Sophie Cunningham is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the WNBA, and it's easy to see why. The Indiana Fever star combines fierce tenacity on the court with a bold sense of style off it, making her a fan favorite in every sense of the word.
As the team's enforcer, Cunningham plays with a gritty edge that fans love. But her influence doesn't stop at the baseline. She's been making waves in the fashion world, too, collaborating with major brands and recently debuting in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue this month.
It turns out, the 6-foot-1 guard has a passion for swimwear that rivals her love for basketball. She regularly shares photos of herself in various swimsuits on social media, and on Wednesday, she opened up about her growing collection on her Instagram story.
"Another thing that I don't think a lot of people would be surprised about is the amount of swimsuits that I have," Cunningham said with a laugh. "I'm not mad about that. I know you can only wear one swimsuit at a time, but I have a pretty good collection, and I'm proud of that."
She admitted that while she probably doesn't need to add to her wardrobe, she's open to the idea of partnering with a swim brand. "Will a swim brand want to work with me and be wanting to share more swimsuits? I would say yes. That's when I feel most alive."
Still, Cunningham is keeping things in perspective. "It's a little ridiculous, though. Life is all about awareness. I'm realizing that I need to live a more simple life in a swimsuit."
On the court, Cunningham and the Fever are gearing up for the 2026 regular season opener on Saturday, where they'll host the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The 29-year-old is eager to bounce back after being limited to just 30 games last season due to a right knee injury that also kept her out of the entire playoffs.
Alongside rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, Cunningham is expected to play a pivotal role for Indiana. The Fever are considered one of the top title contenders this season, but as Cunningham knows all too well, health will be the deciding factor in their championship run.