Napheesa Collier, Sophie Cunningham and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden were photographed by Katherine Goguen on Captiva Island for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue, a shoot that placed three athletes at the South Seas Resort in the Fort Myers, Fla., area.
The setting was built to sell the image: South Seas Resort includes 250 villas and nine homes, nearly 3 miles of white sand beach and a 330-acre wildlife preserve. Kérastase served as the official haircare partner of 2026, linking the shoot to a bigger magazine production that also sent nine models to the Fort Myers area.
Cunningham, 29, brings a basketball resume that already made her a recognizable name before the photo shoot. She averaged a 43.2% 3-point field goal percentage during the 2025 regular season, became the University of Missouri’s all-time leading scorer with 2,187 points and was selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Mercury during the 2019 WNBA Draft.
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Her path has shifted quickly. Cunningham was traded to the Fever in early 2025 and was an unrestricted free agent this week. She will also join USA Sports as an athlete contributor on the USA Network throughout the WNBA season, keeping her visible even as her playing future remains open.
Read Also: Sophie Cunningham Usa Network Contributor Added to 2026 Coverage Team
The Captiva Island shoot folds Collier, Cunningham and Jefferson-Wooden into the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue at a time when the magazine is pushing both athletes and models into the same travel-heavy production. The pictures were made in a resort setting, but Cunningham’s next move is happening in real time: she is entering the season as a free agent while taking on a new broadcast role.
