BACKSUE BIRD JOINS WITH PANINI AMERICA FOR EXCLUSIVE AUTOGRAPHED TRADING CARDS
Irving, TX – April 21, 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 Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird to an exclusive, multi-year partnership for autographed trading cards.
Bird will be featured across Panini’s range of WNBA trading cards, including Prizm and Origins, as well as in select Panini marketing initiatives. Additionally, Panini will serve as a sponsor of her “Bird’s Eye View” podcast.
The first pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, Bird is the all-time WNBA leader in games played. During her tenure in Seattle, Bird helped lead the Storm to four WNBA Championships while being named first team All-WNBA five times. She holds the WNBA record with 13 All-Star selections and also led the league in assists three times. Bird’s number 10 was retired by the Storm in 2023.
At the University of Connecticut, Bird was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2002 and a two-time NCAA Champion. She was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last year.
“Sue Bird is a legendary player who has had an incredible impact on the game over the years,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations at Panini America. “We think that fans are really going to love her new autographed cards.”
“Collecting trading cards is another great way for fans to experience and engage with the WNBA and its athletes, and I am looking forward to collaborating with Panini in the years to come,” said Bird.
In addition to Bird, Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are exclusive Panini WNBA trading card partners.
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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