Licensed or unlicensed? Which jersey matches show team logos
A licensed card shows the team the way the league does: its real logo, its nickname and its uniform. An unlicensed card can show the player, but not the team's marks, so you'll see a city instead of a nickname and jerseys with the logos removed. Both can be jersey matches. Collectors usually pay more for the licensed one.
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How to tell in five seconds
- Look for the logo. A team logo on the front, or on the jersey in the photo, means licensed.
- Read the team name. "Lakers" means licensed. "Los Angeles" on its own, or no team at all, means unlicensed. Unlicensed 2025-26 Panini basketball cards show only player names and team cities.
- Look at the uniform. Blank chests, blurred patches and photos cropped tight around the logo are signs the maker couldn't show it.
Who holds each league's license
The license follows the year of the card, not the brand name. The same brand can be licensed one season and unlicensed the next.
| League | Licensed maker now | Change to know |
|---|---|---|
| NBA | Topps, from Oct 1, 2025 (2025-26 cards on) | Panini held it from 2009-10 through 2024-25. Panini basketball from 2025-26 on is unlicensed. |
| NFL | Topps, starting with 2025 Topps Chrome Football (April 2026) | Panini held it from 2016 through its 2025 cards. Topps football before 2025 was unlicensed. |
| MLB | Topps | Panini baseball has the players' union license only, so no team logos. |
| WNBA | Panini (league and players' union) | Panini extended the deal in 2025. |
| NHL | Upper Deck | Upper Deck's exclusive license was extended long-term in 2021. |
Seasons that span two years catch people out: 2025 Panini football is licensed, but 2025-26 Panini basketball is not.
Why it matters for a jersey match
A jersey match is about the number, so an unlicensed card can still be a true match. But the card is part of the appeal: a match that shows the player in his team's real uniform is the version most collectors want, and it is usually the one that holds its value.
Every player library on Jersey Match Library counts both kinds and labels the unlicensed ones, so you can see exactly what you're looking at before you buy. For older cards, check the year: before Panini's NBA exclusive began in 2009-10, more than one company held a license at the same time.
Find a player's licensed jersey matches: Jersey Match Library.
Sources
Updated 2026-10-24.