The Rise of Women’s Sports Trading Cards in The Hobby

Celebrating Women on Cardboard

Date: Mar 10, 2026

Length: 1234 Words

Reading Time: ~7 Minutes

From 19th century tobacco cards to six-figure modern Superfractors, women have been part of the story of sports trading cards since the beginning, even if that presence was not always properly recognized. What began as promotional trade cards featuring pioneering athletes has grown into one of the most dynamic areas of The Hobby, fueled by cultural icons, record-breaking sales, and rising investment in women’s sports.

As visibility and opportunity have expanded on the field, representation in packs has followed, culminating in landmark releases that show just how far both the sport and the industry have come.

The 2024 Topps Series 2 Women in Baseball insert marked the first Topps subset dedicated entirely to women shaping the game. From 1887 tobacco cards to Serena Williams autographs and Bowman University Chrome Superfractors, women’s sports trading cards have evolved into a dynamic and fast-growing segment of The Hobby.

Women on Cardboard since 1887

By the late 19th century, many cigarette manufacturers were using trade cards as pack-stiffeners, often featuring images of athletes. A noteworthy example is from 1887, when cigarette company W.S. Kimball released a “Champions of Games and Sport” series featuring well-known female boxer Hattie Stewart.

Fast-forward over four decades and you’ll find one of the most iconic cards in women’s sports history, belonging to another absolute icon. Dominant multi-sport athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias won two Olympic gold medals and a silver in track, becoming the only athlete to win Olympic medals in running, throwing, and jumping events. She also won 10 LPGA majors as her celebrity grew throughout the ’40s and ’50s. For good measure, she even pitched four innings in MLB spring training games.

Her 1933 card was released by American chewing gum company Goudey and featured Babe in a hurdle stride. As part of its famous Sports Kings set, Goudey released her card alongside the likes of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Jim Thorpe.

Speaking of the baseball world, while the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which ran from 1943 to 1954 and was the subject of the Hollywood hit “A League of Their Own,” did not have cards released during its existence, multiple commemorative sets were released through the 1990s.

Early Female stars of The Hobby

It’s impossible to speak about the evolution of women’s sports trading cards without mentioning the influence of Sports Illustrated for Kids, which, beginning in 1989, included a page of nine perforated cards in each issue. These included an array of female athletes, such as USA soccer legend Mia Hamm, whose 1992 card is still highly sought-after, selling for $34,440 in 2021.

No female athlete had a stronger grip on the women’s sports trading card market than 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams. A card put out by S.I. for Kids 1999 was the first ever to showcase Williams, with a copy selling at auction for $117,000 in 2022.

Then there’s fellow tennis star Naomi Osaka, whose 2020 Topps Transcendent Tennis Hall of Fame Collection framed autograph card went for nearly $40,000 in 2021. Williams also appears in the 2008 Allen & Ginter set from Topps, which includes autographed copies. The print run was limited to 190 in total, with a Red parallel numbered to just 10.

Topps also documented the rise of gymnast Simone Biles, who made her Topps debut in 2016 in the U.S. Olympic Team set, including autographed versions and a Gold Rainbow one-of-one. The image of Biles biting her gold medal became iconic, capturing a defining moment as it happened.

The Modern Wave of Women in Sports Cards

As women’s achievements gained more attention across professional sports, their presence in mainstream card releases expanded as well. What began as individual appearances in multi-sport products steadily grew into something more intentional within Flagship baseball.

That shift became official in 2024 with the release of Topps Series 2 Baseball, which featured the first insert set in Flagship history devoted entirely to women in the game. Titled Women in Baseball, the five-card subset highlighted leaders shaping the sport at multiple levels.

The checklist included Alyssa Nakken, the first full-time female coach in Major League Baseball history; Ronnie Gajownik, manager of the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles; Rachel Folden, the first female coach in Chicago Cubs organizational history; ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza; and Veronica Alvarez, manager of the United States Women’s National Team.

Women have appeared in Flagship products before, but this marked the first time they were unified within a dedicated insert set inside a core baseball release. Rather than appearing sporadically across checklists, women in baseball were centered within the product itself, reflecting the broader transformation taking place across the sport and The Hobby.

A Women’s Basketball Sports Card Explosion

When it comes to women’s cards, the future is now — and history is being made in real time.

A few years back, Bowman University Chrome began releasing cards for basketball stars such as Aaliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, and of course, the supernova herself, Caitlin Clark. A cultural phenomenon, Clark’s 2022 Bowman Chrome University Superfractor first shattered the women’s basketball record when it sold for $78,000. And that was only the beginning.

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While Clark now holds top billing in the world of women’s trading cards, the increased attention she and the next wave of women in sports are generating should have a deep and lasting impact on the industry. With television deals improving, year-round media coverage elevating women’s sports, and global brands investing millions into female athletes, the card market is moving in step.

With Clark now established at the professional level, the likes of Bueckers and heir-apparent JuJu Watkins of USC should keep the momentum surging. Watkins made her debut in the 2022–23 Bowman Chrome University set, as well as in the 2023 Topps Chrome McDonald’s All-American set, both featuring autographed versions.

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Women Chart the Future in The Hobby

The trajectory is unmistakable. What was once a niche corner of The Hobby has become one of its most dynamic frontiers. From Serena Williams setting the benchmark to Caitlin Clark redefining it, women’s sports cards are no longer a side conversation.

They are shaping the Hobby in real time, and the next generation is only getting started.

Topps Women’s History Month FAQs

What is the 2024 Topps Women In Baseball insert?
- It’s a five-card subset in 2024 Topps Series 2 honoring Alyssa Nakken, Ronnie Gajownik, Rachel Foden, Jessica Mendoza, and Veronica Alvarez — the first Topps insert devoted entirely to women in professional baseball roles.
Who is The Hobby’s biggest female star today?
- Caitlin Clark.
Did the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League have trading cards?
- No official cards were produced during the league’s 1943–1954 run, but commemorative sets were issued in the 1990s.
Why are Sports Illustrated for Kids cards valuable?
- Many were perforated magazine inserts with low survival rates in high grade, making key rookie-era appearances — like Mia Hamm and Serena Williams — highly collectible.
Are women’s basketball cards increasing in value?
- Yes. Recent Bowman University Chrome releases featuring Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins have driven record-breaking sales and increased collector demand.