Syla Swords’ Cards Gain Momentum
After one season in Ann Arbor, Syla Swords is already building a case as the next big thing in women’s basketball — and card collecting.
The 6-foot Canadian guard starred as a freshman for Michigan, averaging 16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with a 54.7% true shooting percentage. With poise beyond her years and a rapidly growing fanbase, she’s drawn comparisons to Caitlin Clark and is projected to be a top pick in the 2028 WNBA Draft.
The buzz isn’t just on the court. It’s also at the card shows. Swords is one of the standout names in 2024-25 Bowman Chrome® University Basketball, quickly catching the attention of collectors looking for the next big WNBA star.
“Syla’s Bowman Chrome 1st cards are affordable now, but this may change if she becomes the next face of women’s basketball,” says Juho Whang, a New Jersey-based collector, investor, and occasional dealer at sports card shows. “She’s only 19, which gives her three years until WNBA draft eligibility — and that’s a lot of time for those cards to mature as an investment.”
Women’s basketball cards are dominating the market, according to Whang. At his show in Morris County NJ on May 18, he said, “WNBA was king in sales (today), which is crazy.”
Syla Swords Ascends as the Women’s Hoops Hobby Explodes
This summer, Swords earned another high-profile nod when WNBA star Kelsey Plum invited her to the 2025 Under Armour “Dawg Class” — an elite training camp spotlighting the next generation of women’s basketball stars. The invite-only group features college basketball’s fiercest young players and offers pro-level mentorship. More than just a training opportunity, it serves as a branding signal to collectors and fans that Swords is on the fast track to stardom.
The investment conversation may feel early for a freshman, but Swords’ pedigree backs it up. Before arriving at Michigan, she played high school ball at New York’s Long Island Lutheran and was one of the top-ranked international prospects. She didn’t disappoint in her collegiate debut, dropping 27 points and 12 rebounds vs. No. 1 South Carolina in a game that shocked fans and analysts alike.
Her coach, Kim Barnes Arico, has called her “an elite playmaker,” and it’s easy to see why. Swords’ versatility allows her to impact games in multiple ways — whether it’s hitting midrange jumpers, creating off the dribble, or locking down the perimeter on defense. She earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and a place on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, setting a high bar for her next three seasons.
International Potential for a Canadian Star
Swords’ profile took a global leap last summer when she became the youngest player on Team Canada’s senior squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Already seen as a cornerstone for Canada’s national team, Swords’ dual identity — an NCAA star and a national figure — gives her unique appeal on both sides of the border.
“She’ll have focused support, resources, and opportunities from her native country,” Whang adds. “The support from Canada will likely draw a unique fanbase, which sets her apart from the recent success/fandom of Caitlin Clark.”
That international appeal could make Swords’ an even more exciting collecting prospect. With her game growing, her international profile rising, and her cards starting to heat up in the emerging women’s hoops Hobby, Swords has all the potential to become a global face for women’s basketball.
