Want to know why Sophie Cunningham’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photos are trending this week? The 29-year-old Indiana Fever guard posted a multi-image Instagram carousel from her first SI Swimsuit shoot, captioned “year 1 with @si_swimsuit 😮‍💨✨ AHHHH!” The images quickly drew praise from teammates, fellow athletes and fans. Shot by Katherine Goguen for the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, the set includes monochrome one-pieces, a one-beaded strap suit and a white bikini used in SI’s promo images; Cunningham’s Instagram post and Sports Illustrated’s gallery are the primary sources to view the full set.

If you want to know why Sophie Cunningham’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photos have become one of the week’s biggest off-court stories, start with the post she wrote herself. The Indiana Fever guard, 29, uploaded a multi-image carousel to Instagram and captioned it, “year 1 with @si_swimsuit 😮‍💨✨ AHHHH!” The post has been widely shared across social platforms and prompted immediate reaction from teammates, friends and other athletes.

What the shoot shows and who was involved

The images were photographed by Katherine Goguen for the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and Sports Illustrated published the gallery and behind-the-scenes clips alongside the shots. The magazine’s athlete roster for the 2026 issue includes WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Sophie Cunningham, plus Team USA sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

Cunningham’s carousel mixes looks. She appears in monochrome one-piece suits, smaller bikini sets and a one-beaded strap suit. A white bikini from the magazine’s promotional images is among the published shots. The behind-the-scenes clips that accompanied the gallery show parts of the shoot process and offer a closer look at how the images were made.

Cunningham told Sports Illustrated that the shoot felt empowering. She said she felt confident and “amazing in my own skin.” The tone and styling in the published photos match that message, showing a player known for her 3-point shooting and energy in a more personal, off-court frame.

Reaction, roster context and why it matters for her profile

Reactions on social media ranged from casual likes to public praise. Teammate Lexie Hull and Cunningham’s sister Lindsey commented on the post. Caitlin Clark liked it. Pro golfer Nelly Korda publicly praised the images.

The mix of teammates and high-profile athletes responding shows how the placement bumps Cunningham’s visibility beyond the WNBA bubble.

Mastheads

Thing is, sports Illustrated’s continued inclusion of WNBA players is part of a trend. The 2026 Swimsuit casting keeps featuring league names familiar to SI readers, and the magazine has photographed other WNBA players in prior years. Napheesa Collier, another athlete in the 2026 lineup, is entering her eighth season and brings a résumé that includes multiple All-WNBA and All-Defensive selections as well as European championships. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the Team USA sprinter on the roster, has Olympic and world championships to her name and described the SI shoot as a “pipe dream.”

For Cunningham, the timing amplifies an off-court moment that follows a season with significant ups and downs. She entered her eighth WNBA season in 2026 and this was her second year with the Indiana Fever after a multi-team trade that moved her from the Phoenix Mercury. She returned to the Fever on a one-year deal after becoming an unrestricted free agent.

That return came after a 2025 injury layoff. Cunningham suffered a torn medial collateral ligament, a torn MCL, on August 17, 2025. She eased back into action during the 2026 preseason and appeared in the Fever’s season opener versus the Dallas Wings. In that game she played 25 minutes, scored three points, grabbed four rebounds and dished three assists, and she shot 100% on three-pointers in the appearance. The SI placement adds another dimension to a player who's actively rebuilding rhythm on the court.

The combination of athletic resume, recovery arc and a high-profile magazine placement changes how fans and media frame Cunningham this season. The images give a new set of visuals for reporters and broadcasters, and the social push from teammates and peers helps the content reach non-basketball audiences.

There is minor disagreement in reporting about where the shoot took place. Multiple sources reported Captiva Island or the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida, while one source identified Fort Myers, Florida. If the exact shoot location is material to your coverage, Sports Illustrated or the photographer Katherine Goguen should be asked to confirm the place name.

Behind the scenes, the SI gallery and Cunningham’s own posts are the clearest ways to see the full set and credits. Sports Illustrated published the images and short clips, and Cunningham’s Instagram carousel remains the primary, source-cited post that shows the caption, the sequence of shots and the immediate social reaction.

For players in the WNBA, visibility through lifestyle and mainstream outlets matters. It drives sponsorship interest, broadens fanbases and gives teams more off-court storytelling. For Cunningham, who's navigating injury recovery and a new contract year, the publicity from SI could translate into more media opportunities and a larger social profile as she tries to reestablish herself on the court.

Practical note for readers who want to see the work: pull Cunningham’s Instagram carousel and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit gallery for the full set of images and the photographer credit to Katherine Goguen. Those primary posts also carry Cunningham’s direct caption and the magazine’s published behind-the-scenes clips.

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Her caption, “year 1 with @si_swimsuit 😮‍💨✨ AHHHH!”, and the images gave Cunningham an off-court boost as she returns from a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL).

This article was created with AI assistance.