As sports fans, few things are as fulfilling as watching our favorite stars showcase their remarkable skills. From the graceful Katie Ledecky to the mesmerizing Simone Biles, women athletes continually captivate us with their poise. Yet, their off-court moments can be just as enthralling. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, for instance, is eagerly anticipated each year, offering fans a unique look at these beloved stars beyond the field of play. And sure enough, this year promises to be a treat.

Over the years, the SI Swimsuit Editions have gained massive popularity by bringing together stars from various fields, showcasing a unique side of athletes that fans seldom get to see. Naturally, there’s always great anticipation around who will grace the cover and inner pages. This year, a national sensation who has made her mark on the grandest stage will take the spotlight.

Suni Lee joins a special club thanks to SI Swimsuit

SI Swimsuit announced on November 3 that two-time Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee will be gracing the cover of the 2025 edition. With that, Sports Illustrated will seek to celebrate the Auburn star’s achievements and give her a makeover that would sweep fans off their feet. When Simone Biles pulled out from the 20202 Tokyo Olympics, Lee stepped up to the challenge and lent her skills to ensure Team USA didn’t succumb to the setback. Suni bagged a gold in the All-Around herself and sealed her place among the elite stars of the sport.

In 2023, Lee was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, and her doctors opined that she might need to say goodbye to gymnastics altogether. But Suni Lee’s passion persevered and she made a triumphant return to represent the USA at the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris earlier this year. She won three medals in the City of Love, and once again proved why she’s a force to be reckoned with.

As we wait to see the final results, let’s take a look at all the stars and athletes who made previous SI Swimsuit editions special.

Simone Biles

The 7x Olympic gold medalist was already an icon of the sport irrespective of her stellar Parisian campaign. While the “twisties” got the better of Biles in Tokyo three years ago, her status as the GOAT was never in question. Biles was featured in the prestigious SI Swimsuit twice (2017 and 2019) and both times the results were enticing, to say the least.

“To be a part of this magazine means everything just because they celebrate women [and] empowerment. So it’s really—it’s an honor,” she said during her second swimsuit photoshoot stint.

Olivia Dunne

LSU’s Livvy Dunne is among the most popular collegiate athletes in the country and for good reason. Dunne was part of the Tigers squad that lifted the first NCAA gymnastics title in program history, and now, she also hopes to defend the trophy. Along with her illustrious gymnastics career, Dunne is also a prominent social media figure, who has also done impressively well with NCAA’s NIL (name, image, and likeliness) regulations. With an estimated value of $4 million, the Baton Rouge native is definitely popular.

Dunne featured the 2024 edition of SI Swimsuit making the 60th edition of the magazine special.

Serena Williams

There cannot be enough praise for the tennis legend. There isn’t any feat in the sport that the American hasn’t achieved over her career, and is now enjoying a quaint retired life along with her husband Alexis Ohanian and their two daughters. The tennis icon laded on the pages of the 2017 SI Swimsuit, making her fans go ga-ga.

“I want to come away with the fact that it’s okay to be comfortable in your body. I’ve never worn a thong before, and the second I stepped out there, I was comfortable. And what I would like for people to come away with is – first of all, I’m not a size two – and it’s okay to look good, to feel good,” Williams said about acing the photoshoot.

Gabby Thomas

The two-time Olympian will join Suni Lee for next year’s SI Swimsuit edition. With three gold medals at the Olympic Games this year, Thomas is hovering on Cloud 9 and her next adventure will definitely increase her oomph quotient. “I just picked my looks for the day so I’m really excited,” said the track and field star noting her feelings about being featured in the coveted SI Swimsuit.

Freestyle skier Eileen Gu will also be part of the 2025 roster, making things even more hyped.

Alex Morgan

The celebrity U.S. soccer star has made three appearances in SI Swimsuit so far, and fans hope there’s more to come. Throughout her long career, Morgan has undoubtedly been one of the driving forces behind the growing popularity of women’s soccer in the country. She used her SI Swimsuit appearances as a platform to raise awareness about equality in sports.

“My hope is that the future generation can focus on playing and that equality is a given, isn’t a fight. I don’t know if in my generation true equality will be given, but my hope is that we do set that next generation up to have even more opportunity than we currently do,” said the two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner.

Lindsey Vonn

82-time Alpine Skiing World Cup race winner Lindsey Vonn barely needs any introduction. Unsurprisngly, Vonn has also showed up for the SI Swimsuit edition multiple tims, and we don’t complain! She too, wanted to use the platform to empower women from all facets of life. “In five years, I hope to see women receiving fair and equally proportionate pay to men and more women elevated to assume leadership roles across the sports industry and on professional teams—not just female teams, but for both genders. I hope to see more women signing up for sports because their favorite female athletes and role models have empowered them to believe in themselves,” she told SI Swimsuit.

So who is your favorite athlete on SI Swimsuit over the years? Tell us in the comments!