Sophie Cunningham is officially a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. The WNBA guard revealed her 2026 magazine debut on Wednesday, simultaneously announcing a new broadcasting deal with the USA Network. The dual announcements arrive at a highly specific juncture for the veteran player. She is currently an unrestricted free agent navigating the final stages of rehab for a torn MCL sustained last August. The open signing period begins April 11. She needs a new roster spot. She just secured massive off-court visibility.
The veteran guard spent the 2025 season with the Indiana Fever. She averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game before her knee injury cut the campaign short. Cunningham used the offseason to drastically expand her media footprint.
She traveled to the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island in Fort Myers, Florida, for the shoot. Katherine Goguen photographed the athlete posing in a white bikini, according to a detailed report published Wednesday. Cunningham is not the only athlete featured in the upcoming issue. She joins an elite sports trio that includes Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Olympic track-and-field sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
WNBA Stars Napheesa Collier, Sophie Cunningham Featured In New SI Swimsuit Behind-The-Scenes Video
Details: https://t.co/KjLJH0OfSShttps://t.co/KjLJH0OfSS
— Brotips (@brotips) April 8, 2026
The crossover into mainstream entertainment and media fundamentally shifts her market value. Cunningham is following a proven blueprint established by former SI Swimsuit models like Sue Bird and Cameron Brink. These athletes utilized the publication to champion body positivity while building standalone personal brands. Cunningham’s concurrent deal with the USA Network as an athlete contributor ensures she remains a fixture on national television during the 2026 WNBA regular season. This provides absolute career security regardless of her immediate physical readiness for the court. She controls her narrative before free agency even opens.