Hobby Musings: Caitlin Clark Panini Exclusive

Hobby Musings: Caitlin Clark Panini Exclusive – Panini recently made big news with the announcement it had signed Iowa superstar and potential WNBA No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark to an exclusive partnership. With Clark headlining what could be a historic WNBA draft class, this year’s WNBA trading card releases could also prove to be historic. To find out more about what the exclusive means for Panini, I had the chance to catch up with Director of Product Development, Lucas Kinser.

KS: Lucas, Panini recently announced an exclusive partnership with Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark. Overall, what does the deal mean for both Panini and Clark?
LK: Caitlin is one of the most popular collegiate sports stars in the country right now, so the addition of her autographs to our WNBA offerings is a major win for both her and Panini. She’s coming into the WNBA with as much hype as any player since Jackie Stiles in 2001. We’re thrilled to have her as part of the Panini team.

KS: What kinds of items will Clark be signing for Panini?
LK: In addition to trading cards, there will be a memorabilia element through Panini Authentic. I don’t have those details, but I assume it’ll be a full assortment of unique signed memorabilia.

KS: How was Panini able to secure the deal with Clark?
LK: We’d been in talks for a little while before coming to an agreement that worked for both sides. Our Basketball Acquisitions team has a lot of great people with contacts throughout the sports industry. They were able to do it.

KS: She is one of the most hyped, if not the most hyped, women’s basketball prospects in history. How do you think the hype for her compares to other recent superstars who made the jump from college to the WNBA?
Hobby Musings: Caitlin Clark Panini Exclusive LK: Her hype has been very strong of late. From a WNBA perspective, I’d say it’s been comparable to some of the other major names to make the move from college to pro. Names like Sabrina Ionescu, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Jackie Stiles etc. Clark is a five-tool player.

KS: I know we’re still months away from the WNBA draft, but assuming she’s taken No. 1 by the Indiana Fever, when could we potentially see her trading cards in a professional jersey?
LK: I’d expect her to be featured in all our WNBA offerings. We usually try to get those releases out starting in the late regular season, so around September or so.

KS: Paige Bueckers announced she’ll be remaining in college for another season. Even without her, there’s a lot of other notable women’s basketball prospects who are expected to be in the WNBA. Who are some of the other potential top stars collectors should be keeping an eye on?
LK: We’re looking at a very deep class with a half dozen or so potential impact players from day one. In addition to Caitlin, there are some star post players like Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Rickea Jackson, and Angel Reese, as well as talented guards like Hailey Van Lith and Georgia Amoore. Every year there’s at least one player outside of the first round who makes an impact. Like what Dorka Juhasz did in 2023.

KS: Headlined by Clark, how do you think this rookie class could shape up from a collecting standpoint compared to the other classes you’ve seen recently?
LK: I think it’ll be very favorable for collectors. Both Clark and Angel Reese are well known and well liked among collectors. The talents of the other ladies will certainly shine through and get collectors excited, as well.

KS: Again, I know we’re still months away, but what will Panini have for WNBA products and other trading card offerings this year?
LK: Expect a slightly different lineup for 2024 compared to 2023. I don’t want to spoil the surprise. But, I think collectors will like the ones we select for this highly touted draft class.