BACKA’JA WILSON PARTNERING WITH PANINI AMERICA FOR EXCLUSIVE AUTOGRAPHED TRADING CARDS
Irving, TX – April 9, 2026 – Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company and the official Trading Card Partner of the WNBA and WNBPA, has signed four-time WNBA Most Valuable Player A’ja Wilson to an exclusive, multi-year autographed trading card agreement.
The Las Vegas Aces star earned her second consecutive WNBA MVP award in 2025, and record-breaking fourth overall, while also leading the Aces to their third WNBA title. She was also named WNBA Finals MVP and Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Wilson will be showcased in multiple WNBA trading card products from Panini, including its Prizm and Origins lines, along with their Instant Card platform, which will celebrate players and performances throughout the 2026 season. Wilson will also be featured in Panini marketing activations.
“A’ja’s accomplishments and influence both on and off the court are iconic, and we are excited to welcome her to our Panini team,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations at Panini America. “We look forward to partnering closely with her and sharing her products with her many fans.”
Wilson led the WNBA in scoring, rebounding and blocks per game last season, and became the first WNBA player in history to record a 30-20 double-double, when she tallied 32 points and 20 rebounds in the Aces’ 94-86 victory over the Connecticut Sun on August 10th, 2025. She is a five-time All-WNBA First Team selection and seven-time WNBA All-Star.
The first pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft and the WNBA Rookie of the Year, Wilson starred at the University of South Carolina, where she was an NCAA Champion, a three-time Associated Press All-American and the consensus National Player of the Year as a senior. She was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame last year. Wilson has also sparked the United States to Gold Medals in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
“Partnering with Panini is a great fit for me,” said Wilson. “It’s particularly meaningful that young fans are interested in my cards and can imagine themselves having their own card one day.”
In addition to Wilson, the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are also exclusive Panini trading card athletes.
About Panini America
Panini America is a subsidiary of The Panini Group, established over 60 years ago in Modena, Italy with subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for WNBA, WNBAPA, NASCAR, FIFA, the NWSL and NWSLPA, Unrivaled, LIV Golf, the Professional Fighters League, College, Disney, and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini is also the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Elite 11 and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
Panini has distribution channels in more than 150 countries and employs a staff of over 1,200. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or
http://blog.paniniamerica.net/. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
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