Parkside Collectibles Kicks Up a New Era of Trading Cards

There have been so many advances in women’s soccer this year. Sold-out stadiums, record-breaking salaries, and league expansion, to name a few. But it’s perhaps the less attention-grabbing advances that signal real, sustainable change is finally taking shape. Take note: There is a bonafide trading card boom happening right now, thanks to Parkside Collectibles, who in 2020 launched a series with the NWSL during Covid around the very first Challenge Cup. Their mission was simple: to celebrate the groundbreaking athletes of the NWSL in the way every professional sports league has in the past.

It’s true every men’s sports league, regardless of popularity, has trading cards. The absence of them from the women’s game was a glaring reminder of the lack of respect female athletes have historically received. That is changing now as companies see real value in investing in women’s sports and creating content around them.

Let’s face it. No sport has captured the imagination of the country like women’s soccer. So, it makes sense that Parkside would start with the NWSL. But there’s more to it than that, as with many people, including myself, who have gotten involved in women’s soccer.

Co-founder Matt Peek was out shopping one day with his daughter looking at trading cards, and she asked him why there weren’t any professional women’s players. It’s a hard question to answer as a parent of girls and one we’re faced with all too often. Peek felt an obligation to do something about it.

Since their Challenge Cup launch, which sold out completely and was only available on their website, their growth has been measurable. NWSL Parkside Trading Cards are now available in retail spaces like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

Why Are Trading Cards Important?

I’ve always been a sports fan. I can thank my brother and father for that to a degree. But like anything, it’s the time you spend alone as a kid learning and making sense of a sport that really triggers a sense of fandom and ignites a passion. Back in the day, access to watching games was limited to either a trip to the stadium or watching on TV.

While I did both of those things–likely more than most girls did–as well as playing on teams, there’s another element of sports initiation and education that we don’t talk about enough. It’s the trading card.

Let me out myself and age myself. I was an avid collector of trading cards from about nine until high school. For me, it was the Topps Baseball cards. My dad bought me my first pack and taught me what all the stats meant. From then on, I would spend my allowance on them as soon as I was at the drugstore. I remember the bubble gum smell (my teeth, the cavities) and the excitement of trading them with friends at school when I had doubles.

More than that, I remember spending hours reading and learning about players and what made them special. Back in the day, I could have told you about Reggie Jackson hitting averages, Davey Lopes’s steel record, and how many homers Pete Rose hit.

While all that may seem trivial, it’s actually not. Studying statistics and trivia is part of learning–and trading cards are great for kids for that very reason. It develops an interest in the part of the game you simply cannot get from watching or playing. I am still a baseball fan to this day, and I believe trading cards gave me the tools to enjoy the game on a deeper level for a lifetime.

The same will be true for young girls getting to experience this with their favorite soccer players through the Parkside NWSL Trading Cards. It really is a gift that keeps on giving. And not just for girls. Parkside is giving professional female soccer players another opportunity to earn money for their sport, which they truly deserve.

What Are They Like?

Step away from the screen and feel the smooth cardboard sensation that is a trading card. Parkside has created modern and stylish cards that fit the times. Like all trading cards, the front features an image of the player in action with their names and the teams they are currently playing for.

The difference is that back has a scan code, which links directly to the NWSL site with live stats. It’s a perfect blend of the past and the present to enhance the consumer experience.

Gimme Some Cards!

Parkside has gone above and beyond to create a variety of options for the trading card beginner or avid collector. Use promo code GSN10 for 10% off the shop!

Just getting started: The NWSL 2022 Collection $9.95:

Twenty-five randomly assorted cards in each pack. The full set includes 225 individual player trading cards, varied parallels, and multiple special inserts, such as The Signature Series, Cityscapes, Beautiful Game, and Promising Prospects, boasting legends of the league and exciting newcomers. In addition, each pack features 25 randomly assorted cards, including a variety of inserts.

Soooo Californian:  Inaugural Team Collection: $25

You may want to try out one of their Inaugural Team sets featuring Angel City FC and San Diego Wave. These packs feature cards with players from each of these 2022 expansion teams.

I’m a Collector! The 2022 NWSL Collection Hobby Box $155

Can’t get enough! This box contains 24 Packs, each with eight cards. Every Box guarantees two (2) Signature Series cards and contains the Exclusive Promising Prospects limited parallels.

Only the Best: 2022 NWSL Paramount $75

You’ve stepped up your game, and now you want exclusivity. This is a single box with 15 cards per box–with one 10th Anniversary Coin Card, a Next Wave Prospect, at least one Authenticated Autograph, and more. Each base card is limited to 1000 prints with multiple parallels.

Consider introducing your daughter to the magic of trading cards this holiday season and beyond. You never know; one day, she may be on one. And the beauty of that should not be lost; she can be!!

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