If you spend any time in sports cards, you already know the hobby is bigger, louder, and more social than it used to be. But one of the most meaningful shifts happening right now is also one of the most important: more women are collecting, building community, and shaping what the hobby looks like next.That was the big takeaway from a conversation with collector and hobby voice Mikayla Baer. She talked about how she got into cards almost by accident, why social media helped turn collecting into community, and why women in the hobby are no longer defined by who they collect. She also shared what still needs to change if the hobby wants to keep growing.[IMAGE: Mikayla Baer at a card show or holding a favorite card, with a casual hobby setting in the background]
[ALT TEXT: Mikayla Baer talking about women in sports card collecting at a card show]
How Mikayla Baer Found Her Way Into the Hobby
Mikayla’s entry point into collecting was not a master plan. It started with a player she liked, a social media post here and there, and a desire to find some kind of community when life felt uncertain.“I kind of fell into the hobby on accident,” she said. “I started collecting Steven Kwan kind of on accident.” That accidental beginning matters because it reflects how a lot of modern collectors enter the hobby now. They do not always start with old-school pack ripping or childhood nostalgia. Sometimes they arrive through a player, a team, a moment, or a person they connect with online.For Mikayla, that path quickly became something bigger. She started posting about her cards on Instagram, then found a home on Twitter/X, where hobby conversations, friendships, and opportunities began to snowball. She described the experience as emotional and surreal, especially as her following grew.That is a useful reminder for anyone trying to understand the hobby today: collecting is not just about cardboard. It is about identity, belonging, and the people you meet along the way. [INTERNAL LINK: How social media is changing sports card collecting]Why her story mattersMikayla’s story shows that you do not need to come into cards through the “traditional” route to belong here. You can start with one player, one card, or one post and still become a real part of the community.That matters because the hobby often talks about growth, but growth only happens when new people feel welcome enough to stay. If the only “real” collector is someone who grew up in the hobby and knows every set by heart, the community stays small. If collectors can enter from different directions, the hobby gets stronger.[INTERNAL LINK: Beginner’s guide to getting into sports cards]
Why Women in the Hobby Are Becoming More Visible
One of the strongest parts of the conversation was Mikayla’s read on women in the hobby right now. She believes the stigma around women collecting has softened a lot.In her view, the biggest change is that women in cards are no longer automatically boxed into collecting only women’s sports. That used to be the assumption. Now, she said, women in the hobby are just collectors—full stop—whether they collect Steven Kwan, Derek Jeter, women’s sports, or anything else.That shift is bigger than it sounds. It means women are not being treated like a side category or a niche within a niche. They are part of the main collector base, which is exactly where they should be.She also pointed to trailblazers who helped make that possible, including collectors who have long built public, respected hobby identities. The result is a better environment for everyone. When more people see women collecting seriously, attending shows, and talking knowledgeably about cards, the hobby starts to feel less exclusionary.What’s driving the changeThere are a few reasons this shift is happening:
Visibility is higher.
Social media makes it easier to see women actively collecting and participating in the hobby.
Women’s sports are getting stronger.
More attention on women’s sports creates more natural entry points for collecting.
The old gatekeeping is fading.
The “cards are for boys” mindset is getting challenged more openly now.
Collectors are more diverse overall.
The hobby is broadening beyond one narrow type of fan.Mikayla also noted that she saw more women at the National than ever before. That tracks with what a lot of collectors are seeing across shows and online spaces. The hobby is still far from perfectly balanced, but the direction is encouraging.[IMAGE: Busy card show floor with a diverse crowd of collectors browsing tables]
[ALT TEXT: A crowded sports card show with more women collectors participating]
The Biggest Barrier Isn’t Interest—It’s Cost
When asked what still keeps more women from getting involved, Mikayla did not point to a lack of interest or access. She pointed to price.Her argument was simple: the hobby is expensive right now, and that affects everyone, not just women. But because many newer collectors are entering during a period of high box prices, high singles prices, and constant chase inflation, the sticker shock is real.That is an important distinction. The barrier is not necessarily that cards are marketed only to men. It is that the cost of entry can feel absurd. If a hobby box costs several hundred dollars, a newcomer may not care whether the product is “for them”—they may just decide it is not worth the money.That is especially true when the hobby keeps celebrating high-end chases while everyday collectors are trying to figure out how to enjoy the hobby on a budget. Mikayla’s point was not anti-growth. It was pro-reality. If the industry wants more people in the door, it has to make room for collectors who are not chasing the most expensive product on release day.What the hobby can do betterThis is where companies like Topps and Fanatics have real room to improve. Mikayla suggested that there are easy ways to bring more women into the hobby, but they require actual follow-through.One example she brought up was women’s baseball. She argued that if Topps secured rights to a women’s professional baseball league, that could be a meaningful step for both the league and the hobby. It would support a new sports property while also giving collectors another real reason to engage.That kind of move does more than create cards. It creates representation, legitimacy, and long-term fandom.[INTERNAL LINK: Why women’s sports cards are rising in popularity]
Trade Nights, Community, and Why Representation Matters
Mikayla is not just talking about inclusion—she is actively building it. She shared that she is working on the second annual women’s trade night in Ohio, and this year’s event is intentionally being shaped as a celebration of women in the hobby rather than a space that feels closed off.That difference matters. A women-focused event does not have to mean exclusion. It can mean visibility, celebration, and a place where collectors feel seen. Mikayla’s approach is thoughtful because it reflects how the hobby is changing in real time. It is less about drawing hard boundaries and more about creating room.She also talked about one of the most underrated parts of collecting: the notes people send with cards. Those notes, she said, are her favorite part of the hobby. That says a lot about what makes collecting stick for people. Yes, the cards are fun. But the relationships, messages, and generosity are what turn the hobby into something personal.For newer collectors, that is a powerful takeaway. If you want the hobby to feel meaningful, participate in it like a community, not just a marketplace.[IMAGE: Close-up of handwritten note cards, bubble mailers, and a display of favorite PC cards]
[ALT TEXT: Handwritten notes and personal cards sent between collectors in the sports card hobby]
What Women in the Hobby Means Going Forward
The most encouraging part of Mikayla’s perspective is that she does not frame women in the hobby as a trend. She frames it as a natural evolution.Women are showing up at shows, building collections, starting podcasts, trading cards, and shaping conversations. They are not only collecting women’s sports. They are collecting what they love, the same way everyone else does. That is the point.If the hobby keeps moving in that direction, everyone benefits. More voices make the community smarter. More collectors make the market healthier. More representation makes the hobby more welcoming for the next person who walks in unsure of whether they belong.The challenge now is making sure the hobby does not just celebrate this shift on social media. It needs to support it in the real world too—through pricing, accessibility, event design, and product choices. [INTERNAL LINK: How card companies can grow the hobby responsibly]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are more women getting into sports cards now?More women are getting into sports cards because the hobby is more visible, more social, and more connected to online community than it used to be. Women’s sports are also getting more attention, which creates natural entry points for collecting.Are women in the hobby mostly collecting women’s sports?Not anymore. That old assumption is fading fast. Today, women in the hobby collect all kinds of players and teams, just like any other collector.What is the biggest obstacle for new collectors?Cost is the biggest barrier. High box prices and expensive singles can make the hobby feel inaccessible, especially for newcomers who are still deciding how much they want to spend.How can the hobby become more welcoming?More inclusive events, better product diversity, stronger support for women’s sports, and lower-cost entry points would all help. Representation matters, but so does making the hobby financially approachable.Why do personal notes and trades matter so much?They make collecting feel human. Cards are fun, but the community around them is what creates lasting connection and loyalty.
[IMAGE: Collage of women collectors at card shows, social media screenshots, and women’s sports card products]
[ALT TEXT: Women collectors, social media hobby posts, and women’s sports cards in the modern hobby][INTERNAL LINK OPPORTUNITIES]
[INTERNAL LINK: How social media is changing sports card collecting]
[INTERNAL LINK: Beginner’s guide to getting into sports cards]
[INTERNAL LINK: Why women’s sports cards are rising in popularity]
[INTERNAL LINK: How card companies can grow the hobby responsibly]
[EXTERNAL LINK SUGGESTIONS]
Topps official blog or product announcements
Fanatics Collect information page
Women’s Professional Baseball League coverage or official site
A credible women’s sports media outlet for broader context
One-Sentence Summary:
Women are becoming a bigger, more visible force in sports card collecting, and the hobby grows stronger when it makes room for their voices, collections, and communities.