Sophie Cunningham is getting plenty of attention off the basketball court after making her debut in the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
The Indiana Fever guard shared photos on Instagram from her shoot at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida, drawing immediate reactions from teammates and fellow athletes across social media.
“year 1 with @si_swimsuit, AHHHH!” Cunningham wrote in the caption alongside the photos.
The post quickly filled with support from high-profile athletes, including Nelly Korda, who commented, “Okkkk,” along with a fire emoji.
Fever star Caitlin Clark also showed support by liking the post, while teammate Lexie Hull commented, “I mean like…” with heart-eye emojis.
Sophie Cunningham Opens Up About Confidence and Empowerment
Cunningham spoke with Sports Illustrated about the opportunity and explained that she hopes the feature encourages women to embrace confidence both professionally and personally.
“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,” Cunningham said.
She added that she wants young women to pursue their passions unapologetically while embracing different parts of their identity beyond sports.
Cunningham enters the 2026 WNBA season after signing a one-year deal to return to Indiana.
Before suffering a season-ending MCL tear in her right knee last year, Cunningham averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 43% from 3-point range across 30 appearances.
In addition to playing, Cunningham has also worked as a studio analyst and contributor for USA Network’s WNBA coverage.
The Fever Guard Joked About WNBA Fines Before New Season
Cunningham is also entering the season hoping to leave behind some of the controversy from 2025.
The Fever guard became one of the league’s most fined players last season after receiving three separate penalties from the WNBA.
One of the biggest incidents occurred in June after an altercation with Jacy Sheldon of the Connecticut Sun, resulting in a Flagrant 2 ejection.
Cunningham later received a $500 fine for reposting TikTok criticism aimed at referees, and was fined another $1,500 for comments she made on the podcast she hosts with Bravo star West Wilson, “Show Me Something.”
“I’m not saying that your job is easy, but when it is a simple call in front of your face multiple times, what are you doing?” Cunningham said at the time.
In a recent episode, Cunningham also said league officials appear focused on improving heading into the new season.
“New year, fresh start. And we’ve had meetings with the refs and I think that they have owned up for last year truly,” Cunningham said.
She then joked, “Wait, does that mean I get my money back?”
Indiana Fever Open Season With Championship Expectations
Cunningham is expected to play a key role for Indiana this season after helping the franchise reach the playoffs in 2025 before her injury.
The Fever enter 2026 with significant expectations following the continued rise of Clark and the organization’s aggressive roster additions.
Indiana opens the season Saturday against the Dallas Wings at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.
Indiana Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads With Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Debut