Cards
More Caitlin Clark cards coming as Panini signs new deal with WNBA
With Caitlin Clark cards setting records and WNBA cards holding solid demand on the sports card market, Panini has renewed its license with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).
The multi-year deal marks the most lucrative licensing partnership ever for women athletes, Panini said. The collectibles company expects the new deal to generate record sales and player royalties.
“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 America CEO Mark Warsop said.
Since partnering with Panini in 2019, WNBA cards have seen a surge in demand fueled by the rising popularity of such stars as Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. Panini has exclusive partnerships with all three stars.
Clark, the league's biggest star, has seen her Panini cards set records in the last two years. Her card value stunned the hobby in July when a 2024 Panini Flawless WNBA Platinum Rookie #1/1 Logowoman Patch Auto sold for $660,000, shattering the all-time record for a woman's sports card. Clark also held the previous record at $366,000. Those two cards are the highest-selling cards ever for a female athlete.
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Panini will continue to produce WNBA cards across its top brands, including Prizm, Donruss, Select and National Treasures, along with the Panini Instantand digital collectibles platform.
Panini will also expand its investment in player marketing, product innovation, autograph deals, and event sponsorship, including the WNBPA Rookie Premiere.
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson said Panini has 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.”
The agreement was facilitated by OneTeam Partners, the WNBPA’s exclusive group licensing partner.
“This renewal is about the players and the power of what we’ve built together,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said. “Panini has been with us as we’ve pushed the women’s game forward, and their products show the reach and impact of our players in ways that feel real.”
