In the vibrant and collectible world of trading cards, 2025 has been nothing short of a seismic shift, with Pokémon cards triumphantly seizing the spotlight. Once predominantly the domain of sports memorabilia, the landscape is now undeniably ruled by the colorful creatures of Pokémon as data from GemRate reveals an astounding testament to their dominance. Among the top 100 most-graded cards at Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a staggering 97 belong to the Pokémon franchise, with this dynamic icon of gaming culture now occupying a throne of cardboard elegance.
The trading card game’s (TCG) takeover isn’t merely a Poképhenomenon; it’s an industry revelation. With 59% of all graded submissions across the four major authentication houses enveloped by non-sports and TCG cards occupying first-half figures, 2025 is shaping up to be a trading monster’s ball. The first six months alone ushered 7.2 million TCG and non-sports cards across graders’ tables—a staggering 70% leap from the previous year. Meanwhile, once-proud sports cards trudged along, declining 9% with only 5.1 million submissions. Perhaps it’s time sports cards took a Pikachu-inspired lesson in staying power.
At the heart of this Poképarade lies the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232, emerging as the single most-graded card of the year, amassing over 45,600 submissions. Yet, the undeniable superstar remains Pikachu, an electrifying character who continues to capture imaginations—and grading slots—with relentless charm. This year alone, more than 345,000 Pikachu cards found their way into graders’ hands, led by the audaciously adorned “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” from a whimsical Van Gogh Museum collaboration, with nearly 84,000 graded copies already on altar-like display at PSA. Freshly-minted PSA 10s from this iconic line still fetch over $900, a testament to Pikachu’s rarefied air and enduring allure.
The appeal of Pokémon cards, their rainbowed array of creatures and special releases, encapsulates such infectious joy and nostalgia—conjured perhaps by the vanquished gym leaders of yore—that the sports card community finds itself benched. In fact, only three sports cards ventured into PSA’s illustrious top 100: the flashy 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie and the 2024 Panini Instant Caitlin Clark WNBA ROY card, buttressed by another rare Jayden Daniels release. These sports cards trotted out between 8,800 and 10,500 submissions each, modest numbers when next to Pikachu’s staggering performance.
June’s statistics only etched a clearer portrait of this Pokémon-driven landscape. TCG and non-sports dominated 63% of PSAs tallied under 911,000 cards in a single month, leaving the sports corner with a comparatively restrained 743,000 submissions across all platforms. In a world where Gengar and Gardevoir coo over their grading consistency, sports stalwarts seem left scouring the field for a comeback play.
Meanwhile, CGC Cards enjoys the Pokéwindfall to near dizzying heights. They’ve already graded 2.18 million cards in 2025, close to the entirety of the previous year’s output. Notably, over 1.8 million belong to the bulging TCG and Pokémon stockpile. Beckett, on the other hand, slips to the back of the pack, managing 366,000 cards so far this year, with about 214,000 tied to the Pokémon and TCG phenomena—a drop in the ocean by Pokéstandards.
The surge at PSA owes its roots partly to a shrewd ongoing partnership with GameStop, which has ushered in more than a million grading submissions since its October inception. It’s a double-power potion setting the foundation for the boom resting on the interplay of gamer and collector worlds, melding them into one delightful collectible fantasy.
On the retail frontlines, Pokémon fever simmers feverishly. Lines stretch long, stock ebbs quickly, and retailers impose buyer limits as collections are snapped up at a Blastoise pace. With demand constantly resurfacing, like an eternally bubbling Gyarados, Pokémon’s bond with the hobby remains formidable and enshrined, spelling out a culture gone Poke-mad. Some might say it’s impossible capturing lightning in a bottle twice, but with Pikachu in play, they seem to prove otherwise… consistently.
