The WNBA Card Podcast: Collecting the Seattle Storm — The Cards That Carry the History with Jenny (@wsportscollector)

Foreign. Welcome back to another episode of the WNBA Card Podcast here on the Stacking Slabs Network, presented by Card Ladder and hosted by my good friend Caitlin at Cold Lunch Cards. We got a small break in the action. Feeble World cup time, heading to Berlin. I could use a pause. It has been a heck of a ride being a Fever fan, seeing everything going down. I need a little rest before the playoffs, but I'm excited to be here listening to this conversation. Caitlin is continuing the team Collecting chat. She's joined by Jenny at W Sports Collector talking about a historic franchise and the Seattle Storm. Great conversation, ton of insights, ton of passion. Make sure you're following us at WNBA Card Pod on Instagram. If you want to show your support for the broader Stacking Slabs Network, hit the follow button, tell a damn friend, run on over to the Patreon Group. It's the WNBA Card Podcast. We're talking Seattle Storm. Let's get into it. Welcome back loyal listeners of the Stacking Slabs Podcast Network to Season 5, Episode 12 of the WNBA Card Podcast. My name is Caitlyn. I go by Cold Lunch Cards mostly on the Instagram machine, but you can find me other places as well. And I am so excited to continue to deliver collector driven and community focused content to wherever you're listening to us today. And I say us because I'm joined by none other than Jenny. She goes by AT W Sports Collector on Instagram and she is here to represent the Seattle Storm. I am so, so excited about this episode. I had the opportunity to meet Jenny last year at the National. She's got one of the best Storm collections I've seen and has some real grails tucked away. A few that I'm sure people here will be very, very envious of. And I'm excited to kind of get into that, get into your Storm fandom, get into your PC, the approach to how you collect. And then we've got a special spotlight for this episode to talk all about the Player of the Day promotion, which as we get into that segment, Jenny was a big winner in a giveaway of some kind. And we're going to get into kind of what that experience was like and how community means a lot, especially to WNBA collectors. But without further ado for people that maybe don't know who you are, Jenny, do you mind introducing yourself and saying a few words about who you are? Yu-Gi-Oh so my name is Jenny. Like you said, I go by Adobe Source Collector Mostly on IG and I've been collecting kind of like Storm since 2020 when I moved to the city. So it's been a long journey. It hasn't been always been Storm, but, like, throughout the years, I've narrowed it down to kind of the teams I support and think we might get into a little bit. But I collect not only wnba, but other sports, so I think it's gone down to mostly local teams. Yu-Gi-Oh we're gonna get into it. Kind of like where the Storm rank in your prioritization, how funds kind of compete across leagues and sports. But I kind of want to start here and take me back to the beginning, Jenny, of kind of, like how cards first entered your Life. You mentioned 2020 collecting the storm, but was that, like, the first time that you were introduced to cards? It actually was. And. And it was funny because with the World cup kind of, like, brought up, like, some memories. I feel like the first beginnings of me collecting, I feel, was with the World cup stickers back then. I grew up in South America, so it was big part of the culture every four years, collecting the World cup stickers. So I've been still doing that every four years. So I used to just buy packs and kind of like, same as now. It's like buying and selling. I used to go to school and, like, sell stickers to buy more packs and kind of try to complete the album. So it was like, kind of for a circle moment this year, just looking back at kind of like the trajectory. But after that, I moved to the US in 2010, and I believe that was when the big three, the Miami Heat, was, like, pretty big on salvage. So I kind of got into it a little bit of, like, NBA collecting, but it kind of stopped after going to college. So after that, I didn't collect as much. But after graduating, I think I got a little bit more into kind of the U.S. women's National Team for soccer. That was kind of what got me back into collecting and then kind of discover kind of the WNBA and collecting through that. That's awesome. I just want to kind of, like, cover our bases here, to kind of give the audience a little bit of an understanding of who you are as a collector. So I can have a twofold question for you. The first is, how would you kind of identify in the hobby? We have a lot of labels that we put on people. We say, you're a collector, you're an investor. You're just like all these different things. Just, there's a lot of lanes going on in your collection, whether it be leagues, sports, different avenues. I know that you buy, sell, trade. When you think of Your identity as a collector. What kind of categories of the card ecosystem do you identify with? Would you call yourself a collector first? An investor? Like what kind of, I guess labels do you put on your yourself in collecting? Yu-Gi-Oh I feel like I consider myself more of a collector first. I didn't. When I got into it, it was like kind of like mostly collecting. I think throughout the years, as the hobby has become a little bit more expensive, like I have to shift towards like a little bit more buying to kind of like buy more cards because, Yu-Gi-Oh sometimes kind of like especially after the Caitlin Clark effect, everything became so expensive. So I think it's like a mix of both. But I'll say collector first, but then I do sell a good amount of cards now. I think that most people fall into that kind of like hybrid Beckett It's like we all wish we could keep every card that comes through, but at some point, especially as you mentioned with our lane, with the boom after Caitlin Clark, it's just not financially responsible to do that. So I completely understand, I guess. Could you give us the 30,000 foot view of where your PC stands today and just like really broad level, maybe like the teams or clubs that you support before we get into like the storm specifically? Yu-Gi-Oh So I think most of it's a storm lately. But I also, I used to try to collect everything, but I've over the years, especially the last two years, I've been trying to kind of narrow down my PC just because like you said, it's like not sustainable to collect everything. I wish I could collect everything, but back then it was much easier to collect everything. But for now I think still working through it. But what I'm narrowing down is to kind of the teams I support. So the storm, kind of the rain, the soccer, local team here and then for like soccer also Arsenal women's. So those are the big three right now. And just a little bit of tennis too. Just because I grew up playing tennis. So that's like kind of the ties and always grew up like watching it and still watch to this day. So it was kind of like, Yu-Gi-Oh the big like three or big four that I collect, but on top of a storm, I also like to collect like maybe hall of Famers, like future hall of Famers or players. I like. Like right now it's been Paige Beckers and A.J. wilson, like the big two that I kind of like collect a lot of that. I've been picking up cards that I can. But Yu-Gi-Oh I think overall that's where I'm at right now and it might be well at some point too. Yu-Gi-Oh I think keeping that flexibility is really important and it sounds like along the way you're collecting habits or strategy or intentions have kind of evolved and we'll get into that more. But I guess high level. Do you think that moving between sports and leagues, especially women's sports and women's leagues, have kind of like taught you anything about the hobby that maybe you wouldn't have known if you were stuck in, say, just the WNBA lane or just in the women's soccer lane? I'm just curious. Yu-Gi-Oh I guess it's just like, kind of made me kind of think about which cards or players or teams that I truly want to collect because like I said, it's like, becomes like too much. So I think it's like taught me just kind of like narrow down of like my collection and which cars I truly care about and like which ones I liked on my PC. I think one thing that I've been doing recently, it's like just going through my PC and just looking at the cards is do I feel like kind of enjoyment of like, oh my. I like own this car and I'm so happy to own this car. If not, maybe it's something I can move on from. So. So that's kind of like an exercise that I've been doing lately too. Yu-Gi-Oh I like that exercise. I try to apply like the Marie Kondo method of like, is this giving me joy? If the answer is not immediately yes, then I know there's another card out there that can. And that's a lot easier said than done. So when you talk about it as being an exercise, I think that's a really good way of doing it because it does feel like you're kind of like stretching your brain or stretching your collecting habits and it's difficult to do. So I completely understand that point and I especially want to kind of like echo what you said about how while you're collecting many different lanes and leagues and players, teams, etc. Etc. That can feel like you have a lot to choose from, it almost actually limits like you were saying what to pick up because you have to operate within some sort of control environment. So I find that despite the fact that it might seem like you're collecting a lot of stuff and that therefore it's easier to decide what comes in, sometimes it actually has that opposite effect. It gets tougher and tougher to decide what comes into the PC and we'll get into kind of what you think or what kind of makes Something eligible to be in your PC. But before we get there, I kind of want to ask you a big question. And this is a question that I want to use to kind of set the tone of the episode. One of the reasons why this podcast started is was to create a space where women's sports can be celebrated and talked about on their own terms. So, as I've asked every guest this season, I want to present to you this big question. What is kind of being a fan of women's sports and collecting women's sports card mean to you? Jenny? Yu-Gi-Oh so like I said, kind of going back to my childhood, too. I grew up in South America, Venezuela specifically. And back then, we didn't really have a lot of women's sports kind of like representation. So I guess if it were for one word, it's like representation. I used to be a big, or still am, a big sports fan, and it wasn't really common for girls especially to kind of like, gravitate towards sports back then. So it was just right now, it just representation of, like, I want to support a league that I wish I had growing up. It wasn't until I moved here when I discovered the mostly was the women's. Women's national team when they're fighting for equal pay and, like, the battle in 2019 that kind of, like, broaden and kind of made me discover that there's a whole world out there of, like, women's sports. I first it was a women's national team, and then I discovered the nwsl, then wnba. But, Yu-Gi-Oh I think growing up also wanted to play sports, but there was, like, not many leagues that I could join. As a girl, the only sports I could Blue Ice tennis. And even then I was just playing with boys mostly. So I think also just looking back, I think tennis also is unique where you have tournaments where it's like both men and women's. It's always televised, so it's always visible. So I think it was, like, one of the only sports that I saw, like, women play in, like, Serena Williams kind of growing up, it was like, one of the only icons that I could on the women's side that I kind of knew about. Yu-Gi-Oh I hear that so much has changed, and yet we talk about equal pay. We talk about, you know, the fight in 2019 from the soccer side. And this year was the year that we saw any sort of respect put on the basketball. The women's basketball sign with the new CBA agreement. So there's still a lot of representation to go. But the strides that we've made and the strides that we see in the card collecting in our hobby have really become just 10x what I think we used to have available. So it's really exciting to hear that because I think as two women talking about cards here, it does mean a lot. It does mean more than just saying it. Like being able to see women celebrated at the same level with the same kind of prestige of products and availability and accessibility. It means so much. Like when you say I, you know, I didn't get to see these people growing up, I didn't have this access. If I would have these cards when I was growing up, like this would have been such a big deal to me. So I completely, completely understand and I hope that the listeners you guys feel heard by Jenny's story there because I think it's, it really rings true to what this whole podcast is about is, is really about that kind of feeling that cards bring. So before we get into more cards and what we want to talk about, I want to talk to you about the Storm. And that's kind of the focus of today's episode is the Seattle Storm. For anyone that's kind of newer to the WNBA or unfamiliar with the Storm, I did want to give a little 101 for everybody. So as a little bit of lore, the Storm arrived in the year 2000 as one of four expansion teams alongside none other than the Indiana Fever and two other franchises that each folded within three years. Their first season, the Seattle Storm was a little rough. They finished 6 and 26 in last in the league. But that record turned into a very good draft pick, none other than, you guessed it, Lauren Jackson. A year later they took Sue Bird first overall out of UConn and those two carried the franchise to its first title in 2004 over the Connecticut Sun. Seattle has four rings total 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020. That ties them with the most in league history with the links in the comments. And they're one of only two franchises that have never lost a Finals. There's eight players on the WNBA 25 team and and two numbers hang in climate pledge of arena that have been retired. And right now things look a little bit different. They're kind of in full rebuild mode. They lost Madam President and Skylar Diggins in free agency, they've got a new head coach and the whole operation runs through a 20 year old French center. So I guess let's kind of take it back. What was your first moment of the Storm? Where in that history is Jenny's entrance to the Seattle Storm. So it was back in 2020 actually, when I moved to Seattle. It was actually kind of the bubble. But like everyone can remember that, but like it forced us. I was watching a lot more women's sports too, because there was also the bubble. There was also the Women's national, the NWSL League that were there playing to. So it's one of the sports that we could kind of like watch. But Yu-Gi-Oh that was my Intro 2020, when they were playing the bubble and they actually one-of-one So it was good feeling, just kind of getting an intro to the city and getting just like a championship. I was. It drew me in right away. Yu-Gi-Oh no kidding. I think joining or you know, becoming a fan of a team in your new town and they bring home a chip, there's really no turning your back on the franchise. That has to be just like, all right, I'm sold. And I am a die hard fan now and forever. When you think about kind of the history of the franchise, because I know that you understand the history of the franchise, is there a particular era that feels the most meaningful to you? Is it that 2020 bubble era? Is it today? Or is it maybe some of those previous years that you weren't really watching but you might have this like respect and nostalgia for. Yu-Gi-Oh but like I have like respect to kind of that like 2000 and like kind of like how they build up, I feel like. And I think we'll get to it in a little bit. It's like Zebra and Lauren Jackson kind of like are kind of like cornerstones still of the franchise. But I think for me kind of connection, it might be the 2020 kind of like season. It's like not an era because that's when I started. I wouldn't do it justice saying it's like kind of like before I came here just because I didn't get to experience it myself. So maybe actually it might change hopefully in a couple years with the new encore. So for now I think it's 2020, but hopefully good years to come. Yu-Gi-Oh for sure. And we'll kind of get into what it means to collect during a rebuild versus when you had like a very successful run. But before we get there, I want to ask you, you're in Seattle, you're a Storm fan. Are you making it to Climate Pledge Arena? Are you watching games in person? And if so, can you kind of describe the atmosphere that makes it feel different? Yu-Gi-Oh I try to go as many games as I can. Actually live pretty close to the Arena I think it's like a 45 minute walk. Oh. So it's pretty nice. So Yu-Gi-Oh I try to make it when I can, but just the environment, it's just like amazing. Just like feels like you. Even on losses, it feels like such joy to just go to a game. There's been a couple games that I've been like the playoffs against the Aces where it ended in heartbreak with the three. I think it was Jackie John that hit like the game winner was a couple years ago. It was. I believe it was Zebra last year maybe. So that sticks kind of like these sad ones stick out to. But there's been like so many amazing memories as well. Just going to the games here. Yu-Gi-Oh I feel like Climate Pledge is one of those arenas or stadiums that sticks out. When I think of just like different. It just feels different. I've never been. But when people talk about it, they talk about kind of how Seattle is a women's forward city. Like they understand that women's sports are important and exciting and they one-of-one over there. I guess. Do you feel that when you're in the stadium and do you think that reputation kind of makes sense? I guess or am I just like. No, I think, I think it is. I feel like even just going around, you think it's mostly Storm. You just see people wearing like kind of like storm merch out there. It's not as prevalent as like some of the men's like Mariners and Seahawks, but like it's like pretty awesome to see people just wearing Storm merch around. So that's like pretty cool to see. But I'll say it's a big women's sports town. I feel like we have hope. I'm not missing any major ones, but it's like the nwsl. We have a team, team WNBA and also the PWHL that we got a team pretty recently. Still haven't gotten into hockey, but I think that's like the next word that I might get into. There's always more coming. It feels like, especially in cards, like when you speak about that and it sounds like you've got a lot of things to balance. So I'm curious what kind of you think the Storm give you as like a fan as opposed to maybe some of these other fandoms that you have, whether it be women's soccer or maybe women's hockey in the future, but just kind of like what does the Storm give you that you can't really find elsewhere? I feel like I'm just like drawn to the team. I don't know why. And I guess, I guess that's just kind of like there's a history of winning history with the team. So it just like kind of brings me back. I also enjoy just watching basketball a lot too, but I don't know. I think that's a good question. But it's just like I think the team, the legacy of like kind of the history of the team that just keeps me coming back to and just like following. Yu-Gi-Oh for sure. You Beckett a good one. I think that the Storm are one of the most storied franchises in the league. I mean from my vantage point and this is just anecdotally I feel like they're one of the most popular teams because of the names that you mentioned, the likes of Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and then future stars that have international reach. It feels like the Storm are always on the cutting edge of international prospecting. With Australians like Lauren Jackson now with their new core of a Frenchman and a Spaniard, it's just feels like they have a big base. So I, I agree with the legacy, the history just kind of the importance of the team. It all makes sense. Before we get into your PC, I have three kind of like rapid fire questions that I ask each guest so maybe we could get into those. You've talked about the personality of the team and this is a hard question, but I'd love if you could try to describe the identity of the Storm franchise in three words or less and if you could kind of like explain why you Beckett those three words. Yu-Gi-Oh so I think the first one I feel like I've said it just and now it's like legacy. I feel like four championships. I don't know what other. I think there's a couple others but I don't know if there's any other teams that has that more. I know we're tight poly for so it's just like that legacy where it comes some of the greats that have played and for the Storm it's like Zebra Lauren Jackson and I think something unique it's that doesn't happen often. It's both of them go drafted and they retire. So it's kind of like the Tide and they got their jerseys retired. So that's like a pretty cool. Just like the history guess like the other one it's like kind of culture. It's been up and down but I feel like kind of with ownership it's like been a good culture. I know we were not the first but I think it was the second ones that built a facility Specific for training. I think first ones were the aces. I think we were second. Even that. And then, like you said, climate pledge. It's an amazing arena. And I still remember when they're on the kind of the locker rooms, they look so cool and. Yu-Gi-Oh So, like, compared to, like, other teams, hopefully all teams eventually end up in the same kind of, like, environment. But it's just like a cool kind of, like, being like the team is being invested on. So ownership, like, feels like they care about kind of keeping the culture and I guess, like, with the culture too. It's like kind of the front office. I feel like they've done a pretty good job. It's like all our, like, kind of, like winning teams have been come, like, came from, like, drafting. So you have Lauren Jackson. Zebra They one-of-one a couple championships. After that. It was a down year. I think I remember, like, Zebra talking about maybe going into a rebuild phase, but then they drafted Stewie and then Dual Lloyd and they one-of-one another two, and then now it's like, another down year. But we have kind of decor, which I feel like, I don't know, maybe in a couple years we'll know. But we have. Yu-Gi-Oh we have Dom, we have Fludge, and then we have our fam, which I don't know how we got Fludgey still, but I'm not complaining. I just. Crazy news to wake up to. Getting Fle but happy. She's with the storm now. But, Yu-Gi-Oh I think we got a core group, and I guess, like, the third one will be optimistic, which is kind of war for now. Pretty optimistic. It hasn't been the best year, but hopefully in a couple years, once they kind of, like, play together and kind of develop with each other, hopefully we'll see. Couple championships, but we'll see. I would agree with all three of those, especially the last one of optimistic. The core that the storm is building with, how young they are, is very promising. So I think you have a lot of good things to look forward to as a storm fan. I want to ask you, if you had to build a storm, Mount Rushmore, and you could carve four faces into the mountain, who are you putting up there? I'm sure Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird are up there, right? They have. Those are the first two that I was thinking about. So those two, for sure, it's like they're, like, retired. Their years just are retired. You have to put them up there and just, like, what they have accomplished. I think the other two will be like, Stewie and then Joe Lloyd. I know it's like kind of the more recent ones. I don't want to put some of the younger players just now just because I cannot just one-of-one championships. It's like they have that under the belt. They one-of-one with Seattle, so kind of feel like, Yu-Gi-Oh the other two will be Stewie. And I agree. I think each of these episodes where I ask people to do this, some I like more than others that Storm 1 is perfect. I have no comments, no complaints. That is a core four that, like, I think you could look up at that Mount Rushmore and be a very proud fan and be like, Yu-Gi-Oh we are winners. So I completely get it. I'm so about them leaving, but I think they'll still go up there. Yu-Gi-Oh they're still up there 100%. My last question before we get into the cards of it all is this concept of the Disrespect Index. It's this idea that maybe players perform really well on the court, but that doesn't translate into their prices that we see in the market. I'm curious because you're buying and selling, what Storm player you think would score the highest as on the Disrespect Index? I think for me, it's not a current one. I'll say it's like one of the players I put on the Mount Rushmore, Stewie. I know it's like her cartel still like selling pretty decent, but when you look at her career, she one-of-one like four national championships. I don't know if that's ever going to happen again on either side for basketball at least. I don't know if that's something. And sometimes I just think about it and just laugh of like, how do you one-of-one four in a row? How does that happen? They had a great team, but Stewie was like the forefront of that team for those warriors. So it's just like kind of crazy sometimes. I just, I don't keep up as much with her cards as much, especially on Liberty, but sometimes I just see sales pop up. I'm like, how is this so cheap compared to kind of like others just like regular auto Sue. I feel like you can say that about Asia too, but I think she's gaining a little more attraction. I think with like the Asia dominance, Stewie has like kind of taken a step back on kind of her market. But I feel like still so cheap. And she's one with delivery too. She want to start with delivery and she wanted college too. Yu-Gi-Oh just an all around winner who does not get the sales. I endorse that message 100% I think Stewie is a player that if I had the funds and was looking to put like real money into WNBA cards, her written house stuff just feels so untapped right now. Like you said, there are sales that are happening, but it just doesn't translate to the record and the resume that she has. So great pick on that, Jenny. I guess. But we're 25 minutes in. I want to talk about the cards. That's what we're here to talk about. And I want to talk about what you see, how you do it and how you think about it. So if you don't mind taking me back to the beginning of your Storm PC. Let's say it's 2020. You're just finding out the storm, getting to like really start to love the team. Fall in love with the team. What did kind of the first evolution of your Storm PC look like? So when I first started, it was more of like a broadcast kind of mentality. Like I said, I wanted to collect everything, but in terms of storm, I kind of wanted to focus on kind of rookies. So I tried to pick up some of these subirds. Lauren Jackson, kind of rookie stuff, like clear. Some of those that you don't see pop up often. Some of like, I know we'll talk about this later, but the Zebra ripped part and then Yu-Gi-Oh just like kind of narrow it down into those. Looking back, I wish I could have like tried to go for like some of the lower number like 2019, 2020. I have never seen those pop up. I know there's the goal that Storm has. Like Carson, I don't think he'll ever let that one go. Is that's like kind of a card that I wish I could have like pursued, but I guess that's like kind of like what you learn too. It's like I wish I had like that more like narrow down, kind of like knew what I wanted to PC back then. Like I would have made that bigger push to pursue those cars instead of like kind of try to collect everything. So I Goldin go for those like higher price parts back then. Yu-Gi-Oh I mean hindsight's 20 20, right? I think like we all go through that kind of learning phase and you only learn by making that mistake. And I think every. Nobody comes in understanding how this hobby works. Like there's so many different ways to go about it. There's no right way. But I think a lot of us find ourselves looking back and being like, why didn't I do this? You know? And so like I completely understand that feeling. Especially as we see over the course of the last five years, just prices continue to rise and rise and rise and rise. So if you kind of were looking at your collection today and had to think about it from, like, big picture, I'd be curious to hear if you think of your collection as, like, a curation, if you think about it as storytelling or if it's just like, I like this card, I think it's cool, and therefore it's coming into my collection. What is kind of your approach to that look like? Yu-Gi-Oh so I think lately I've been trying to focus on kind of, like, cool cards that I kind of like some more of, like, the Yu-Gi-Oh appeal. Okay. I've been shifting more towards that and also kind of like gray. If I don't see many pop up, kind of like lower numbers of kind of goals, black goals, like for Panini products. That's what I try to focus on. Because once you see one, you probably one-of-one see one later on. So if I see one, I'll try to pick it up some. Some of the low, low number stuff, more rare stuff right now. And that looks cool, too. Yu-Gi-Oh This is a topic that I don't think is talked about enough. One in ultra modern collecting, but two in the WNBA space. And that's this idea of Yu-Gi-Oh appeal. So I guess when you speak about Yu-Gi-Oh appeal, it's different than, say, what we commonly hear Yu-Gi-Oh appeal talked about, which is usually most people associate it with, like, really old vintage baseball cards and the centering of it and the color, because back in the day, people didn't take good care of their cards. Therefore, when you come across one that has, quote, unquote, good Yu-Gi-Oh appeal, that's worth a lot more than one that, say, didn't have that same care and intention. But when we think about our lane of collecting of what you're talking about, Yu-Gi-Oh appeal means something completely different. What does it mean to you for a card to have good Yu-Gi-Oh appeal? The first thing I think about it, it's kind of like that gold. I think my gold parallels are so rare to find, and they just look great. I feel like just like the gold, it's kind of always like the popular one, but away from that, it's like maybe some of those color match where it's like a parallel that kind of perfectly matches with kind of like the team. I know it's like not wnba, but I've been going through just, like, some of the arsenal. It's like I've been trying to collect all the red Carlos of like, your first year in Chrome, it's been challenging. It's like the same arsenal has, like a big fan base, so it's hard to find those, like, early kind of stuff. But that's like the stuff that I think about when I appeal. It's just like, stuff that pops on when you first look at it or kind of like perfectly fits the team colors and also, like cool inserts as well. Yu-Gi-Oh I think that that's something that we'll see, at least I hope. And I don't know, but I hope that people will put more emphasis on that. I feel like we talk about how we evolved as collectors over time. And when I first joined the hobby, I was really confused why golds out of 10 or golds out of 50 were worth more than, say, a green out of five or some other one of those, like, parallels that might be lower numbered. It's because of this concept of Yu-Gi-Oh appeal. And I think as we mature as collectors and as the market matures with it, we'll see those hopefully explode in popularity and therefore price. So I think that you're taking the right track and I operate in the same mindset, so I'm glad that people are talking about it more, even though it's historically been associated with more vintage cards. I'd be kind of, like, curious to hear about. You know, we talk about Yu-Gi-Oh appeal, we talk about some of these players that you're mentioning, that you're piecing about how you go about the less glamorous side of things, which is paying for it. We talk about funding, we talk about how we kind of buy and sell. Are you ripping cards to pull these? Are you maybe engaging in, like, the prospecting side of things? I know that you collect collegiate cards. How do you kind of go about that strategy of saying, hey, I've got good taste and this takes a little bit of cash to make happen. What's that look like for you? Yu-Gi-Oh so it's a mix of both back then, not as much anymore. I still good amount. But back then 2020, I used to rip last so much still remember, kind of like my first taste into WNBA collecting was ripping a case of D rust. Like, not possible now. But that's one of the first products that I ripped. And I know, I think I've show you the Al. That's one of the parts that I pull still have to this day. I don't want to. I know you Beckett one up, so I feel less bad of like, not moving it, but still have it on my PC. But Yu-Gi-Oh just like a combination of like ripping but also kind of like right place, right time. I had a couple Asia's like a written house. I don't know how it ended up with four autos offer one year and then three. I had like at one point I had three seal 2018 sets. I think since then I've narrowened down to just one raw and then one auto. But just like kind of. Those like kind of just like came about and like they appreciate it so much it's like hard not to move. So those like kind of sales kind of just like cycles back into just buying kind of like more cards and that going to the PC. Yu-Gi-Oh I think that sustainable cycle is something that we have to learn and some people obviously get a little bit luckier than others. But like having that understanding of the market, you know, you have like on the ground experience of ripping. You have product knowledge. You can kind of have this toolkit and know how to fund without overextending yourself, which has allowed you to get some really awesome pieces in your collection. I kind of want to talk about that. What are some of the cards in your Storm or WNBA PC that you're like kind of most proud of you'd consider to be like maybe the best to you personally? Yu-Gi-Oh So I think the two of them, they were on my Mount Rushmore. I don't know if we want to show it to you. I actually brought this in. It's like, oh, the origin stories. I feel like they're pretty cool. It's kind of like the throwback, like even the uniforms. It's like the two kind of like major players for the history of the Storm. Both of them were one on ones. I pulled this in a break. So Yu-Gi-Oh this one and then I found this one by chance at a local car shop. When I saw it, I knew I had to have it. But Yu-Gi-Oh those two kind of like are just like cool intros. Like kind of that Yu-Gi-Oh appeals. I think they look pretty cool, especially the Zebra one. I think that's one that I'm so happy that I just stumbled upon at a car show. I think the next one, it's like the Dom. I know I'm big on Dom. It's like the Flawless out of 10. Well, it was pretty cool one I think for like prices are still like. I'm not complaining. I feel like it's like so low right now for her potential, but I think it gives me a window into buying her cards right now before they become Unattainable. And I guess like the other two people in the Mount Rushmore, it's like Stewie and then first year you, Lloyd Gold. So those are kind of like top ones on the PC for Storm. Those are epic. Like, genuinely epic. Each one of those, as you pulled them up, I was like, okay, these can't get better. Those are all sick. And they all represent, like, those really, really big names of the Storm. And I just like to see a distribution to have represented of the team is Zebra cool and Zebra difficult to get. Cards that, like you said, not only have great Yu-Gi-Oh appeal, but not everybody can own them and. But you do, which I think is just a testament to, you know, learning and to evolving your collection to reflect what you want it to be. I guess to that end, where are you looking forward to, I guess, in your collection? What's next? What are you kind of hunting for on the Storm front right now? I think on the storefront, like, I'm pretty satisfied right now. I feel like I got some great pieces. I cannot complain right now, but I guess for future releases, kind of like the new rookie class, some I will find and Flaudge, I don't know. Like, I don't think Flage has any autos yet. I'm hopefully. I'm hopeful, like, she signs at one point, but just chasing some of their cards. I don't know which one exactly. I feel like I'll eat this side once, like, kind of products come out. Just being more selective, too, of, like, what comes out. Yu-Gi-Oh Couple months. Yu-Gi-Oh I'm hoping they come out. They always say, like, Donruss is going to come out in July and then it's October and we don't have it, so we'll see. But as they come out, I'm sure you'll get your hands on some and they'll be pretty sweet, I guess. I want to talk about some of those names that you just mentioned. Alafam Flaje Johnson, Dominique Malanga. These are names that are kind of defining the new era of the Seattle Storm. And it's really fun to collect an era as it's unfolding. And I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the roster. So my first question to you is, what kind of makes today's group its own thing? What do you like about the roster today? I think just like the main thing it's. They're kind of your corn group. We have like, three players that kind of really like, and I feel like they mesh really well. Like, sometimes it doesn't really happen right away. But I feel like just in their first and second year together, they just feel like they play well together and they enjoy each other. I think it's like we're looking at it from the outside too. Like, we don't know what goes on like the locker room, but feels like they have a great environment with the team. And I know for Natish Heidemann, I think she also came in and has been a great addition to. Hopefully I'm. Hopefully she stays for a couple years to be part of like, kind of that griddle because she's been a great piece. I know, like side tangent. But she started a run group locally I haven't been to. I'm not a big runner, but maybe I'll like, join one of her round Cubs. That's like coming up pretty soon. But just like that, like, group, like, it's has great vibes, I feel like. Yu-Gi-Oh I think that, you know, as of this recording, this hasn't aired yet, so you haven't heard this, but I talked to a Washington Mystics collector and he spoke to a lot of the same ideas that with a young core and a new coach, you get this dynamic of playing for each other that you don't often see elsewhere. And I think as we have this new cohort of young female athletes getting into the wnba, joining a team with people of like the same age, we're seeing this kind of excitement and passion for playing with and for one another that maybe we just hadn't seen before. It just feels like a different era. And I can feel that kind of like oozing through the storm. I had the opportunity to watch the storm when they came to Target Center. They got their ass kicked, but that's okay. But what I was really impressed by was none other than Alafam. This is like an exciting, exciting prospect who's coming up, who is very young and she's being paired with somebody else who is just as is, if not more exciting in Dominique Malanga, I guess. Do you kind of have like a take on one, them as players and where you think they're gonna go, but two kind of the philosophy of collecting these rising stars as they're entering like the formative years of their professional, I guess, experience. Yu-Gi-Oh So I think that one thing. It's also, let's say if it doesn't pan out right. Sometimes I think about when, especially when I go for those, like, higher, like, price stuff. Yu-Gi-Oh Would I be okay if they just lose the value? I feel like it'll be okay because Kind of just enjoy watching them play on the court. I think there's, like, so much talent, and I feel like, especially Dom. I know she came in and she was, like, still pretty young. You can see sometimes kind of like she's still developing, but I feel like you see, like, those flashes sometimes once she, like, kind of fully developed. She's, like, unstoppable. I think, like, for our farm. I know she was playing on the European league, so I think she has a little bit more experience. But it was amazing to see how fast she just, like, clicked into the team. Like, she was able to use, like, kind of Beckett up everything and just, like, kind of integrate into the team. So just having more, like, playing time together. Just, like, excited to see how it looks. Yu-Gi-Oh I think that those two. I remember when both of these drafts were happening, those were the two players that I really wanted on my team. Like, those were the two players that got me the most excited. I buy into kind of the international prospecting hype of, you know, get somebody who's really green, really young. You know, we're talking, like, 19, 20 years old, and entering the league. They just feel a. Like, little bit different builds than what we've seen before. It's just a different brand of basketball that's entering this league. And I think that you're completely right that the potential, especially for Dom and I might even say, like, farm, I think, has even a higher ceiling just because of my personal bias. But they're both, like, you can build around them. Do you know what I mean? So I guess do you feel like seeing that potential can translate into kind of confidence in buying their cards, like. Or do you think you just like them? Like, just watching them and you're like, oh, I just enjoy this? Or do you. You kind of think about it as, like, a play or, like, a prospecting play of any kind? I think that's a mix of both. So, like. Like, for everything, especially now that I've narrowed down, it's like, kind of like seeing the potential, but also demos. Like, they earn, like, how they interact also with kind of, like, the city and, like, the Finest, like, pretty cool to see, too. It's like. It's, like, kind of unique to the wmbi. It's like, they're so, like I said, like, Natisha had a mine, too. I need to pick up some of her cards. Maybe when she's in a store, kind of new products. It's how they embrace, like, the community around them. So it's, like, cool to see. So it's like kind of a mix of both. Yu-Gi-Oh I just want to underscore that point that you make, because I completely agree. I think that specifically in WNBA collecting, we as fans, it just means more to have a player that, say, reflects the values that you hold or embraces your city or, you know, just sees you as a fan and understands that you guys are part of this all together. And I think the WNBA and its players really do a good job of that, and it makes me want to collect their cards. Like, when I talk about Fee, that's how I feel. I'm like, oh, she's a great player, but she's also a great person. And I think a lot of these Storm players, the way that you speak about them, I can feel that. That it's not only just on the court play, but it's off the court kind of behavior, attitude, all of that. And I love the plug for Natisha Heideman. You know, I grew up with her. She was in Green Bay, and I just love everything about her play. And I'm so glad that she's being embraced by Seattle. She's like one of those players that I could never wish ill will on. I'm like, I just hope she does so well. So, Yu-Gi-Oh I'll be on the lookout to see how she looks in the Storm uniform on Cards. But Yu-Gi-Oh I completely understand that. That allure, I guess. Speaking of on the court play going into the season, we're talking about, you know, having a really solid young core with high expectations, but at the same time, really young. How would you rate the success of the Storm today as we're recording, compared to kind of your expectations heading into the season? I feel like they're a little bit under. I think I got myself too hype. I remember seeing some of the preseason gay stuff with BL, I think I don't know if she had like 20 points on one of the preseason. So I was like, before the preseason games, I was went in fully knowing that it probably was going to be a down year. But then I saw some of those, like, preseasons. So I think I kind of like, just like my expectations were like, kind of went up a little bit, but now it's like gone down a little bit. But that's what initially what it was. I felt like it's hard to just like one-of-one right away. I don't think it ever happens like, straight away. So I think it's just like, as expected. I wish we could have one-of-one a couple more games, but, like there's been like blowout but I feel like a lot of games to they come close. It's like single digit or like just like on the fourth quarter. I feel like it's also because like the team is so young too. Kind of the courts like learning to close out games. That's why it's like kind of like the main thing that I feel like it's a good learning experience right now. Yu-Gi-Oh I think that the Storm are in a good position. Obviously this season didn't end the way you guys or like it's not ending the way that you guys want it to, but I think the future seasons ahead. I mean there's nothing to complain about. There's a lot of success coming. There's a lot of pieces there. It's just putting them together together. So I'll be excited to kind of follow along with the Storm. I think of the Storm as being like we. We talked about in the beginning, historic. You mentioned legacy. You know, there's a lot of great players. If you had to think about the Seattle Storm and the WNBA as kind of a food chain and I'm talking in terms of like popularity in Cards specifically, where do you think you would fall? To me, I think like the Fever are like the obvious off the top because of there are just like prices with Caitlin Clark. You see the Caitlin Clark radius effect of all the players that surround her, their price is going up. Where kind of in the food chain would you put the Storm? Are they at the top or are they in the middle or are they more towards the bottom? I think I'll put second. I feel like at the moment might be the Wings, not the Storm. I feel like Wings right now with Paige Beckers are kind of like, like it's might be second. So I will put it on the third three to five range. I feel like right now just because we're having a down year, you see like Dom prices are not as crazy. So I think it's like a little bit lower than the Wings. So it's like in between that range. That's pretty good for a down year, Jenny. That's pretty good. I agree. Also I think like the Legacy plus these new exciting names equals pretty high up there. They've got a great fan base and I'm excited to have you representing them on the podcast. And I think one thing that we previewed at the beginning of this podcast was that we were going to dive into something specific to you, something that's Zebra special and something that I've been kind of like, waiting to ask you, both personally and on this podcast, which is the Player of the Day promotion. So, Panini, for all those that are listening that aren't aware of this promotion, they ran the first ever WNBA Player of the Day promo with more than a hundred thousand collectors and 500 shops around the country. And none other than yours truly, Jenny one-of-one the whole thing. Panini staged surprise reveal with a personalized video message from Zenith Cooper. They threw a party in February with their closest hobby friends and 75, apparently, like, LCs regulars up in Seattle. And Zenith Cooper was there. There's a Q and A, autographs, box breaks, contests, and you sat and opened product with a legend, I guess. Could you kind of take us through this whole experience? How did you one-of-one And then we can get into kind of, like, what that night was like. Yu-Gi-Oh So, like, I don't remember exactly the process of, like, how it ended up, like, winning, but I remember there were the LCs at DJ sports parts. I was running the Player of the Year. I think it was like, the first year they were doing it for wma. I don't know if it's second. First. Second year, but first year. So it's like the first time. So we just got entered into kind of like, the contest by buying Dobn Bear products and then ripping the Player of the Year, like, silver packs. And I think when you pull one of the players that was assigned that week or day you got entered, that's how you enter. I kind of. I went away. I was like, in. I think it was, like, December. I was back in Florida visiting family in Miami. I got a call from DJs that I had. I didn't know I had one-of-one the entire thing, but that I had some prices for me to pick up. So once I came back to Seattle, I just stopped by the LCS and there was, like, reveal that I didn't. I. It wasn't just, like, a price. It was, like, the entire thing that I one-of-one So it's kind of a little bit of shock, but excitement. I just seen also the video, the personalized video, and that there was gonna be a, like, party with, like, the hobby friends. And like, yes. It was, like, pretty cool. Yu-Gi-Oh That is, like, so awesome. Also, shout out DJs. I follow them on Instagram. They're a great local card shop in Seattle. And if you guys are online, they have, like, tons of deals all the time on their Instagram. And so when I saw that, and then I was like, wait, I know Jenny. Like, she one-of-one this whole thing. Like, that's such a cool experience, I guess. Could you kind of like, maybe reveal when you were talking to Coop, maybe like, what you guys talked about or if she had any thoughts on cards or kind of what that experience felt like to be kind of in the presence of a WNBA legend ripping boxes like that, that has to be like, once in a lifetime, right? Like, Yu-Gi-Oh it was, like, pretty cool. So got to talk to her a little bit. Like, kind of like backstage. I know. I remember talking about her about, like, kind of like the college I know was going into March Madness. She actually predicted ucla. She said they were going to one-of-one It was like their pick. I was going to UConn, but she said, pretty sure. She told me UCLA will be the winners. She wasn't wrong. So I got to give it to that. But Yu-Gi-Oh just like, talk about, like, different things. Also, I don't think she's a big collector, but I still remember I asked her about her at the national the previous year. I know one-of-one Marie had shown her, like, some of the cards. I think it was a joker card that was like, for Italy. I think she still remember that I, like, mentioned that, that I knew her and she was surprised because I get that goes back to, like, the community, like, so small. We know each other pretty well. I mentioned that, that I knew one-of-one Marie, and then she still remember the card that she saw her, but it was like, pretty cool. And then, Yu-Gi-Oh I also mentioned that one of my favorite college players when I took was Sarah Strong. And actually it's like a pretty cool story. We were ripping nil Yukon packs and she pulled the on campus and she just gifted it to me. It's like a K. It's like, pretty hard to just, like, hit. She just, like, hit it from one of her packs, from her ripping packs at the shop, and she's like, gave it to me. So that was like, pretty cool. But on top of those, I also got to open some other boxes, like 2024 Prizm impeccable boxes and then Dondras. So that was actually cool. And I got like an Angel Reese signed jersey and I actually pull her auto on the Donruss boxes. So it's like, pretty cool. That is so awesome. This is like, I feel like if people were like, oh, what's the perfect party I could throw for a WNBA collector that, like, is up there, like, to be surrounded by community, be surrounded by a legend, rip some boxes, talk about cards. It just had to be like, such an affirming moment to be like, I've been in this hobby for so long, and now this is kind of just like something that I want. And it just must have felt so awesome to be part of that community. And I'm so glad that you had that experience and that you were able to represent us. Us, meaning the WNBA card collecting community. So. Well, like, when I saw that article come out and all the posts about it, I was like, I'm so glad that she one-of-one because you're just such a good ambassador for women's sports in general, let alone card collecting. I just. I was so happy for you. So appreciate that. But, Yu-Gi-Oh I think it's a very small community, so I feel like I'm glad it was someone that we kind of, like, new to in the community. So it was, like, pretty cool, but pretty grateful to have, like, one-of-one that contest too. Absolutely. Well, let's move into kind of another segment before we round out today's episode, which is something that we've called the Personal Grail. This is where I asked the guest, I asked Jenny before we recorded to kind of look through her PC and pick a card that really represents her Storm fandom. It doesn't have to be the most expensive, it doesn't have to be the most flashy, but the one that kind of means the most. I know that you sent over a picture, and I'm just curious if you could talk about what you chose and why. So the card that I chose was for the car. I was like, the Zebra I think we talked about it and, like, from previous podcasts, I feel like it has been brought up a couple times already, but it's like kind of like a grill for me. I also found it at a car shop, just walking around. Someone had it. It's like the Zebra rip. What's unique about this one that I really like? It's like, it's a pretty good grade for, like, this car. Most of the grades that you see, it's like a PSA 7, PSA 8, those type of braids. And also it's like the red patch, too. Not the red, the yellow patch. I feel like most of the patches are, like the white ones because, like, I was, like, actually looking at the jersey. It's like kind of like on the shoulders. That's like the yellow. Most of it. It's like white because of, like, that's most of the jersey. So picking up a high grade and, like, color that also doesn't pop up on something. It was, like, pretty unique. So it's kind of like a grail for me. And what makes it Neat. I feel like it's talked about before on this path like some of the previous episodes is it's like an actual from the jersey she wore on her first year. It's like something unique that I don't see that happening especially with the non associated patches right now that it's like been like put out even like for the high end like the Flawless Dom. It's like not associated. It's like a high end card but the patch doesn't have like much meaning to it. So that was like a pretty cool to kind of like own that like piece of like history. I guess so I think that's why I chose it as like kind of my grill. Yu-Gi-Oh I think as you said, a few people have mentioned this card and I think it's earned its spot on just. I'll say this on the WNBA card, Mount Rushmore Pyramid like period ever like top four card that represents like this is one of the greatest WNBA cards ever produced. Because of that fact that you said that it was something that had never really been done before and we haven't seen really recreated at least not at scale of the jersey that she wore her first game. It just feels special, it feels closer, it feels more tangible and I think it ending up with a fan like you probably means a lot and you can almost feel like you feel that history and you have it in your hand and it's like it's real. I know that you sense kind of an accompanying not a card but like another thing with this. Do you want to talk about that? Yu-Gi-Oh So also I included. I also stumbled this upon at a car show too. It's like kind of the things that just like as a collector I feel like it's kind of stuff like cool stuff that it's like pretty cool to own. It's like an actual ticket for the like first game. It was back then it was called the Key arena before it was kind of like renovated to be like the Climate Pledge. But that's like a pretty cool. It's like first game at home, it was actually against the Comets. I was like looking at the back the other day and we lost by a lot of points. Or actually I was looking at the game we lost by I think 30 points but it was against the Comets which was their final year on the four peak. So I guess we lost against them. I'm not complaining too much but Yu-Gi-Oh That is so cool though to have that piece of history. Especially as we enter this digital era where it feels like physical programs, physical tickets are Just disappearing. You can't even get your hands on them anymore. I think we'll see a lot of fans gravitate for that aspect of just having something real and tangible and, like, traceable to specific moments become more popular. And I would bet that those are not easy to find, especially with such a wide, big fan base like the Storm. That feels like such a special thing to pair with, you know, the Sub Bird rookie relic that also has ties to just, like, first. I think that's something that's Zebra important to collectors, especially collectors that have kind of, like, matured in their collecting habits over the years. So to see those paired together I think is a true testament to Storm fandom. So great work bringing those together. I can't think of a better home. Yu-Gi-Oh for. I think, like, something else for the silver that also was thinking about. I know there's been a talk a lot of, like, the NBA debut patch. I feel like, in, like, it's, like, kind of, like, similar with this one, but it's, like, a little bit, like, more attainable because there's, like, multiples. Like, Yu-Gi-Oh there's not only one. And, like, I get the uniqueness of, like, the patch and, like, being just, like, one in the world, but for this one, it's also fitting for the wnba, where, like, a lot of collectors can actually. It's, like, realistic to kind of go and buy and own this, like, piece of history, too. It's an interesting point that you bring that up, because I really like the rookie debut patches that we're seeing in the NBA and NFL. And I. I do wish we had them in the wnba. But to your point, and to add on to it, the patch is only one thing that they kind of just, like, stamp on there. They just kind of smack it on. Right. It's kind of like an afterthought. This. It's manufactured for the point of putting it into the card. Whereas when Sue Bird walked out to wear that jersey her first time on the court, it wasn't to just, like, produce a card. It was to go play a game. And then they happened to put it in a card that, despite the fact that there's more available, almost feels more special to me. I don't know how you feel about that, but I think, like, you know, we can talk about rarity of that card depending on the color. Like, you were talking about how the yellow shows up a little bit less because it was only on the shoulder shoulders compared to the white, which adorn the entire jersey. If we would have went back to that year that that card was produced. It would have been very interesting if they chose to make them serial numbered and put kind of like the nameplate patch or the logo patch and make that a one of one and then the rest of them, you know, different numbering. How about we just bring that back? Like what can we just. We one-of-one even ask for the rookie debut patch, but can we do something like that doesn't even have to be like the first jersey, just any jersey. But like you said, I think that that's a really important card in the history of Storm collecting for a myriad of reasons. Yu-Gi-Oh I don't see. I don't know if we'll get like something similar, but I'm hopeful, I'm hopeful we do some of those, like cooler patches. But for now I think it's like pretty happy to own that one. 100. It's one of the coolest cards ever. I hope to have my hands on one of those one day. So that's pretty sick. Well, before I let you go, Jenny, I want to give you the Fleer to kind of mention anything that maybe we didn't get to that you wanted to talk about. And also to share with the listeners where they can find you if they want to follow along on your collection journey. Maybe they're just interested in chatting about the Storm. Where can they find you on social media? So I go by W Sports Collector on ig. That's Yu-Gi-Oh The only app platform that I cannot do part time or that I post are related on ig. But Yu-Gi-Oh I think we cover pretty much everything that we were going to talk about. So pretty happy. Yu-Gi-Oh this has been a great conversation and each conversation ends the same way and it's with this question. And I want to pose this to you. If somebody's listening today and they're new to the wnba, or maybe they're not even new. Maybe they just don't have a team that they feel Zebra strongly about. But they want to. They want to pick one and then they want to collect the cards. As you kind of represent the Seattle Storm fandom, could you make your elevator pitch for the Storm? So I guess I'll go back to the three words to describe the franchise, its legacy. We have a good winning guess, like winning culture too, goes with legacy. And then optimistic. I feel like we have a pretty fun and young core group that should be exciting on the years to come. So you're getting early. You one-of-one be like getting in while they're winning. So it's like a Great timing to just like join us to support the team and then just like, even if you, when you look at, if you look at it from the car collecting, it's not one of those like kind of rookies that everyone's chasing. So it's still like kind of like still have a window to buy some of their cards where before they become like too expensive, maybe in the future. And then on the basketball experience, like climate prejudice, it's like an amazing environment. So if you're in Seattle or just like coming to visit, it's like always a great time so to go to one of the games. Awesome. Well, that's a great pitch. I love it. I love the storm. And I'm so glad that we got to talk, Jenny, about your collecting, your fandom, about player of the day and about that awesome grail. So thank you so much for joining and thank you to the audience for listening to us today. We'll be back next week with another team collector. But everybody, thank you so much. Fun conversation between Caitlin and Jenny. Always love to hear the mindset and mentality from a team collector. Make sure you're following us at WNBA card pod on Instagram. Shout out card ladder for the support. Shout out you for listening in each and every week and telling a damn friend. Until next week, we'll be back with another one. Take care. Happy collecting. Talk to you soon.