Panini, WNBA Extend Exclusive Trading Card Partnership
Since 2019, Panini has helped propel the rise in popularity of women’s basketball and the WNBA by bringing the league to its most popular brands like Donruss, Prizm, and Select, as well as limited releases in high-end lines like Flawless and National Treasures.
2024 Panini Prizm WNBA #22 Caitlin Clark RC
On Thursday, Panini and the WNBA Players’ Association announced a multi-year extension of their exclusive trading card partnership, giving the Irving, Texas-based Panini more opportunities to help the league grow its profile among collectors. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Panini called it the “most lucrative licensing partnership” for women athletes.
The agreement was facilitated by OneTeam Partners, the WNBPA’s exclusive group licensing partner.
“Panini gets our athletes and the value they bring to basketball and sports culture,” WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson said in a release. “They have been invested partners every step of the way, and now we’re ready to deliver even more of the moments and products fans are demanding from the women who drive this sport.”
In addition to maintaining its place as the exclusive manufacturer of WNBA cards, Panini will continue its digital footprint with the league through Panini Instant and other digital collectibles on its platform.
Panini also said it would expand its investment in player marketing, product innovation, autograph deals, and sponsorship of events, including the WNBPA Rookie Premiere.
“Collaborating with the WNBPA has shown how strong this market can be, and we are excited to keep innovating and expanding our product offerings for fans and collectors everywhere,” Panini CEO Mark Warsop said in a release.
The WNBA recently wrapped up its 2025 campaign with MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces winning the title. Meanwhile, young superstar talents like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers have brought the WNBA countless new viewers and collectors over the past two years.
Panini has already released a Donruss WNBA flagship set for 2025, with Panini Prizm WNBA and the debut of Panini Impeccable WNBA also on the way. More releases are expected but haven’t been announced yet.
Earlier in the year, Panini released the milestone Rookie Royalty boxes, which put Clark and Reese onto high-end Rookie Patch Autographs for the first time.
Shop for WNBA cards:
- Hobby Boxes: On eBay | On Amazon
- Single Cards: On eBay | On Amazon | On Fanatics | On Beckett Marketplace
