Sophie Cunningham Sports Illustrated debut lands in 2026 issue on Captiva Island
Sophie Cunningham sports illustrated debut is set for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue after she was photographed on Captiva Island off Fort Myers, Fla. The shoot gives Cunningham a new lane alongside her WNBA work, and it places her in an issue that also features Napheesa Collier and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Captiva Island with Katherine Goguen
Katherine Goguen photographed Cunningham for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue, with the location fixed on Captiva Island off the coast of Fort Myers. That combination turns the feature into more than a standard profile: it is Cunningham's first SI Swimsuit appearance, and the placement gives the issue another athlete name with an active sports audience behind it.
Cunningham comes to the shoot with a profile that already crosses into media. She is a WNBA player, podcast host and analyst, and she was the 13th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury before being traded to the Indiana Fever in 2025.
43.2 percent from deep
43.2 percent was Cunningham's treys mark last season, the kind of shooting number that keeps her name circulating beyond a beauty-feature headline. She will also serve as a studio analyst and contributor to USA Network's WNBA broadcasts throughout the season, which keeps her visible in basketball while the SI Swimsuit issue broadens her audience.
The SI Swimsuit style team described its approach as a celebration of the female form, and the production details reinforce how tightly controlled these features are: Cassi Carey handled hair for Imaj Artists using Joico, while Roberto Morelli handled makeup for Imaj Artists using Shiseido. In other words, the debut is being presented as a polished brand extension, not a one-off photo spread.
Napheesa Collier and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Napheesa Collier and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden appearing alongside Cunningham gives the 2026 issue a clear athlete-forward lineup. For Cunningham, that means the debut lands inside a broader editorial push rather than as a standalone reveal, which should keep the attention on her across both sports and lifestyle audiences.
The practical takeaway is simple: Cunningham is no longer just being followed for box score lines or broadcast work. She now enters 2026 with a swimsuit-issue debut, a broadcast role, and a media profile that spans basketball, podcasting and analysis — a wider commercial package than the average WNBA player gets to carry at once.
