BACKPANINI TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST-EVER UCONN BASKETBALL TRADING CARD BOX SET
Launch Marks Panini’s Latest Product Expansion in the Collegiate Space
Irving, TX – March 13, 2025 – Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced today a landmark product – its initial NIL trading card box set, showcasing the University of Connecticut’s powerhouse men’s and women’s basketball programs.
The set of more than 100 trading cards will feature members of the current men’s and women’s basketball teams, including Alex Karaban, Solo Ball, Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong, along with UConn legends like Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Rebecca Lobo, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. Download Checklist here
The collection will feature Panini Prizm inserts such as Prizm Fearless, Prizm Fireworks and Prizm Student Orientation, and additional inserts that include Color Blast, On Campus and School Colors. The UConn cards will be available at Retail in four card packs, six packs per box and 20 boxes per case and will also have randomly inserted autographed cards. For Hobby, there will be six cards per pack and two autographed cards per box, along with exclusive content. The set will be available for pre-order soon at Panini’s website.
This special box set is Panini’s latest expansion of its relationship with UConn. Paige Bueckers and Panini have an exclusive, multi-year trading card partnership. Additionally, UConn is a partner school in Panini College, a dedicated NIL platform that allows all athletes at a partner university to have their own Panini trading card under the Panini NIL brand. Select UConn men’s and women’s basketball cards are featured, with plans to expand to additional UConn sports.
“UConn is one of the premiere schools in the country, measuring its success in multiple NCAA Championships and Final Four appearances,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations for Panini America. “Featuring their basketball programs and players is a natural fit for our first-ever NIL box set. We know that fans will be very excited for the set and to celebrate the Huskies.”
Panini is planning additional school-focused NIL box sets in the coming months.
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 NFL, NFLPA, NBA, NBPA, NASCAR, FIFA, 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.
# # #
CONTACTS:
Taylor Strategy
