Serena Williams is simply one of the finest athletes in modern history. If you've ever marveled at the force, tenacity, and grace that she embodies on the tennis court, you're not alone. Millions of fans worldwide celebrate her victories and frequently broken sports records. For many, Serena is more than just a tennis player — she is a role model, a barrier breaker, and the one who has redefined the landscape of women's sports with her advocacy of social issues.
It's probably no surprise that when we compiled a list of the most valuable women’s sports cards, that the list was filled with cardboard collectibles celebrating the Queen of the Tennis Court. While that list highlighted the most expensive Serena Williams cards, we wanted to put together a list of the very best cards for fans of Serena Williams regardless of their budget. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the 13 best Serena Williams sports cards that you can acquire at just about any price point, including under $10, $50, $100, and also a few that definitely are on the high-end of the hobby.
Finding Serena Williams Sports Cards
Whether you are a serious fan of this exceptional athlete or just looking for a good investment opportunity, you can always find invaluable details about the market for her cards on the Serena Williams main page on Cardbase. From here, you can see trending auctions, Hot Deals for the best cards, and accurate pricing history from across the Internet. Okay, let’s get to the list…
Budget Under $10: Affordable Serena Williams Card Gems
In this price range, remember that graded sports cards sell for more money because a third-party service has validated their condition and authenticity. You can often find less expensive versions of cards if they have not been graded. If the card is not graded and sealed, be sure to inspect the card for damage before buying. If it’s in great shape, you can also have it professionally graded and possibly add a lot of value to your collectible.
13. 2003 NetPro Serena Williams Rookie Card #100
2003 is considered Serena’s rookie year, so you will see a lot of cards from that year on this list. In sports, it’s often challenging to spot an impressive newcomer and acquire their rookie card in hopes that it will gain value when they become a huge star. In 2003, everyone could see that Serena Williams was a once-in-a-generation tennis talent. As a result, NetProm, the company best known for tennis cards, printed a huge variety of different cards to celebrate her ‘debut’ year on the pro circuit.
This 2003 NetPro Serena Williams Rookie Card #100 showcasing the superstar in her prime is a good budget-friendly starting point for new collectors or Serena Williams fans. Despite its affordable price, this card offers the thrill of owning a piece of Serena's legacy, with her confident hand in the air after vanquishing another competitor. NetPro puts out consistently fine cards with clear, compelling photography and this lovely card is no exception. You can still find ungraded copies of this card for a few bucks online.
12. 2003 NetPro Serena Williams Rookie Card #1
Another exceptional card from her rookie year, this 2003 NetPro Serena Williams Rookie Card #1 has an exciting action shot of Serena Williams making her way across a clay court, all presented in a landscape image.This Serena Williams card really captures the ferocity of her play and the determination she shows in every match. Serena Williams is famous for the physicality she brings to the game and it’s easy to see that on this compelling card.
On the back, fans can read up on her stats for the previous year and some career highlights. They’re impressive numbers in any year for any athlete, but when you consider that this was her rookie season, it’s clear she was dominating the sport from the beginning. Although a graded and PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of this card goes for a lot more, ungraded copies can still be had for less than $10, so now is probably a good time to snap one up.
11. 2003 NetPro The Williams Sisters Major History Tennis Card #51
What list of Serena Williams cards would be complete without one card that also features her older sister and frequent rival for tennis glory, Venus Williams?
Although the two of them would battle out many times for prize money and trophies, this 2003 NetPro The Williams Sisters Major History Tennis Card #51 from NetPro’s 2023 International Tennis Cards Series shows the two of them on the thrilling day when they made Wimbledon history both by winning the women’s double tournament and by being the two competitors in the single women’s tournament as well. While Serena prevailed in their head-to-head matchup, both ladies were exceptional on the court throughout the event. Their huge smiles are an amazing memory of that key tournament when we all learned the Williams Sisters were in the process of taking over the world of women’s tennis.
While you can certainly find PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of this card going for a couple hundred dollars, most ungraded copies are still selling for less than $10, making it an ideal keepsake to celebrate both of these exceptional athletes.
10. 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter Serena Williams #249
This surprisingly affordable item is an interesting addition to any collection of Serena Williams cards. It’s part of the Allen & Ginter series revived by Topps and modeled after a set originally produced in the late 19th century. The original series were known for including an eclectic mix of sports figures, celebrities and other unusual non-sport personalities.
As part of the revival, Topps marked the exceptional year Serena Williams had with an illustrated card. 2008 was a pivotal year for the tennis superstar; she won the US Open for the third time and, with her sister, took home gold medals from the Olympics for the women’s doubles.
This 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter Serena Williams #249 card itself captures the vintage aesthetic that harks back to the original Allen & Ginter cards of the 1800s and yet it presents the exceptional Williams at her best, too. It’s a delightfully quirky tennis card and still can be had for around $10 ungraded. Notably, with proper grading in Gem Mint condition, you can pay upwards of $1,000 for a copy.
Budget Under $50: Mid-Range Serena Williams Card Collectibles
In this range, some of the cards are professionally graded. Prices fluctuate more on ungraded cards and you can often find them for less than expected. Track those opportunities from the Hot Deals section of the card’s page on Cardbase. This listing shows cards that are selling for below their expected price and it's an ideal way to pick up a valuable card for a low price.
9. 2003 NetPro Elite Event Starter Serena Williams Rookie Card #S4
Yes, it’s another rookie Serena Williams card from 2003. NetPro produced so many excellent cards that year and in a sufficient quantity that many are still available at affordable prices. In this case, the 2003 NetPro Elite Event series was a special edition subset aimed at serious collectors and they added more intriguing design elements to the cards within it.
The 2003 NetPro Elite Event Starter Serena Williams Rookie Card #S4 image shows one of Serena Williams’ truly triumphant moments, with her proudly holding up her prize in victory. The card is emblazoned with her name and a proud display of the US flag being the only other bright color on an image where the background has been rendered sepia-toned. It’s an arresting image and a truly beautiful card honoring one of our finest athletes ever.
Now, you can find PSA 10 Gem Mint copies that have sold for around $1,000, but if you are willing to accept one with a lower grading, you can find PSA-certified copies for $40-$60 on a number of online marketplaces. Some even have starting bids well below that, so now is likely the right time to add this iconic card to your collection.
8. 2003 NetPro Elite Event Edition Serena Williams #E2
As stated, 2003 was a standout year in a career full of success. Serena won the Australian Open and Wimbledon that year, completing a "Serena Slam" - holding all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously, but not in the same calendar year. Another exceptional card celebrating the period is this 2003 NetPro Elite Event Edition Serena Williams #E2 card. The Elite Event Edition cards are notable for their dynamic action shots of the players, effectively capturing the intensity of pro tennis - especially with a fierce contender like tennis’ own GOAT.
This vivid shot of Serena Williams in the midst of a powerful stroke is really a must-have for serious collectors of her memorabilia. They’re also in luck because despite the distinguished history of this card, it can be had in Mint+ graded condition for about $50.
7. 2003 NetPro Photo Card Serena Williams Rookie Card #2
The wonder of collecting sports cards can often be reduced to truly exceptional photography. While this is just one among a huge list of 2003 NetPro cards celebrating Serena Williams’ ‘rookie’ year on the courts, it stands out for the gravity-defying leap the superstar is making. As a reminder of her formidable skills when she was at the height of her powers, this makes for a great collectible and piece of tennis history.
Happily, the 2003 NetPro Photo #2 Serena Williams card can still be acquired for less than $50, even graded and in top-notch condition. While it is just one of so many cards featuring Serena Williams from this time period, it’s also extra special based on the awe-inspiring photo it features.
Budget Under $100: Higher-End Serena Williams Card Choices
In this price range, most of the cards on the list are graded. If you invest in one, make sure you check pricing on the Cardase App first to see if the price for the card you are buying is in line with the industry standard for its grading.
6. 2018 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Serena Williams Dual Memorabilia #SRM2-SW #10
This Upper Deck card from 2018 is notable for its focus on Serena Williams later in her storied career. The Goodwin Champions series features a range of athletes and other notable people, including astronauts and musicians. The Dual Memorabilia in the card's name refers to the fact that it includes two pieces of outfits or something Serena used in a match. The inclusion of actual memorabilia in the card will generally increase its value and interest among collectors. The other reference on the card, to ‘Sports Royalty’ should be clear to anyone looking at the shining smile on the superstar’s face. No one could embody that term any better than Serena Williams. She’s up there with Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and Billie Jean King as sports icons.
The value of this 2018 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Serena Williams Dual Memorabilia #SRM2-SW #10 card seems to be on the rise, but you can still find graded copies for not much over $100. The series as a whole has been slow to rise in value, but some standouts like Serena Williams’ card, have been accelerating. Also, note that there are single memorabilia versions as well as a signed variant that has gone for significantly more.
5. 2008 Donruss Sports Legends Serena Williams #94 /100
The Donruss Sports Legends series is known for featuring a range of athletes from various sports, not just the most popular ones. Of course, card #94 features Serena Williams, so they do rely on big names for the special autograph cards.
While we are calling attention to the Blue Gold Parallel variant, which is part of a set of just 100 copies, there are additional parallel versions that number down into the single digits and will command a much higher price. All versions of the card have the same image of Serena Williams on the court in an all-red outfit. The variation is in the color bars around the border. As with all limited edition parallel cards, the price of the particular card varies with the size of its print run. With 100 copies of the Blue Gold card out there, you can still find one in the $100 price range. If a different parallel strikes your fancy, you can expect to pay a premium price for it. On the other hand, if you just want the standard edition of the 2008 Donruss Sports Legends Serena Williams #94, they’re available for a few dollars.
4. 1999 Sports Illustrated for Kids Serena Williams #814
Considering that a minty-fresh version of 1999 Sports Illustrated for Kids Serena Williams #814 is on the list of the most expensive women’s sports cards ever sold, how is this card also listed in this price category? Well, the simple fact is that after that huge sale, the market was flooded with copies of these cut-out cards from a 25-year old Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine.
This also means that if you are going to acquire a copy of this card celebrating the early years of Serena William’s exceptional career, you’re going to need to pick up a copy in ungraded condition. Without professional grading, pricing is more flexible and serious investors will see a great opportunity to acquire these cards and grade them for resale. Keep an eye on the official Cardbase page for the card to scout out Hot Deals to find a copy for your collection.
Premium Investments: Serena Williams Cards Worth a Lot of Money
3. 2017 Leaf Signature Series Autograph Serena Williams #NP-SW1
This card is from smaller card manufacturer Leaf, a company that focuses on autograph and memorabilia-based cards. As part of the Leaf Signature Series, the 2017 Leaf Signature Series Autograph Serena Williams #NP-SW1 features an authenticated autograph from Serena Williams on top of a background with the US flag to express the theme of National Pride for US-based athletes. The Leaf card strategy is to focus on inclusion of a single autographed card from a luminary in each box of cards, which makes getting a card from a specific superstar like Serena Williams pretty tough.
The limited numbers also helped drive up the value of these cards. In recent days, you could find a copy for sale anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand dollars for graded mint copies. A pricey addition to the collection, but well worth it for such a fine collectible that celebrates one of the sport’s greats.
2. 2000-5 Stadion World Stars Serena Williams Rookie #567
This is an unusual card from the Stadion series, which was published by the Czech Republic company from 2000-2005. While Serena’s sister Venus Williams appeared in 2000 as one of their earliest cards, Serena Williams’ card was published a bit later, leading to it being card number #567 in the set. That doesn’t take away from the colorful, compelling image they captured, with the tennis champ about to deliver a massive swing overhead.
With only about 1,000 copies of the card in circulation, they have gone for as little as $100 and up to almost $10,000. Keep an eye out for ungraded copies in excellent condition that might be an ideal investment opportunity.
1. 2003 NetPro Elite Glossy Serena Williams #G2 /100
Okay, this one is definitely for those ready to make a major investment in Serena Williams memorabilia. The NetPro Elite Glossy subset is popular among collectors and investors alike because of its exceptional quality. The Glossy look of 2003 NetPro Elite Glossy Serena Williams #G2 /100 suits this photograph of Serena Williams winding up to mow down her opponent.
This card is particularly noteworthy because of this golden moment in Serena Williams’ career. Williams was the No. 1 in the world for women's singles for most of that year and she was a dominant force on every court, winning a shocking 85% of her matches. You can find copies for between $5,000 and $10,000, but not necessarily in pristine condition. In 2022, PSA 10 Gem Mint copies were being sold for just under $100,000. So, if you want a perfect copy, get ready to pay top dollar.
Investing in Serena Williams Sports Cards
Serena Williams has left an indelible mark on women's sports, and her trading cards are a testament to her influential career. Whether you're looking for an affordable starting point or ready to invest in high-value cards, hopefully you found a Serena Williams card on our list that works for you. As women's sports cards continue to grow in popularity, they present an exciting investment opportunity worth exploring.
Remember, the value of these cards is not just financial; they offer a connection to Serena Williams's inspiring journey, making them a treasure for any sports enthusiast. So, whether you're a seasoned collector or a new fan, consider adding a Serena Williams card to your collection and own a true piece of sports history.
