dailyloe.com – Three WNBA athletes were photographed for the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in Fort Myers, Florida. Napheesa Collier, Sophie Cunningham, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden joined nine models for the shoot. Photographer Katherine Goguen captured the images on Captiva Island. The magazine’s official haircare partner for 2026 is Kérastase.
The athletes were photographed at the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island. This location is a scenic and luxurious tropical retreat. The resort consists of 250 villas and nine homes. It offers nearly three miles of white sand beach along a 330-acre wildlife preserve.
Sophie Cunningham is a star on the Indiana Fever’s roster. She is known for her three-point shooting during the 2025 season. The guard averaged a 43.2% three-point field goal percentage that year. Cunningham became the University of Missouri’s all-time leading scorer with 2,187 points.
She was selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2019. Cunningham was traded to the Fever in early 2025. As of this week, she is an unrestricted free agent. She will join USA Sports as an athlete contributor on the USA Network.
Napheesa Collier is a forward for the Minnesota Lynx. She was named the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Collier is a five-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The 29-year-old is also the cofounder of the Unrivaled basketball league.
She created the women’s 3-on-3 league with Breanna Stewart. Collier plays for the Lunar Owls in that league. Off the court, she is a proud mom. Collier also serves as Vice President of the WNBP.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was also photographed for the issue. The trio of athletes puts the ‘sports’ in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Their galleries will be featured in the forthcoming magazine. A first look at their features has been released.[]
Source: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
