Sophie Cunningham is all over the internet, from Instagram to TikTok, and she has now also achieved her goal of being part of a Sports Illustrated issue. The Indiana Fever star has found herself constantly in the news in recent weeks. However, this time she has generated quite the buzz after her photoshoot with SI, along with Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, was reshared by the official SI Swimsuit handle.

“It’s WNBA season!!!😘,” read the caption.

The shoot first became public in May 2026. Cunningham joined SI magazine for her debut shoot as a featured athlete, traveling to the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida, just off the coast of Fort Myers for her rookie shoot in May 2026.

She was photographed by Katherine Goguen as part of a special feature highlighting elite female athletes, appearing alongside fellow WNBA star Napheesa Collier and track athlete Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

Sophie Cunningham described the inclusion as a major personal achievement, stating it allowed her to check off a lifelong goal.

“It was so empowering and just so fun but being able to check that off my list. That has been a huge bucket list goal and now I just feel so good about myself,” she said it as per a May 2026 SI article.

The Fever star enjoys popularity like few other players in the WNBA. She has over 3.2 million followers on Instagram and 3.3 million followers on TikTok. Her own podcast, Show Me Something, regularly generates thousands of views.

With her massive online reach and one of the most recognizable faces in the WNBA, it was no surprise to see her in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Her SI feature marks a milestone for WNBA visibility in mainstream media.

The Cunningham fanbase wasted no time as they gave their immediate reaction to Cunningham’s latest photoshoot with SI.

Fans Can’t Get Enough Of Cunningham

The SI Sports Edition remains a highly anticipated release whenever it’s coming out, with fans across the spectrum eagerly waiting for it. This time around, with Cunningham featured, fans rushed to the comments to express their excitement.

“Now this is what I want to see from this publication!!!Athletes❤️,” one fan said.

“@sophie_cham IM A FAN GIRL😍😍😍,” added former University of Miami Basketball alum and internet sensation, Haley Cavinder.

Cunningham is deeply adored by her fans. One of the reasons for this is her unflinching beliefs and opinions. Cunningham recently made some controversial comments in an ESPN release, which generated some backlash against her. However, she stood by her comments, and on Tuesday’s game against Seattle, a couple of young fans even held a poster to support her.

“It’s always @sophie_cham season,” another fan said.

“She had me with the finger-pointing thing, but this is Christmas in July!!!” another fan expressed, referring to her viral finger-pointing gesture.

The June 22 matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury produced a highlight that has since become one of the most-shared memes worldwide. It involves Sophie Cunningham pointing her finger towards DeWanna Bonner for a few seconds, a pose that has since become a global meme, further increasing her popularity.

“I don’t ever play chess, but I can recognize a few queens when I see them,” one fan said.

Sophie Cunningham’s popularity doesn’t seem like it will wane anytime soon. She remains a sensation off the court and a key piece for the Indiana team on the court.