Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird Team Up for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Legends Photoshoot

Legendary stars will be showcased in the 60th-anniversary edition of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, including some iconic athletes like superstar sports couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird.

Bird, the retired WNBA star previously posed for SI Swimsuit in 2022, while Rapinoe, the retired USWNT winger, shot with the franchise back in 2019 and '23 for the magazine. This time, though, the duo posed together for a special Legends photoshoot.

In an interview with her soon-to-be wife, Bird was particularly emotional about being photographed for this legendary issue.

“I’m sure there is like a meaning to this about us two being athletes, being gay athletes, being a couple, all these like sweet, wonderful, powerful things, that being in this anniversary issue is gonna, or Legends issue, say that over,” Bird said. “There’s something wonderful about being in the Legends issue for what it means, but honestly, I think it’s just great doing this with you for me personally. I know there’s like this outside meaning, but it’s meaningful."

Rapinoe then asked Bird if she was going to start crying. “I don’t know, maybe,” Bird replied. “It’s so cute. I love doing stuff with you.”

Rapinoe agreed with Bird about the sentimental aspect of being selected to be in the 60th anniversary edition. She also admitted how surreal it felt to be surrounded by so many professional supermodels.

“It’s like having your best friend, like traveling around… we get to, being this wild part of life together,” Rapinoe said. “We’re both retired now. I just retired, so it’s fun to be able to do these fun things together. Yeah, and have all these crazy laughs. Like having all of these incredible supermodels behind us being supermodels and us being down in front being like, what? Fake it ’til you make it."

The 60th anniversary SI Swimsuit edition hits newsstands on May 15.