Here Comes the Paige Bueckers WNBA Era
If all goes as wildly predicted, Paige Bueckers will be the first name off the board during the 2025 WNBA Draft April 14. And just seconds later, she’ll stand at the podium holding her Dallas Wings jersey alongside WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, while the photo for her first WNBA-licensed card will be snapped.
Shortly thereafter, Bueckers’ Panini Instant Draft Night card will be available for purchase on Panini’s website. Along with the release will come parallels serial-numbered to varying scarcities. Last year, Caitlin Clark’s 2024 Panini Draft Night base card sold an eye-popping 45,316 copies. But because it marked the historic night Clark joined the league, and because it was the guard’s first WNBA card, it remains a favorite target in the secondary market.
Bueckers led UConn to the school’s 12th NCAA National Championship (and first since 2016) with an 82-59 win over defending champion South Carolina in the women’s title game April 6.
The WNBA Draft is April 14 in New York City.
The draft lost a big name when Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles, the projected No. 2 overall pick, announced she would forgo the draft and return to college (although she has entered the transfer portal). Other projected lottery picks made the same call: Flau’Jae Johnson of LSU, UCLA center Lauren Betts, Florida State guard Ta’Niya Latson and Bueckers’ UConn teammate Azzi Fudd.
Bueckers is the third women’s basketball players to sign an exclusive with Panini, joining Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Although not yet confirmed, it’s believed the first pack product with Bueckers RCs will be a Donruss release.
Here are five popular pre-WNBA cards of the soon-to-be rookie.
Top 5 Early Paige Bueckers Cards
1. 2023-24 Bowman Chrome University Prospect Autographs Paige Bueckers #BCPA-PB /250
What’s not to love? Limited to 250 serial-numbered copies and among the UConn guard’s earliest basketball card signatures, Bowman U has gained a loyal following because of collectability and relative affordability. Some college cards lose luster after a player turns pro and reaches the highest level, but these Refractor autographs are one of Buecker’s key cards.
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2. 2023-24 Bowman U Now March Madness Autographs Paige Bueckers #3A /99
This online-exclusive released to commemorate Bueckers and the Huskies reaching the 2024 NCAA National Championship. UConn lost to Iowa and Caitlin Clark 81-79 in the Final Four. This falls in the neighborhood of $200-$400 as we approach the draft.
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3. 2024-25 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Legacy Signatures Paige Bueckers #LS-BUE
A redemption in 2024 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Basketball packs, Bueckers must have gotten her signatures done and back to Panini in a timely manner as the company began sending out the autographed cards weeks before the start of March Madness, a quick turnaround as far as redemptions go.
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4. 2023-24 Bowman Chrome University Refractors Paige Bueckers #90
Buecker’s “1st Bowman” card was pulled from packs as the guard was returning to the UConn lineup after missing an entire season (2022-23) when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee in August 2022. That came just nine months after she suffered a tibial plateau and torn meniscus in that same left knee in December 2021.
This card isn’t scarce – most Bowman Chrome products are produced in large quantities – but Topps’ Refractors and Panini’s Prizms are still among the most popular parallells in the industry. There are also other parallels if that is your thing.
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5. 2023 Bowman U Now March Madness Dual Autographs #DABC Caitlin Clark/Paige Bueckers #DABC /49
This one isn’t for the faint of heart considering it will cost several thousand dollars, which eliminates most of us mere mortals. But what a great card of two of college basketball’s best players the last two seasons. There is a version #’d/25, but this one #’d/49 would suit us just fine.
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