament run featuring clutch performances against top competition could cement her status alongside Caitlin Clark as a cornerstone of the women's basketball card market. For collectors and investors alike, the message is clear: watch the brackets closely. Today's buzzer-beater could become tomorrow's blue-chip investment in the ever-expanding world of sports card collecting.