In a dazzling turn of events that is akin to Pikachu successfully executing a thunderbolt against all odds, Pokémon cards have officially transformed the landscape of card collecting and grading in 2025. With the kind of domination typically only seen in fantasy arenas, the game’s colorful cardboard creations have surged past the traditionally revered sports cards, carving out a space that is as expansive as it is impressive.
Newly minted data from GemRate has served as the proverbial “Electric Terrain,” amplifying the narrative of Pokémon’s unprecedented triumph in the grading arena. According to the report, Pokémon cards now constitute a staggering 97 out of the top 100 most-graded cards at PSA, the heavyweight champion of the card grading world. This isn’t just a minor victory; it’s akin to Charizard finally getting his name engraved in the Hall of Flame.
Through the first half of the year, non-sports and TCG (Trading Card Game) cards, presumably led by our orange-tinted, fire-breathing friend and his crew, made up a whopping 59% of all graded submissions across the four major authenticators. That’s over 7.2 million cards that have been scrutinized with a lens as fine as a Zubat’s echolocation, marking a jaw-dropping 70% increase compared to last year. In sharp contrast, sports cards submissions have receded, amassing merely 5.1 million, indicating a 9% decline as if sporting enthusiasm has decided to take a collective tea break.
Amid this Pokémon proliferation, certain cards have emerged as unexpected pop culture celebrities. Leading the charge, and not in the way of an enraged Tauros, is the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232. Over 45,600 copies of this card have been sent in for grading, underscoring its popularity. But it’s Pikachu, donning both the mantle of the face of the franchise and a rather fetching “Grey Felt Hat,” that has surpassed all. The collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum has spurred nearly 84,000 submissions, solidifying it as PSA’s most-submitted Pokémon card to date. Despite this staggering number, obtaining a PSA 10 rating is as elusive as catching a wild Mew, with such examples selling for over $900—a price that could make even Giovanni take notice.
Meanwhile, the traditional sports cards have found themselves in an unenviable position, struggling to attain a podium finish. Only three cards have muscled their way into PSA’s top 100. Among them standouts include the 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie and the 2024 Panini Instant Caitlin Clark WNBA ROY card, daring to hold their ground amidst a sea of pocket monsters. Each saw submissions just shy of 11,000—impressive, yet dwarfed by the TCG tidal wave.
Data from June paints the same vibrant, animated picture. TCG and non-sports cards accounted for 63% of total submissions, with PSA alone conquering 911,000 of these, effortlessly overtaking the combined sports card total of 743,000 across all major grading companies. It’s like watching an epic gym battle where sports cards just can’t seem to match the super-effective moves of their collectible counterparts.
In this era of Pokémon ascendancy, CGC Cards has ridden the wave brilliantly, grading over 2.18 million cards in 2025, nearly remembering last year as a sweet memory. Among these, over 1.8 million were TCG or non-sports cards, underscoring the magnetic allure of the Pokémon realm. On the contrary, Beckett has seen its fortune dwindle, losing its footing and now coming in fourth place among the grading titans. With 366,000 cards graded, including 214,000 Pokémon or TCG-related ones, Beckett might find itself compelled to evolve to keep up.
PSA’s newfound surge can be significantly attributed to its partnership with GameStop, a collaboration that began only in October but has seen over a million grading submissions, further fueling the grading boom. Like a newly evolved Pokémon partner, it has been a key player in helping them topple the scales.
When it comes to retail, Pokémon’s popularity shows no sign of abating. Stores are buoyant with the electric buzz of excitement, battling against sellouts and long lines in a quest that might rival even the most intense in-game-side-quests. New releases are vanishing faster than a smoke-bomb aided retreat, solidifying Pokémon’s vice-like grip on the hobby industry.
At first glance, it may seem curious that Pokémon has eclipsed sports in such a vast, dramatic fashion. Looking closer, it’s a testament to the nostalgic allure, engaging community, and ever-captivating universe Pokémon provides. The industry may continue to evolve, but with such robust credentials, Pokémon’s presence is almost as sure and eternal as Ash’s undying quest to be the very best.
