PANINI AMERICA LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER WNBA PLAYER OF THE DAY HOBBY SHOP PROMOTION

Promotion tips off in Late September across 500 hobby shops nationwide; collectors can win exclusive prizes and a chance at the national grand prize experience

DALLAS, TX – Sept. 10, 2025 — Panini America, the exclusive trading card partner of the WNBA, today announced the launch of the inaugural Panini WNBA Player of the Day promotion, giving collectors at 500 participating hobby shops nationwide the chance to win exclusive prizes and one unforgettable grand prize experience. The promotion will run from September through November and is modeled after Panini’s popular basketball and football hobby shop programs.

The WNBA continues to surge in popularity, with record-breaking attendance, viewership, and social engagement driving the league into the national spotlight. As importantly, Panini WNBA trading cards have quickly become among the hottest collectibles in the industry, with strong demand from both seasoned collectors and a new generation of fans.

“Hobby shop owners and collectors began asking us last year when we would bring the Player of the Day promotion to the WNBA,” said Jason Howarth, vice president of marketing for Panini. “This launch gives us a unique way to reward hobby shops and collectors and celebrate the incredible popularity of the WNBA and Panini WNBA Trading Cards.”

How It Works

The centerpiece of the promotion is a colorful poster featuring a Panini trading card image of one player from each of the 13 WNBA teams as well as three “Wild Cards” — Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark or Breanna Stewart. Each day for 13 days, or every other day for 26 days, a different player is designated as the “Panini WNBA Player of the Day.”

Collectors who win daily are then entered into weekly and grand prize drawings at their local shop. Each store’s grand prize winner will receive an autographed Panini WNBA Player of the Day card – exclusively available through this promotion – and will then be entered by the shop owner into the national sweepstakes.  The ultimate prize for one lucky collector will be an exclusive “Collector Fantasy Experience” that includes a private

meet-and-greet with a player, a private party at their local hobby shops for their fellow collectors, autographed memorabilia, and a shopping spree of Panini products at their local hobby shop.

Each of the 500 participating shops will receive a free promotional kit from Panini that includes; WNBA promo packs, T-shirts, an autographed card, posters, and more.  The Panini WNBA Player of the Day promo set includes 80-card base set plus a 20 card rookie subset with each card being available in six sequentially numbered parallel versions  ranging in quantity from 100 to 1/1 as well as an 18 card Marketing insert set with each card numbered to 25.

Proven Success for Shops and Collectors

The Player of the Day program has been a proven success for hobby shops for more than two decades, helping drive traffic, reward customers, and create unforgettable collector experiences. The WNBA edition marks the first time Panini has expanded the popular format to women’s sports, a reflection of both the league’s momentum and the booming popularity of WNBA trading cards.

More details, including participating shops, can be found at www.PaniniPOD.com.