On her 44th birthday, we celebrate Serena Williams' impact on the hobby

The market for female sports cards has long been underserved. That much is obvious.

The rise of Caitlin Clark to heights rivaling her male counterparts in the last couple of years, as well as the general increased popularity of other NCAA and WNBA athletes, is undoubtedly a welcome correction — finally bringing the attention and, not coincidentally, the value long deserved to cards featuring the greatest women athletes in the world.

However, it would be a mistake to think Clark was the first to break through in the hobby.

Of course there have always been popular female athletes on cards, but none ever dominated their sport in the market the way Serena Williams did.

Williams, who celebrates her 44 birthday Friday, was as dominant on the cardboard as she was on the hardcourt — and that is saying something.

Prior to Clark’s arrival on the scene, the list of the top 15 most valuable female sports cards looked like this:

1. Serena Williams
2. Serena Williams
3. Serena Williams
4. Serena Williams
5. Serena Williams
6. Serena Williams
7. Serena Williams
8. Serena Williams
9. Serena Williams
10. Serena Williams
11. Serena Williams
12. Serena Williams
13. Serena Williams
14. Serena Williams
15. Serena Williams

Williams was the first female athlete to have a card sell for more than $50,000. And $100,000. $150,000, too. As well as $200,000 and $250,000.

Though it is impossible to rank the superlatives relating to the unparalleled dominance of Williams, the fact she remains the record-holder of the most expensive tennis card ever sold ($266,400) — more than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, is no small feat.

And not to make it a competition with Clark, but the Indiana Fever star has the benefit of a millions of dollars of investment from card companies printing out high-end product on par with the best male athletes.

Williams’ best cards were made by a company called NetPro, which has really only released two true products (1991 and 2003, though more recently it cut a deal to make cards of Alcaraz).

And Williams’ other most valuable cards come from Sports Illustrated for Kids, alongside a sheet of other up-and-coming athletes, which collectors had to carefully tear along perforated edges. S.I. for Kids cards are usually the most valuable cards for niché athletes, not mega stars.

The point is, on Williams’ birthday, the hobby should take a moment to remember the cardboard trailblazer, whose cards remained highly coveted and reflect her greatness on the court.

Also, shout out Mia Hamm, her top cards might not have been Serena level, but she was certainly a foundational figure as well.

Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.