Someone Spent $10,000 For A Caitlin Clark Rookie Card Yesterday

If you don't think people are willing to spend big bucks on Caitlin Clark, think again.

An anonymous bidder dropped $10,000 yesterday to acquire a rare one-of-one, autographed Clark Rookie card after it went on sale via her new licensing deal with Panini trading card and memorabilia company.

Meanwhile, I'm over here complaining that Taco Bell $1 tacos aren't available anymore!

CLARK BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE EVER TO SIGN A TRADING CARD DEAL

In March, Panini signed their first ever female exclusive deal with Clark as she was dominating the NCAA Women's Tournament. Yesterday was the first day that fans could purchase a variety of the future Indiana Fever guard's cards that were listed at various prices, from a low of $9.99 to a high of $10,000 depending on the type of card it was.

"The Clark Blue Viper 1/1 Auto was sold in a Dutch Auction format, with the price dropping every five minutes until the product sells out. Because of heavy interest in Clark collectibles, no drop was needed to find a buyer," wrote Darren Rovell. 

The card features Clark at the WNBA Draft holding her Fever jersey after being drafted by the team which Panini had and will continue to have exclusive rights for all of Clark's trading cards in the coming years.

SPORTS MEMORABILIA IS MASSIVE RIGHT NOW

If you don't think this big of a sale for Caitlin Clark is huge, think again.

When I spoke with Goldin Collectibles, Ken Goldin a few weeks ago, he explained just how significant Clark was - saying that she was on a new level and is transcending women's basketball. "The interest in her cards and memorabilia is certainly at an all-time high right now. It's currently unprecedented territory for any prior female athlete at any point in time," Goldin told me.

And for Clark to be making this big of numbers while also being a female athlete? Goldin said that's historic.

Goldin explained that normally women's memorabilia will drop in value when they go from the NCAA level to professional, but for men it's the opposite, depending on how good they are in the pros. But with Clark getting the new Panini deal and an immediate winning bid on what the company was asking at auction for five figures? The sky's the limit.

As I've covered here at OutKick, the sports memorabilia market has been berzerk recently with the trading card industry bringing in over $630 million globally year.

But is it worth it? 

Whether you're Zion Wiliamson, Jameis Winston or Caitlin Clark - there still remains that one inherent risk when spending massive money on memorabilia.

What happens if the athlete ends up as a major bust, and you're stuck $10 grand in the hole?