CGC-certified Caitlin Clark SLAM Magazine Issue Sets Record in Auction

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark just can't miss these days, as she continues to astound on and off the court. The Indiana Fever guard once again is making the news for breaking another record: In May 2025, Goldin Auctions offered a SLAM #249 Caitlin Clark cover graded CGC 9.9, which is the single-highest-graded example of this particular magazine issue. The coveted high-grade issue realized $4,819, setting a new record for the highest amount ever paid for an issue of SLAM magazine.

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SLAM issue #249 from April/May 2024 was the first time Clark graced the front cover of the basketball magazine. She is seen wearing her Iowa Hawkeyes jersey, with the headline reading, "The Legend of Caitlin Clark Is Just Beginning." In the last year, it has become one of the many sought-after collectibles tied to Clark and her impressive basketball career.

Debut issues are always popular with collectors and SLAM magazine submissions continue to increase. CGC has certified and graded more than 250 copies of SLAM #249, with more than 150 of the magazines earning grades of CGC 9.8. However, this is the sole SLAM #249 that earned a grade of CGC 9.9, and it is one of only around 10 magazines of any kind to earn the CGC 9.9 grade.

This isn't the first CGC-certified Clark collectible to break records at auction. In September 2024, a 2024-25 Panini Instant WNBA Draft Night Autographs #DN-1 Caitlin Clark - Blue Viper 1-of-1 certified CGC Authentic sold for $84,000 on Fanatics Collect, which was a record for any women's basketball card at the time of the auction. Neither the basketball world nor the collecting world has seen this type of interest in a female athlete on and off the court until Clark, as she single-handedly has changed the way fans and collectors pay attention to women's basketball and their collectibles.

Clark recently returned to the Indiana Fever lineup after a short injury stint that kept her out of five games. To no one's surprise, she immediately made waves in her first game back against last season's champions: the New York Liberty. In a series of plays that lasted only 38 seconds and had the whole sports world talking the next morning, Clark drained three deep 3-pointers in a row on the way to a 102-88 victory. When Clark plays, there are few modern athletes who garner the attention in American sports the way she does.

Clark first started getting wide recognition during her college years at the University of Iowa. Her Stephen Curry-like penchant for hitting 3-pointers with ease helped capture the attention of sports fans around the globe, as she went on to break numerous collegiate records.

She broke the NCAA's all-time scoring record (3,951 points), the women's NCAA records in 3-pointers made (548) and more before being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. During her rookie season, Clark earned her first All-Star selection, her first All-WNBA First Team selection, made the WNBA All-Rookie Team, was the WNBA assists leader for the 2024 season and was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Related Links:

• CGC-authenticated Caitlin Clark Rookie Card Sells for Record $84,000 through Fanatics Collect
• CGC Cards Proudly Grades the Women on Topps Collection