When Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham made her eagerly awaited debut in the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, colleagues and other athletes immediately showered her with praise and encouragement on social media.
Cunningham posted the official images from her recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo session at the picturesque South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida, along with the following caption:
“year 1 with @si_swimsuit, AHHHH!”
Nelly Korda, the top-ranked female golfer in the world, responded to the tweet with an excited “Okkkk,” along with a fire emoji. Caitlin Clark, a fellow Fever star, expressed her support by liking it, while Lexie Hull, a teammate, added to the enthusiasm by saying, “I mean like…” along with heart-eye emojis.
Cunningham stated to Sports Illustrated:
“I truly do think, like, go kick a– out on the court, and then go kick a– out in the real world being a woman who is strong, who is powerful and who has a mindset that she can do anything,”
She stressed the value of embracing both personal empowerment and athletic achievement, inspiring young women to embrace their many identities and follow their ambitions without fear.
Cunningham has signed a one-year contract to return to the Fever for the 2026 campaign. She scored 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game and shot 43% from outside the arc in 30 games before suffering a season-ending MCL injury in her right knee last year. As a studio commentator and frequent contributor to USA Network’s WNBA broadcasts, Cunningham continues to have an influence on the sport off the court.
