2025 Panini Donruss WNBA Basketball

Panini's iconic Donruss brand finally returns to women's basketball in 2025, following a multi-year hiatus since 2019. This flagship WNBA release packs in all the familiar elements collectors love – a base set of league stars, a trove of Rated Rookie cards for the 2024–25 draft class, and a dazzling array of colorful parallels and inserts. Bright, high-energy designs and eye-catching parallels are guaranteed to stand out in any collection, and the excitement around the WNBA's continued growth makes this release one to watch. With Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers gracing the box art, collectors know Panini is bringing its A-game. The 2025 Donruss WNBA set promises the classic Donruss flair – action shots, bold colors, and tons of chase cards – all wrapped up for fans of the women's game.

The 2025 Donruss WNBA hobby boxes are scheduled to hit the market in mid-October 2025. Each hobby box holds 12 packs with 8 cards per pack, and hobby cases come with 16 boxes. On average, every hobby box is loaded with three autograph or memorabilia cards and roughly 24 inserts or parallels. Packs will be priced around the usual Donruss flagship range, reflecting the premium hits inside. In addition to hobby boxes, there will be select retail releases. For example, blaster boxes (6 packs of 15 cards each) will feature exclusive parallels like Lava and Laser, along with a super-rare "Night Moves" insert chase. Mega boxes will also be available, offering around 150 cards plus at least one hit and extra inserts and store-exclusive parallels like pink, gold, and black shimmers. Overall, Panini has packed this product with content – from the generous parallel stacks to the well-marked hits – giving collectors plenty to chase on release day.

The Donruss WNBA hobby box is loaded with hits: three autographs/memorabilia cards per box and 24 inserts/parallels on average. Packs measure 8 cards each, with 12 packs per box. The set also introduces WNBA's first ever Downtown inserts (featuring city skyline backdrops), plus lots of new themed insert sets. Keep an eye on Panini's official announcements – hobby boxes are available now to pre-order, and the expected street date is October 2025.

The base set brings together current WNBA stars and key draft picks in a clean, colorful design. The checklist isn't officially announced yet, but it will likely include a full roster of veteran all-stars alongside new rookies. Look for the league's elite like A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), and others in the base set. Special attention is on the rookie class: this Donruss release debuts with the first official Rated Rookie cards for the 2024 WNBA Draft class. Top picks such as Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (the 2025 Rookie of the Year) and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark anchor this set of Rated Rookies. These rookie cards will come in multiple parallels (rainbow foil variations, inserts parallels, and short prints), and any that feature Bueckers or Clark will be instant hot chases. In the base set you'll also find a full rainbow of parallels – everything from Lava and Laser parallels to Shimmers and Press Proofs, culminating in extreme rarities (Black Gold, Yellow Lava, even 1/1 Press Proofs). These colorful parallels give collectors lots of ways to personalize their collections and chase low-numbered versions of every player's base card.

Rated Rookies will have their own numbering and design treatment, just like in men's Donruss. Think glossy rookie portraits with the "Rated Rookie" label and bold graphics. Collectors of women's hoops will definitely want to pull and register the Rated Rookies for this draft class, since those are marquee chase cards (especially considering how big the Clark vs. Bueckers spotlight is this year). The base set also likely includes team subsets or thematic pieces (Donruss often does team logos or group shots), but the big story is always those flashy rookies and popular returnees.

Panini Donruss is known for its fun and often punny insert sets, and the 2025 WNBA edition delivers a pile of them, mixing new ideas with returning Donruss staples. The crown jewel is the Downtown insert – this is the first time WNBA Donruss features Downtown cards. These short-printed chase cards spotlight stars against cityscape backgrounds (think Caitlin Clark shooting with the Indianapolis skyline behind her). Downtowns are usually very limited and highly collectible, so any star version (like a Clark or an A'ja Wilson Downtown) will be a highlight pull. Also returning from previous Donruss editions is Crunch Time, capturing game-winning shots and clutch moments, and Net Marvels, which showcases players knocking down big shots (originally a soccer insert name adapted for basketball). There's also a newly introduced "My House" insert (as teased by Panini), focusing on dominant performances – the name hints at owning the court. These sets will have parallels and possibly autograph variations for extra sparkle.

Beyond those, Panini is cramming in lots of thematic inserts. Mascots cards (showing team mascots with players), Courtside (wide-angle shots from near the baseline), and Tunnel Vision (player fashion and walk-out outfits) all make appearances. The set even includes a retro homage: the 1997 Pinnacle WNBA Executive Collection Retro series, which mimics the style of the first-ever WNBA cards (a callback to the league's inaugural season). These also come numbered and are exclusive to hobby boxes. Fantasy-theme inserts like Franchise Features (profiles of a star player per card) add collectible variety. Don't forget the extreme chase: Night Moves is an ultra-rare insert (blaster-exclusive) that celebrates players under the lights; only a handful of these exist. In summary, this Donruss WNBA release is loaded with inserts – fans can hunt for everything from retro Pinnacle designs to glitzy parallels of colorful sets, ensuring every pack has a chance at something unique.

Even the parallel designs are vibrant. Collectors should look for Lava parallels (Red, Orange, Purple, etc.), holo foils, Dragon parallels, Cubic patterns, and more. Retail products like blasters will add unique parallels (pink and gold Shimmer serials up to /25, black to /1). A few vintage-themed parallels are sprinkled in too. Overall, the insert suite has something for every taste – street art style Downtowns, playful Tunnel Vision portraits, and everything in between – adding to the excitement of the chase.

The hits in 2025 Donruss WNBA are top-tier for the brand. First up are the Next Day On-Card Autographs – fresh, bold signed cards of this year's rookies. Panini's Next Day autos mean you could pull a card that is signed almost immediately after a rookie's debut. Expect the first official autographed rookie cards of the new draft class, all hand-signed right on the card with a clean on-card signature. These will be serial-numbered and highly coveted (especially for the likes of Bueckers or any other breakout rookie). In addition, there are Private Signings on-card autographs of veteran superstars. The hobby cards for stars like A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, or Skylar Diggins-Smith will be signed on-card (Panini has a contract with Caitlin Clark, so her on-card auto is very likely). These signed cards are part of sets called Signatures (colorful autograph parallels) and Dominators (an insert-style autograph design focusing on big-name stars). Dominators autographs are expected to have bold, graphic backgrounds and might be numbered to low counts.

Look for both sticker-autographs and on-card autos, but the emphasis here is on on-card. Every hobby box is guaranteed to have on average three autographs or memorabilia cards combined. In addition to autographs, there could be memorabilia or relic cards (for example, Donruss sometimes includes sweaters or patch pieces), but Panini has highlighted autographs most. The rarest chase of all – also essentially a "case hit" – is the Downtown insert for superstars; treat that like pulling a holy grail (Caitlin Clark's first Downtown card could easily become iconic). Franchise Feature autographs or other single-cut autos (like short-run prints of legends) might also be sprinkled in.

Overall, between the snazzy autograph sets (Signatures, Dominators, Next Day) and the moment-card inserts, Donruss WNBA gives collectors a premium chase experience. There's a real sense that Panini spared no expense: on-card autos, exclusive rookie signatures, and highly sought-case hits mean each box could deliver a big surprise.

Panini's 2025 Donruss WNBA set is clearly designed with the modern, serious collector in mind – especially fans of the league's biggest names. With a hefty price tag (hobby boxes are in the high hundreds), it's best suited for collectors who are specifically chasing WNBA superstars and limited parallels. If you're a fan of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, or any rising star, this product is for you. The chance to pull their first Panini autographs or ultra-rare Downtown cards adds huge value for star collectors.

In short, if you collect WNBA cards or follow women's basketball closely, Donruss WNBA delivers a treasure trove of assets. Rated Rookie chasers, parallels fans, and autograph hunters will all find something to love. From casual envelope pullers who just want a cool Brooks leads jersey number card, to power collectors hunting the 1-of-1 press proofs and on-card signatures, this set casts a wide net. The combination of veteran stars and hyped newcomers (plus retro nods like the Pinnacle insert) means virtually every part of the WNBA audience can find a reason to open boxes. So whether you're a die-hard Fever fan hoping for a Caitlin Clark Downtown, or you're building a set of every Paige Bueckers autograph, the 2025 Donruss WNBA should be on your radar. Happy Collecting!