Welcome back, loyal listeners, of the Stacking Slabs Podcast Network to season three episode nine of the WMBA card podcast.

My name is Caitlin. I go by cold lunch cards on the Instagram machine, and I'm joined by my amazing cohost, Brett McGrath at stacking slabs.

And we're excited to deliver more collector driven and community focused content to your stereo, to your radio, to your headphones, to your AirPods, to wherever you're listening to us today.

We're so happy to have you along for the ride, and we're excited to get into it. Brett, how are you doing? I'm well. We had you know, podcasters deal with some technical difficulties.

We certainly dealt with that yesterday. So it's actually cool because Caitlin and I got a chance to just talk about, what's going on and stuff and then realized at the end of that conversation that we couldn't record.

So we're recording it a day later at an atypical time, but the energy is still high. We're in the it's the morning. I'm I'm getting the coffee going, but, yeah, I'm fired up.

I think this topic is a lot of fun to dig into, and maybe just spoiler alert. We'll just share it out of the gates. I wanna talk about the 2025 impeccable release. This will this will be launched on the heels of this podcast going live.

And I think we're we're gonna talk about WNBA impeccable, but I think it's really interesting to talk about it from the lens of this is the first impeccable WNBA set.

And what does that mean for collectors? Does it change anything for how we react or behave as this new product gets, distributed and ripped and breaks and put in local hobby shops and singles get posted everywhere?

So I think this will be fun chat. It's always cool to talk about new product. Absolutely. That's for sure. I'm excited to see, your opinion on the product, what you think it's gonna look like.

I think we've got more information now than we ever have before. So super excited to dig into what this release looks like. Before we tip-off, Brett, let's give a shout out to our sponsors today.

I wanna shout out Great Lakes Trading Cards Co in Saint Paul off Randolph, for being the official LCS of the WNBA card podcast and for their support throughout all of season three this year.

Shout out to our good friends at CarLadder for being the official data provider of the WNBA card podcast and of the other shows on the broader stacking slabs network.

We would not be able to do this without card ladder. 100%. Well, let's get into it, Brett. I'm getting anxious to start this.

Why don't you, start us off and start framing it framing up the conversation? You know, I Caitlin, we've spent so much time talking to each other before this episode, and I probably should have asked you this question off air.

But, in going through this format, I I'm wondering so we're gonna the the primary the reason why we're doing this is the topic and digging into, like, the psychology and implications, but I do wanna spend a little bit of time based on going through the sell sheet and everything, not line by line, but just getting our reactions to it.

So do you wanna, like, talk about how we feel about the product before we dive into the primary topic or just have that be a part of the conversation?

I'll I'll we'll just do this live and, figure out how you wanna do it, and we'll just go.

I think if we hit it off the bat at the top, I'm gonna get distracted by the links cards, and I'm just gonna start talking about links cards, which would be great if we were a links podcast.

And as much as I love the links, that's not what we are. So why don't we just weave it in? I've got plenty of opinions and things to say.

I'm sure there'll be no shortage, but, headline, spoiler, I love it. I love it a lot. So that's where I'll start. I okay. We're we're getting positive out of the gate, so we we love the product.

Yeah. I'll I'll share my thoughts as we kinda go along, but I think some important notes is that this is a brand new product, not to collectors, but a brand new product for WNBA collectors.

It is certainly a product, that and I'm talking about impeccable. It is a product that I'm very familiar with, although I've never really collected.

But the primary reason, obviously, we wanna support new products and talking about them, but I think it's interesting to talk about it from the first perspective.

And the hobby usually decides years later what matters, but we don't really get a chance to have this sort of conversation typically as new product is released.

I think we have done a, and every episode maybe talked about 2020 prism and WNBA because it was the first.

We've talked about 2019 Don Russ WNBA differently because it's the first. And now this is a new product. And so I want you all to understand we're not going into this, especially since we haven't even, like, seen the cards really.

We're not trying to, like although Caitlin's a fan already. We're not trying to decide, like, is impeccable good.

I think the question to be asked is, what does a first like this ask of a collector? So let's that's the stage setter, and Caitlin, I'll I'll let you react or respond to that. Big question, Brett. These are the hard questions.

Why can't it just be if I like it or not? Right? This is a good question. I think the two first things that kind of popped off the page in a good disclaimer here, like Brett said, is that we haven't seen these cards yet.

We've just seen the mock ups and the checklist. That's that's pretty much all we know about it.

And then we obviously have other sports impeccables to rely on sort of what we think it's gonna look like. But two things pop off the page for me right now, and that's the price and the configuration.

And so I think that the first off the line boxes were a Dutch auction style, which is always just something else. And they started at $4,000 and sold out around $2,000.

And to me, I think that's, like, a really hefty price tag, especially factoring in my second component that I just flagged, which was the configuration of the box. The configuration has nine cards per box.

So with that math, on the high end of the Dutch auction, we're looking at $444 a card. And on the low end, at $2,000 a box, we're looking at $222 a card. And don't forget that one third of those cards are base or base parallel cards.

So when we to to ask your quest or to answer your question of what does a first like this ask of a collector, I think Panini, the manufacturer, is asking us, the collectors, to trust the quality and the value despite the newness and the unfamiliarity with the product.

So that's kinda where I'm at in terms of, the framing of of what Panini is doing here. I think that's a really important context.

I think no matter how much we love this or it's really hard to justify that cost per card. And it's just a reminder of where we're at as a hobby, not just with WNBA products, but products in general.

And the way it is promoted and distributed to us in many instances through breakers who have margins or through repacks, and so stuff is going to be expensive because of that.

So that's really good context, and I wanna dig into kinda why first year premium products matter.

And I wanted to slow down and hit this product from that perspective. Mhmm. You know, we I certainly as I've matured as a collector, I have put more of a priority, whether it's WNBA or other categories I collect in first year products.

I think they especially if they're popular, especially if they have brand recognition, the first year will always matter.

And that's something that I think is fun to evaluate as we kinda get through go through this. So I think my question is kind of why collectors are wired to care about first, and I'm just gonna toss that out there.

But I also and maybe before you respond to that, I want to talk about this idea of, like, scarcity of context, which I think is something that's been on my mind a lot as new products are released.

And, I'm not going to get into this, but I have so many thoughts about 2526 Topps Chrome basketball that was just launched.

And scarcity of context is, like, top of mind for for me. And, really, that means the I'm looking at impeccable, and I'm I'm reading the branding.

I'm reading the sell sheet, and there is not a ton of context. And if I'm a casual WNBA collector, I just and and all I care about is WNBA cards and collecting.

I see impeccable. And I I have no idea on the surface, like, that's what where does this product sit within other products that Panini has produced?

I don't know by just looking at this that this is kind of the the it it says it, like, it's for the first time, but, like, what does that mean?

And so I that's some that's that's something I think as releases continue to pile up, something on the manufacturer side and, most importantly, the breaker side, because whether we like it or not, the breakers are the individuals who have access to this product and are opening it in front of a paying audience.

And they're Caitlin, I don't know if you do this, but, this actually happened last night.

I popped over just, oh, just a second. I was like, alright. I'll watch, like, I'll watch, like, a a box of Topps Chrome basketball being released just to understand.

And I'm I'm listening to these individuals breaking this product, fumbling through the names of the players, and not even giving any just just card card, and there's no context.

So it's a pan it's a pandemic in this hobby. We're losing context, and so I wanted to bubble that up, especially as we're talking about a new product, which you think looks cool, I think looks cool.

And I'll just go back to my question, I guess, back to you after I went on that, rant is just why collectors are wired to care about the first.

Love love the teeing up there, Brett, about scarcity of context. Just fully just underscore that completely.

And to elaborate sort of on your question, the term that I wanted to hit on, not scarcity of context, another term I wanted to hit on is called primacy, which for the definition for all you folks out there is the fact of being primary, preeminent, or more important.

So the reason why this this word kind of stuck out to me is because the first appearance of a certain set or a certain player or a certain insert or whatever the case or feature may be is so desired by collectors for the simple reason of it being the first, which is very obvious.

That that that is obvious. But to go one step deeper, I think the reason why that's in so important is the primacy effect, which is there will never be another first, only repetition following it up.

So the first card is really setting the stage for future cards that build that lineage, that legacy of a set or a parallel of a or a player or whatever insert, feature here.

I think that this idea of primacy is super important to call out because that's really the reason why a first year premium product matters and why collectors are drawn to it.

You're muted. I'm muted. It is, we're we're working at the kinks here, but we're all good. I I love the thought process and kinda thought exercise you went through there.

And I think it's also important to talk about the risk factor and just because something is a first year, especially when we're evaluating the this price point, how there's still a ton of risk.

And there's a ton of risk because there's opportunity for arbitrage because there's no comps, there's no history, there's really no shared expectations.

I, as a marketer, can just say, look at how great this autograph based product is. Look how shiny.

And undeniably, I'm looking at it right now. I'm looking at the Caitlin Clark. And when I think about impeccable, I think about these numbered cards. These this is a jersey number insert autograph set. Like, it looks great.

It does. 22 at the top. You've got Clark in the red jersey, which I love love it when the fever are wearing the reds, but you just got the color match going on in the on card auto go in the auto, and this is premium.

It it she's framed up. This card looks cool, but I have no context for how much or if it should matter.

And so I just think it's important to call out that there is always risk no matter if it's or it's I guess, especially when it's a first year product and you're you're really thinking about this. I completely agree.

It's that's the scary part about these first year products is that it kinda makes you second guess your preferences because there's no collective to lean back on and rely on for opinion to say, hey, collector a through z over here.

Do you guys think that this is worth money? It's really up to you, at that point when there's no comps or no history or no no context, like you said. It's a it's a scary part, but it can also be exciting.

That that can also be the opportunity zone as well. Can I put you on the hot seat a little bit? Oh, god. Okay. So, let's run a hypothetical. And we're going back to and we wanna give opportunity share cards.

And you may mention you definitely wanted this card to hit, but this Lisa Leslie timeless moments card, I I love this idea. I love highlighting, and this is our first dunk or the first dunk in WNBA history.

And we went and looked back, and there are some players that you like that have timeless moments. Now let's say the fee, is up for auction or maybe it's available via buy it now, but no other one sold.

And let's say it's here here's the question back to you. We don't know the timeless moment yet because we haven't seen it, but but Fi's timeless moment, what would you want it to be?

Well, as much as the finals was tough against the Liberty, I think that she had, I think, a 40 game at some point either leading up to that or going into that, which was just like a incredible moment.

Like, I remember sitting there and being like, give me your best. You know, that's that's my opinion of Fi in general is, like, give me your best on any given day.

My best could square up with her. And so, maybe it's gonna be one of those games. But depending on the moment, that also brings up some fresh wounds that still haven't quite healed.

So I guess we'll see. But, either way, to go to the point too about if it's sitting there and there's no other sales, there's nothing no history, I'm gonna I'm gonna try to exercise patients.

I think that's always, like, what I lean back on when I'm like, I don't know.

If it's not an immediate, oh my god. This is a steal, typically, I tend to take a step back because there unless it's a one of one, there's going to be another one that pops up. I just don't need to rush it.

But that's kinda where I'm at, and depending on the moment that the scales might tip one way or the other. So perfect. I love it. That's exactly where I wanted to get to. But also I wanna let let let's put the other shoe on.

These cards also where there's risk, there might be opportunity. So what happens if that timeless moment, the first fee that comes out is the lowest selling card and then you're playing from behind?

Like, I think there we can talk about risk, but we can also talk about opportunity. Like, how do you navigate that? Oh, it's tough. I mean, you can't live with regret in collecting.

I truly believe that because, otherwise, like, what are you doing? You gotta go for it. And so if if if the fee comes out, there's one on eBay, say it sells for 50% of the next one, I'm gonna be kicking myself.

But, that means I just gotta pay up. And I I'm kind of over the idea of having me to get a great deal on every single card because I just love these cards.

And, like like, we're hitting on there, depending on the moment, this might be a card that I deem completely necessary for my fee six pack, in which case, the price of the of the last sold really doesn't matter.

It just matters the price of the one that's going into my collection.

And I think that's really the beautiful moments that you get in these first year products, these opportunity zones about saying to yourself, I don't really care what the market has to say or what the market is going to say per se.

I feel connected to this card for some reason, like a timeless moment that brings me back to, like, peak of Minnesota Lynx fandom.

You know? That moment where the market noise doesn't really influence you and you get to sit in the pureness of your own opinions and whether or not you believe it's something that's collectible.

I think that silent environment absent of that market noise is something that really returns me to why I collect in the first place, and it's really fun.

It's just a little scary too, and that's okay. Good breakdown. I also as we move on, we're gonna move over to kind of product breakdown through collector lens.

But as you were talking and I was thinking about timeless moments, and I looked at the the checklist, and I was just like, man, there's so many cool things they could do.

What if the timeless moment is Nafissa Collier talking shit to Kathy? Just sit there. $1,000,000 offer.

Are you kidding me? No. I don't have that kind of money. But, like, if I was the person that was, like, bounty person, you know, how people put outrageous bounties, I'd be like, give me like, I'll put down everything for that.

That would be, like, in front of the mic, horizontal. Yes. Oh my god. I would that would be automatically, like, probably my favorite fee card of all.

There's so many I can still hear her words, like, in my brain and certainly one of in in just such despair and defeat, like, such a cool moment in WNBA history.

They're obviously not gonna select that, but they should. But they should. And, you know, that that could be a difference. Remember on a past episode, we we talked about the licensing of being WNBA versus WNBA?

Yes. Maybe the PA would authorize a card like that, but the league would not. So if the PA is listening, this should be first priority in the CBA is to pencil in a a timeless moments auto fee shitting on Kathy, on the podium.

I mean, last season, the with between the attire, there there was so many moment. They could create create a whole insert set of moments. Oh my god. Timeless moments of Kathy in the New York skyline dress at the finals.

Yes, Brett. You need to be on, like, the creative directory for this. They don't they don't want me. Alright. Let's talk about the product breakdown. I wanna talk about, yeah, just some some questions here.

The the first maybe just digging into, like, aesthetics, design. We've we've shared that the product we believe looks good, although we haven't seen it, like, outside of the sell sheet.

But do you think Impeccable looks like a a flagship product? Hard question. I don't wanna, like, ruffle too many feathers here, so I will go with my default answer of yes and no of the gray area, because that's my favorite answer.

Yes, because I think the quality looks great. The cardboard looks great based on what I know from impeccable and other categories.

It's a really high quality design, and it features really highly desirable things like on card autographs and sometimes even game use jerseys or things like that. I think that that is representative of a flagship product.

On the other side of that coin, my answer for no is simply because when I looked at this product for the first time, it had inklings and, you know, similarities to origins, in its design.

Just simply looking at it, there's a lot of, like, canvas design elements or splashes or kinda like that paint look.

And for that reason, it doesn't feel brand new or innovative to me because I can see the parallel between Origins and Impeccable.

But if in if Origins didn't exist, I think it'd be an immediate yes with not really a lot of qualifications from from my perspective on, whether or not it looks like a flagship. Okay.

We'll move over to flagship to, timeless. Do you think it looks timeless or time stamped? I would I'll lean timeless here. One way I wrote down one way that I differentiate kind of a vibe in a set, and there's no good definition there.

But just the vibe of a set is how they use a background. And so some sets, what I mean by this is some sets kind of lean into the full realism, just a photograph with hardwood floors, fans in the stands.

You can see the coach yelling at them, other players in the frame, while others, like Impeccable, strip all of that noise away and make the player the clear focal point, usually with a more artistic or photoshopped design.

So like on that Angel Reese you were showing, you can see that completely. There's no you can't tell she's in a stadium, you know, she could be anywhere.

And to me, I think that's kind of like a sign of a timeless card or like this Maya Moore that you're showing. It doesn't look like she's on the court. It doesn't look like it's just her.

And to me, you know, based on these preview images that we're seeing, especially these these base cards like this, impeccable falls into that timeless because there's no background image to anchor you to a specific season, a specific moment, and that that kinda transcends time to me.

Yeah. I interesting observation, and I love it.

I look at this Maya Moore base card, and you if you were just looking through cards, you would not know that, and you were maybe didn't have the context. You wouldn't know that Maya Moore wasn't, like, an active WMC.

Exactly. Which I think is is kind of fun. Me too. I agree. Okay. So back to design before we talk about autos and relics, I can't help but think about our conversation about the Rebecca Lobo and that medical card.

It just it that card is burning my brain because of what you said and, like, it just speaks to that era.

Yeah. Do you think the design and the way these cards are structured do you think the design will age well if the WNBA hobby continues to multiply, like, five, ten years from now?

I think, first of all, say who's to say? I can't see the future. But I think that this the success of the design aging well really relies on the rookie class that's going to elevate it.

So if people I tend to, like, throw out examples that people use all the time. 2017, prison football, you think of Patrick Mahomes. 2018, prison basketball, you think of Luka Doncic.

If Paige if Paige is a MVP level caliber, which I fully believe at some point, she is, will be. I think this product could be elevated and age well because people are gonna tie it back to this rookie class and how monumental it was.

I don't think the design itself, while I like it, while I classified it as timeless and at least flagship leaning, I don't think the design itself screams to me, oh my god, 2025.

Look at this. Like, whereas the '97 Lobo really screamed nineties to me. But who's to say? I mean, really, who's to say?

I I'll wait and see how it goes. I hope I hope it ages well because I think it looks great. We're we'll take a a thirty second, commercial break to to ask you a question nonrelated to this, but it popped up in the number.

And what, you we're seeing the USA basketball team, like, there's clips going on. Any any like, what's one takeaway so far from seeing everything that the Internet has produced?

Oh, I like, AB's comments about the young and or AB and, Paige talking about young and turret versus the old players and how, the young players are just pushing the court as fast as possible at the pace that they can and making fun of the the vets.

And I find that camaraderie to be a good sign for odds of winning a gold medal.

Oh. And shows that our league is in good hands of players that aren't too, I don't know. They're they're relaxed. They're tied into the the entire ecosystem of players, and that the the older players are excited about this new wave.

I think it's an indication of where USA Basketball is headed, and I think it's in good hands. What a what a great take. Lookout World is all I have to say.

It is going to be ugly. The the the I had the exact same chat or thought. The fact that you've got this perfect blend and mix of old vet and up and coming, and everyone's so good, and everyone likes each other as it appears.

And I'm just like, if they're already disconnected and the chemistry's this high and they're joking and they're making these plays, like, I just I was watching clips and just, like it's so funny to see, like, these dudes who they're playing against, and they're just, like, destroying them.

This is this is gonna be fun to watch.

Absolutely. I I will say, like, a little shout out just because The USA isn't the only team. The French team is starting to shape out too. I think they could they're gonna be our biggest competitor like usual.

Yeah. Well, you I mean, you're a pro malonga. You gotta get that in any Yeah. From a long ago, Johannes, it just has to happen. I'll I'll be rooting for them up until they play us for sure.

Yes. I my only comment is, damn, it's good to see Caitlin Clark back on the floor. It's just I'm like, just clips for days. I'm like, oh, man. I didn't have you for, like, a full season.

And you're in The U you're not in the fever jersey, but you're in The U the next best thing or maybe the best thing in The USA jersey, and I just I'm, like, watching the clips, and I'm just like, how do I get a Caitlin Clark USA card?

Like, that's what I want. So I sidetracked us.

Panini, if you're listening, like, I don't know if you have control or not, but I don't know if you're listening. But get get those make sure you integrate those cards and autographs and memorabilia in USA gear in some sort of product.

We we want that. Oh, yeah. For sure. I mean, you got it in the NBA. Why not in the WNBA? 100%. Alright. Autos. When I think about this product, always outside of WNBA, but just in general, I think about this in as an autograph product.

If you like autographs, like on card autographs, my preference is always, like, autographs on this type of service as opposed to a chromium surface. So, like, that's what stands out to me about this.

I think, would do you know anything about the patches, like Gameborn or anything? Let's manifest Gameborn, but I have no idea. I like let's hope based on the price point that Yeah. Gameborn.

Right? I mean, come on. I I think that's a a big factor and variable here in my opinion of this product, to be honest, is if those are just, like, straight off the rack from Dick's Sporting Goods, I'm gonna be a little disappointed.

I'm tending to think that's what we're gonna get, but if it's not, we're gonna have to do, like, a part two because that enters, like, a whole another conversation.

So regardless, they look good on card autos. That's a win for WNBA collectors. So do you think this product is elevating WNBA cardboard or borrowing prestige from the I think elevating.

I I think that, like, on card autos will focus on that and then just, like, toggle between if they're gonna be game worn or not. Just throw that let's just, like, focus on the on card autos.

I think that's a feature that collectors need. It's not like a luxury or something that, like, you should be grateful for. I think we need on card autos. I think they're fundamentally sound.

I think that supplying the market with those on card autos, which are consistently, you know, high quality cards, is what allows WNBA cards to mature and to accurately reflect value in the marketplace.

So I think that having those high end premium features within is definitely elevating WNBA cardboard because you're giving it kind of the respect that it deserves. Yeah. I I'm I don't have any opposition to that.

I think that this is an interesting product always for me, and I've never really collected Impeccable. Obviously, never in WNBA because this is the first release, but just generally, it has found its way in my other collecting lanes.

But I always view this product as an insert first product, which is, like, the only product I can think about that based on just the jersey number insert, based on timeless moments.

I I'm less interested, which I'm always more interested in the base stuff, but I'm more interested in the, insert side most notably because of the on card auto.

So when you're evaluating kind of the inserts and the parallels from this, I don't know. Like, what what how what are your what are your feelings? What are your reactions to to just, like, the sell sheet and and what you're seeing?

I'm excited about it. I think when we take a step back and look at checklists in general, not just in the WNBA, not just in impeccable, just across the board, we could, like, probably go without, like, 90% of inserts.

Like, I I don't think that's, like, a far reach.

I think a lot of them are there and designed, quickly to fill up a box, and there's not as much thought put into them as, say, back in the day when, you know, inserts were the chase as opposed to the autos and the relics and the patches, etcetera.

But I think that there are a few inserts, ultramodern, modern, etcetera, that do stand out from that sea of inserts.

And I think that impeccable does a really good job. I mean, I feel like my collecting habits have been captured by the idea of this timeless moment set.

I feel fixated on it. I feel like I need it. And I've never felt like that in football, basketball, or any of the other lanes I collect. That was never something that, was flagged for me. It was never something that got me excited.

And then I thought about, you know, Maya Moore. Then I thought about Mafisa Collier. Then I thought about Lisa Leslie's first dunk in the league. And I thought to myself, that's a memory put into a card.

Like, that's something that I can look back on and feel like it's memorable quite literally. And for that, I think I'm excited about it, but I don't know how to feel about how many. There's a lot of inserts in every set these days.

It's about distilling that down into what speaks to you. And to me, I found one that that does speak to me. Yeah. So timeless moments. We'll just hit this one. We don't have time to highlight everyone, but I there's 18 cards.

You're going to have golds out of 49. Some of the players on the checklist don't have a gold, which is interesting. You've got hollow silvers, 25 or fewer. You've got hollow golds, which are out of 10, and then the platinums out of one.

Oh god. There's a one of one? Yeah. Yeah. There's a one of one. So based on the checklist and what you see, gosh. There's so many I mean, you're getting every you're getting everybody.

Literally, like, every maybe not everyone, but I'm I'm interested in the Caitlin Clark, obviously, which will be crazy, but I think the checklist is really good highlight, you know, between past and present.

I completely agree. I think there's a good mix here of legends and then, like, current stars, and I'm excited to see two links in there personally.

That that gets me excited. That's something that, like yeah. I I just feel good about that. I want it. And for that reason, I think, like, the insert driven aspect of this of this, product is something that I'm personally excited for.

Shout out, new collector's company Beckett. I don't know if you heard the news, but I was look part of our resources were using Beckett, and I had never noticed this, and maybe this is new or maybe I've just been living under a rock.

But they have under the tabs, they have team sets.

You literally can pick your team, which I just picked the fever here, and they will just break put everything consolidated, all the base, all the inserts, all the autos, all into one frame.

So if you're a team collector, it's an easy resource to figure out what you need to go for. Yeah. This is a life changing feature for me.

So thanks for introducing this to me, Brett, because I'm excited. I'm gonna spend some some time on the links page for sure. Awesome. So I think the core debate we have is to kinda sit out or step in.

And, Caitlin, like these always do, it's like, now because we've talked about it, I'm way more interested. So there's the there's the path one. Right? Be patient. Let prices stabilize. Let the market pick its favorite.

See where things fall. Buy with clarity instead of excitement. There's path two, which is participation. It's the easy one to do. Right? Just accept the premium of being early, chase cards, own the risk of avoiding it. I don't know.

Like, what do you I know you've kind of indicated you're more of a, like, sit back and wait and be patient, but it does it based on us kinda going through this exercise, are you thinking about anything differently about your approach?

Yes. I am. And so you were correct, and I think I've previewed this in many episodes about kind of my tendency to sit out and let things play out before I dive in.

But I think well, in learning live on this podcast that there's a one of one, parallel to those timeless moments.

There's no sitting out of one of ones. And so You need it. Yeah. Exactly. So that's like a problem in terms of trying to sit out, because if I sit out, I I lose it and I don't get it.

So in one way, I'm gonna pick the path that I usually do, which is to try to be patient, try to exercise restraint, try to be methodical in picking up cards that I'm excited about, and to grow the anticipation.

That's also a fun part of sitting out is that you get to really flush out your feelings about them and figure out, okay. Am I am I being blinded by the hype, or do I really like this?

And by giving yourself that little extra cushion, you can make better informed decisions. But, I don't think I really need a lot of cushion to figure out I need the one of one, timeless moments of either Fi and Maya.

And so, we'll see. That that's kinda one of those things where I think it's either step in I mean, like, shit off shit or get off the pot type of thing.

I love it. I am I am I'll tell you how how crazy I would get, and granted this is probably completely outside my budget or would blow up my collection.

But if I could select a a Caitlin Clark timeless moment, I would select her. This is the most, like I think this is the most impressive thing she's done.

She she's been in the league is in a rookie season breaking the assist record. And it was against the the aces, I think. That would be my selection, like, commemorating that moment. And then because it's just so historical.

It's like, to to your rookie year to break the assist record. And I think about the one of one, and I just think about the on card autograph. I obviously, I don't know if that's the moment, but that would be my moment.

But I'd just be I was like I might say I'm gonna sit out, but if that's the that if that's it, like, I'm I'm gonna be doing some crazy things to try to lock that down.

Yeah. That's the thing about these cards. It's it's really capturing the hearts and minds of at least of us two in that it gets you closer to the players and the teams that you love, and that's, like, so exciting.

That's why we're doing it. You know? So I'm just excited about So who's the product for? We we knew we talked about rookie royalty not being for us or for collectors.

Is who's this product for? I think it can be for anybody. But with the caveat of that $4 starting price tag and the $2, ending price tag, that's a lot of money. And that ain't marketed to me. I tell you that much. That is not for me.

So, I think that the secondary market product of this product is for everybody, but the ripping is definitely for the breakers and for the people participating in those breaks just simply because of the high price tag.

I think we're gonna see a lot of, crazy hits, from these big breakers on whatever platform they're on. So I would say that while I while I think, like, the cards are for me, I don't know if the product is.

Yeah. I would so this comes out right before Christmas, the twenty third. I will say this to everyone, and I always say this on new releases.

If you're participating, you're buying cards, and you wanna share, like, we would love to see what you're collecting and what you're and what you're you're you're pulling or what however you're getting these cards.

So we'd love to see them. So tag us at WNBA card pod. We will repost all of those. But I think it's at the end of the day, this is a lot of fun.

Like, this where we need to talk about a new new first year debut product, I think this product is going to get collectors very, very excited. Collectors love on card autographs.

And for the most part, it from a debut perspective through my analysis of the checklist, the way it's orchestrated, I I I would say Panini has done a really good job at the framing of of what we're seeing here.

So glad we could spend kind of an episode talking about this new product, and it'll be fun to see released. Absolutely. I can't wait to see what people get.

Like Brett said, if you get anything, share it with us, and we'll be happy to repost and comment because, this is the stuff we get excited about for sure. Alright. We're moving over to the one card that sold this week.

Shout out to our good friends at card ladder. This is coming from card ladder. I saw this sale, and it is of 2011 Rittenhouse Diana Taurasi PSA 10 autograph. It sold via best offer for $500.

And the reason why I wanted to bring up this card, Caitlin, is because it is the highest selling copy of this card. The last sale was in 11/03/2024 for $349. 99, and then, you know, a a year and a month later, it sold for $500.

I I see $500 on card Diana Taurasi autograph, and it's instantly, like and, obviously, these sales were happening while while she was playing, but I'm just like, man, these still seem as and in a PSA 10.

This the these feel within reach, and there feels like there's some value there. So that's why I thought the card was cool. And we haven't talked about Terraci in a while, and we're we're here to keep the memory alive and the Oh, yeah.

Alive, and let's do it through cardboard. Absolutely. I mean, this is an awesome card. I think the first thing I noticed was the image, for our Patreon viewers, you'll be able to see it.

But for folks listening on audio, DT is smiling. She got her hands in her hips, probably smirking at her rep as she gets teed up or something.

And that's kinda like my first reaction to the card is the design and, like, how it brings me back to the Rittenhouse era, brings me back to early terrazzi. And that's, I think, where the value comes in.

Like, you were talking about the price seems great, especially compared to previous comps. And it feels like the far the more far out we go up with DT and GOATS or Rittenhouse, etcetera, the more important these become condition wise.

And so to see it in a PSA 10, is awesome. I congrats to whoever bought this. I think it's an awesome card. Certainly is. Did you pick up anything this week? You know what, guys?

I did. And it's nothing too exciting, but I did pick up a couple cards. I am starting to re rebuy, some of my stuff for my March and April show in Minnesota because at some point, I have to buy some cars if I'm gonna set up.

And so I've been buying I bought a Mikaela Blake's blue reptilian out of one fifty. I bought a Sarah Strong aqua wave out of February, and then three silos swords numbered. It's all, Bowman you first.

Those are the three players that I'm kinda focusing on right now. I don't I probably shouldn't be sharing that if I think that they're, like, my strategy, but that that's who I like. You've already shared a lot of them. Yeah.

I I like them, and these the the design, it's my favorite. Bowman Yew design is the most recent one. I think it looks really clean. I love the colors, and these are all firsts of these young up and coming players. So I picked those up.

What about you? Did you pick anything up? No. I'm I'm in somewhat of a a spending freeze based on some bigger purchases that I've I've I've made. So I'm still looking very much, but I'll say this about the Bowman stuff.

Do doing what you're doing, like, getting involved, and even if it's buying these cards knowing you're not holding them forever, I there is so much opportunity with Bowman Yu to have fun, to just, like, do another flavor of the hobby, to buy into these cards, to follow these players, and it's you're not breaking the bank.

And there's obviously different levels based on parallel, but it all works the same.

And Caitlin and I have been doing content for a while now, and we're always Caitlin is always buying this stuff for shows and then before the tournament. And I just think it's a fun way to participate.

And it's totally cool, and it's it's just it's buying into these young players' stock, but then you're also getting to have some vested interest in how Yeah. On the floor. So I love that. Yeah. It's it's fun.

I'd suggest for anybody that's look like, if they feel like they're in a bit of a drought in their PC, but they still wanna be engaged, There's nothing I recommend more than going to your local show and saying, do you have any value boxes of Bowman Yu?

And just digging because half of them don't even know who these people are.

So you can find some really good prices, and then you have some motivation to tune into the games before the tournament and feel like you kind of bought into the story line.

And that's the part I really enjoy is is saying to myself, okay. I believe in these players. I think they're gonna make a run. I think that they're gonna be top draft picks and having some sort of financial stake in that going well.

I think it's just a fun way to engage in the hobby, especially through dry spells of buying for PC stuff. Shout out our collector spotlight for the week. Yeah. Let's do it. So, I'll back here. I gotta follow back. Period. Love it. Okay.

So our collector of the week is Kelsey @k. adubcards on Instagram. ShePC is DT. I know we talked about DT. Sue Bird and Kelsey Mitchell. So as you scroll through their feed, Brett's pulling up. Brett, what do you think about this card?

Tell me about I'm a I say, what a mix of players. Like, I love all of the players that Kelsey collects, so I'm certainly interested in the car that we're showing here is her Concourse Select Gold vinyl one of one.

So I'm I'm into this I'm into this collection already. Absolutely. This is a fun one. If you guys don't follow Kelsey on Instagram, there's some sprinklings of other stuff in there as well.

But a Kelsey Mitchell superfan, it appears, for Kelsey, which is super cool. Awesome. Everyone go follow Kelsey at k dot a dubs cards. Beautiful. Alright, Brett. Should we move into q and a this week? Let's do it.

Alright. So this week, we've got questions from you to I, or I to you, I suppose. And so I'm excited. I've I've drafted two questions for us, today. We'll we'll kick it off. They're kind of they're kind of, hot takes, Brett.

So question number one. Pick your unrivaled team and tell me why you picked them and if it changed from last year and why that change happened. So there's, like, four questions embedded in that one. Yeah.

So last year, I definitely I thought I was going to be very I thought I was going to select sides, but I was so enamored by the the unrivaled product that I just was, like, very, partisan. I I just kinda I wanted to watch entertainment.

I wasn't necessarily cheering for anyone, although there were, like, players that I liked on teams. I just kinda watched from afar. This year, there's a reset, and the reset is an allegiance that I have.

And it's because we have two players playing together that I adore. And seeing this together, right when I saw the teams, I just was like, this is my squad, and what better way to do it than an expansion team.

So I'm team hive, Caitlin. I'm team hive. You've got Sonia Citron and Kelsey Mitchell on the same squad. God. That's all I that's all that's all I'm saying.

So I will be pulling for the hives, Saniya Rivers, Natisha Heidemann. Like, they've got some very, very likable players, and I'm like, this is my squad. And who doesn't like a a franchise or an expansion team to get behind?

So I'm I'm team hive all day. I'm excited for you, Brett, and I'm excited for the state of Indiana to have the hive with Kelsey Mitchell and Sonya Stuttron. I feel like that's gonna be the number one fan base that's drawn.

And I also like their jerseys a lot. I I find it fun, and it makes it, like, even more fun when you're into the aesthetics and the branding. And I think Unrivaled is doing a good job at that.

So, I'm excited to see how your hive do, Brett. I got just a question for you. Tell me if you're watching this. Are you watching an Leticia Heidemann stream with the main character being Sonia Citron? Absolutely.

Absolutely. That's that's content right there. That is, like, a plus content, and they're gonna do it. Like, it's gonna happen. It's gonna be, yeah, it's gonna be all star weekend all season long. It'll be something else for sure.

Yeah. I mean, I think it's obvious who your squad is, but in in case you wanna talk a little bit more, go for it. Yeah. To to nobody's surprise, I'm sticking with my Lunar Owls because of one reason, Visa Collier.

No change from last year because he is still on the same team. So, obviously, gotta go with with the champ there for sure. Okay. Question number two.

I kinda previewed that I'm getting into the college basketball more these days as the season ramps up, but we're kind of in the slump of college ball because of finals week because these are students, and I guess they have to take tests.

But it'll quickly ramp up into the new year with conference play and more competitive games.

But I wanna hear your way too early final four. This took me a second, and I I moved some pieces around. And I kept, like, going back to picking, like, the teams that everyone expected.

I was like, I I gotta be a little bit creative, but there's some of that. So I think, if you ask this question to anybody and they don't have Yukon on their list, like, that's a problem.

Defending camps, they're loaded. They're undefeated. Also, like, another powerhouse who's just playing very well, who I think has longevity in his tournament ready is is Texas.

So I'm gonna have Texas. Then, of course, you know, I've gotta put I've gotta go home right here. I gotta put Notre Dame on my list. So I'm picking put Notre Dame. And then you you have I'm drinking your Kool Aid.

I'm putting Vanderbilt on the list. Yeah. I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm all in. You've sold me on Mikaela Blake's. They are crushing it. They play great ball. So it's it's players, and we're saying I'm I'm bought into it.

We're saying, Vandy will make it to the final four. Wow. Brett, we only have one in common. Really? Really. Look at your list. Really. I was shocked when you were rattling these off. Okay.

So I will re You have Yukon. Right? Yeah. Of what if Yukon was not the one I picked? Yeah. Of course. Yukon, I have as running the table up until tournament, which we've seen go either way with the Huskies when they come in undefeated.

Sometimes it goes well. Other times they get bounced. But, like, I think they're the clear number one without question. My number two, Brett, is the Michigan Wolverines because Dial of swords.

Isle of swords. And so you're bought into the Mikayla Blakes. What I am too, but it's kinda like Mikayla Blakes and and who else? Whereas Michigan has some some ballers including Minnesota's very own Olivia Olson.

And I think that Michigan Michigan had a matchup between Michigan and Yukon, and they're really the only team that has challenged Yukon this season, like, to an actual degree of of competitiveness.

And so for that reason, I think they're playing a good schedule. They've got players that are, I'm hoping, gonna hit the stride at the correct time going into March, and I just think their ceiling is so high.

So my second pick is Michigan. My third pick is UCLA, is UCLA. I think that Lauren Betts and Gabriela Haquez are really good. They've got some other people on that team that are incredible.

I I I'll say this, my way too early, up and coming player is Lauren Brett's Lauren Betts' little sister, who recently made her appearance on the court with Lauren Betts, which is why she stayed and did not go to the draft.

I think that team is loaded. They're playing really well, but we'll see. And then my fourth team is South Carolina. I just don't think I'd it's like it just doesn't make sense to not put Don Staley in there.

It doesn't really matter if you know the players names or not that it's like 10 all Americans every single year no matter what. And to me, that talent is is gonna supersede any of the potential of other teams.

So I got Yukon, Michigan, UCLA, and South Carolina, and Brett's got Yukon, Texas, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt. That's right. We'll have to we'll see we'll have to go back to that list.

South Carolina was my first team out. I I they were, like, on all my lists, and I was like, I just I'll I'll be a little more, creative and pick maybe someone with less of a chance.

But, yeah, hard to deny South Carolina. I will say, based on your list, I got a chance to see Michigan and UCLA play last year when they were in town for the big ten tournament.

And both squads last year looked really good, and they're both certainly, especially with the profile of talent and players on their team tournament ready, also well coached as well. So Yeah.

It's getting me excited for college ball. I'm excited to watch some some hoops, including unrivaled, hopefully, in the new year. But it just feels good to have basketball on the TV for new products to be hopefully coming out soon.

And, I'm just excited, Brett. This episode was fun. I appreciate everybody sticking around, and, we'll see you guys at the next episode.