Set releases, auction records, grading updates, and market trends for sports cards and Pokemon TCG.
As the 2026 NBA Playoffs approach, cards of top performers are seeing significant price increases. Victor Wembanyama Prizm Silver is up 15% this week, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic Prizm cards have gained 8-12%. Analysts expect further gains as teams clinch playoff spots and individual performances drive collector demand.
Read full article →No news in the past 7 days. Check back soon.
2025-26 Panini Select NBA
Apr 15
2025-26 UD Series 2 Hockey
Apr 22
Pokemon SV Surging Sparks Reprint
May 1
2026 Bowman Baseball
May 7
Pokemon SV Destined Rivals
May 30
As the 2026 NBA Playoffs approach, cards of top performers are seeing significant price increases. Victor Wembanyama Prizm Silver is up 15% this week, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic Prizm cards have gained 8-12%. Analysts expect further gains as teams clinch playoff spots and individual performances drive collector demand.
The Pokemon Company confirmed that Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals pre-release events will run May 16-19 at participating local game stores worldwide. Players receive a Build & Battle Kit with exclusive promo cards. The set features Shiny Gardevoir ex and Shiny Sylveon ex as the marquee chase cards, with early pre-order prices tracking 20% above MSRP.
Panini Select NBA 2025-26 drops this week with its signature Concourse, Premier Level, and Court Level tiers. Bronny James, Reed Sheppard, and Stephon Castle rookie cards across all tiers are the primary chase. Hobby boxes are pre-selling at $180 with an expected 2 autos and 4 numbered parallels per box.
PSA announced that its population report has surpassed 100 million total graded cards, a milestone reached in early April 2026. The company has graded over 8 million cards in the past 12 months alone. Pokemon cards now represent 35% of all PSA submissions, surpassing sports cards for the first time in the company's history.
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching on April 24, collectors are positioning for the next class of rookie cards. Consensus top picks include Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, Miami QB Cam Ward, and LSU WR Kyren Lacy. Early pre-market pricing for Prizm parallels of the top 3 picks is tracking around $500-800 raw, based on comparable 2025 class data.
eBay announced an expansion of its Authenticity Guarantee program to include Pokemon TCG singles sold above $100. Previously limited to sports cards and luxury items, the program now covers graded and raw Pokemon cards. Sellers will ship to eBay's authentication center before cards reach buyers, with costs absorbed by eBay for qualifying listings.
A PSA 10 graded Victor Wembanyama Prizm Silver autograph rookie card sold for $312,000 at Heritage Auctions last week, setting a new record for a second-year player card. The sale underscores the continued strong demand for Wembanyama's early cards as he approaches his second NBA All-Star selection.
The Pokémon Company confirmed that Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals will release on May 30, 2026. The set introduces 180+ cards including new Pokémon ex featuring Shiny Gardevoir ex and Shiny Sylveon ex. Pre-release weekend events are scheduled for May 16-19 at local game stores.
PSA announced it graded approximately 2.1 million cards in Q1 2026, a 12% year-over-year increase. The company's expanded Collectors Club turnaround time is now averaging 45 days, down from 90 days at its 2021 peak. Economy service remains open with estimated 180-day turnaround.
Topps unveiled the full checklist for 2026 Series 1 Baseball, headlined by Shohei Ohtani SP photo variations and a new "Career Highlights" insert set. The flagship set releases February 5 with hobby boxes retailing at $130 and featuring a guaranteed auto or relic per box.
A PSA 10 graded Shadowless Base Set Charizard sold for $511,100 at PWCC's Premier Auction, making it the highest sale of a Shadowless Charizard in 2026. The auction also featured a near-complete PSA 10 Shadowless Base Set lot that realized $1.2M total.
Panini confirmed the full details for 2025-26 Prizm NBA Basketball. Bronny James rookie cards are headlining the hobby's most anticipated set of the season, with Prizm Silver autos of the second-generation Lakers guard commanding pre-market prices north of $2,000 per box pull.
Beckett Grading Services (BGS) announced it will update its centering tolerance standards for cards graded after April 1, 2026. The change tightens the requirement for a "10" centering subgrade from 60/40 to 55/45, which analysts expect to make BGS 9.5 Black Labels even rarer and more valuable.
The Pokémon Company confirmed a major reprint wave for several Scarlet & Violet era sets including Paradox Rift and Obsidian Flames. Retailers can expect replenished stock in April 2026. Collectors note the reprints will not include the original booster artwork, using updated packaging.
A PSA 9 graded 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card realized $4.3 million at Goldin Auctions, setting a new record for the card in that grade. The previous record of $3.75M was set in November 2025. Only six PSA 9 examples are known to exist.
Upper Deck confirmed the first wave of 2025-26 NHL Series 1 Young Guns, led by #1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini. The San Jose Sharks center is joined by notable rookies including Artyom Levshunov (Chicago), Cayden Lindstrom (Detroit), and Anton Silayev (New Jersey) in the hobby's most watched rookie set.
Major distributors are reporting continued shortage of Pokémon 151 Elite Trainer Boxes heading into spring 2026. The set's enduring popularity, driven by nostalgic Base Set references and premium art cards including Venusaur ex and Charizard ex, has kept secondary market prices 40% above MSRP.
The sports card market composite index gained 8% in Q1 2026, according to Market Movers data. Basketball led all categories with a 14% gain on strong Prizm and Exquisite Collection sales. Baseball was up 6% on Opening Day optimism while football held steady at +3%. Hockey was the strongest growth category at +11%, driven by Ovechkin's all-time goals record.
CSG (Certified Sports Guaranty) announced it has temporarily suspended new card grading submissions while it fulfills an existing backlog estimated at 300,000 cards. The company, launched in 2020 as a PSA alternative, faces ongoing challenges competing with PSA, BGS, and SGC in the saturated grading market.
Alex Ovechkin's career goals record, surpassing Wayne Gretzky in November 2023, continues to drive appreciation in his early hockey cards. His 2005-06 Upper Deck Young Guns rookie PSA 10 has averaged $18,000 in Q1 2026 sales versus $6,000 before the record chase began. Young Guns raw copies are also up significantly.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Prismatic Evolutions became the fastest-selling Pokémon set in history upon its January 2026 release, with nationwide retail sellouts within hours. The Eeveelution-themed set commanded a 200% secondary market premium in its first week. TCGPlayer reports it processed more singles transactions in the set's first 48 hours than any previous release.
Fanatics Collectibles confirmed its expanded card production deals will cover MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL for the 2026-27 season. The company, which acquired the Topps brand, continues to integrate its trading card manufacturing with its sports merchandise platform. Key product launches include Topps Chrome Baseball, Mosaic Basketball, and Score Football.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1986-87 Fleer set, Heritage Auctions held a special auction featuring multiple PSA 10 graded Jordan rookies and signed examples. An autographed PSA 10 sold for $905,000. The event also featured authenticated game-worn items from Jordan's 1986 season.
TCGPlayer updated its seller fee structure effective March 1, 2026, reducing the base fee from 10.25% to 9.85% for all sellers, with Pro seller rates dropping to 8.5%. The platform also announced enhanced authentication tools for high-value Pokemon singles above $500.
Topps announced Project 2026, a collaboration with 40 artists from across streetwear, fine art, and pop culture. The project will feature 40 iconic rookie cards reimagined, with subjects including Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, Mike Trout, and Michael Jordan. Cards are limited to print runs based on 24-hour sales windows.
As grading costs and turnaround times remain elevated, raw card authentication services have seen 45% growth in 2025. Services like RAWCC and independent authenticators are filling a market gap for collectors who want basic verification without the full grading process. Industry analysts expect the segment to grow further in 2026.
2026 Bowman Chrome is slated for a summer 2026 release with several consensus top prospects headlining the autograph checklist. Collectors are watching for first-year cards from top international signings and 2025 MLB Draft picks. Bowman Chrome remains the single most important set in modern baseball collecting for long-term value.
The Pokémon Company confirmed a significant reprint of Scarlet & Violet: Shrouded Fable following near-immediate sellout of the initial print run. The set, known for its special art rare Pecharunt ex and fan-favorite Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex, commanded 150% secondary market premiums for several weeks post-launch.
PSA launched a new premium service tier called Collectors Club Elite with a guaranteed 30-day turnaround and dedicated account management. Priced at $149 per card, the tier targets serious collectors who submit high-value singles and need faster turnaround than the standard Collectors Club. The company reports its current economy backlog is at approximately 210 days.
The complete checklist for 2025 Topps Chrome Baseball has been revealed, with Shohei Ohtani's SP variation and autograph inserts commanding the highest pre-order interest. The set features a new "Atomic" refractor variant exclusive to hobby boxes and an expanded parallel rainbow. Hobby boxes are expected to retail at $180 with one guaranteed auto or superfractor.
The Pokémon Company announced that the 2026 World Championship will be held in Yokohama, Japan in August. As with previous years, exclusive promo cards will be issued to participants and staff. Promo-only cards from past World Championships have fetched thousands of dollars at auction, making the 2026 lineup a significant area of collector interest.
Heritage Auctions reported $84 million in sports cards and trading card sales for Q1 2026, up 9% from Q1 2025. The auction house cited strong vintage baseball, modern basketball, and vintage Pokémon as the top-performing categories. The average hammer price for cards above $10,000 increased 11% year-over-year.
The original Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in Japan in October 1996, making 2026 the 30th anniversary year. Collectors are positioning early in vintage Base Set and Jungle/Fossil era cards in anticipation of anniversary-driven demand. A PSA 10 1st Edition Charizard has already appreciated 40% in the past 6 months amid anniversary speculation.
SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation) announced a relaunched vintage specialty program targeting pre-1980 baseball, football, basketball, and hockey cards. The new service offers faster turnaround than PSA for vintage submissions, with pricing starting at $30 per card for the standard tier. Collectors have responded positively to SGC's growing vintage pop report database.
Goldin Auctions's January 2026 Premier Auction delivered $12.4M in total sales. The top lot was a Wembanyama Prizm Silver auto PSA 10 at $312,000, followed by a Patrick Mahomes 2017 National Treasures auto BGS 9.5 at $285,000. The auction also featured strong results for LeBron James Exquisite Collection and Wayne Gretzky OPC rookie cards.