8 Stunning Photos of WNBA Athlete Nneka Ogwumike in St. Thomas -

The pro basketball player posed for the 2022 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Nneka Ogwumike blev fotograferet af Laretta Houston i St. Thomas.

<p>Laretta Houston/Sports Illustrated</p>
<p>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/md3mMYVMywf8vXV56UXWnA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/sports_illustrated_swimsuit_841/75ea29be1d264d9938b98d7514d1ac01″/><noscript><img alt= — Nneka Ogwumike was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Laretta Houston/Sports Illustrated

Last year, star WNBA player Nneka Ogwumike participated in a group photo shoot unlike any other in the history of the SI Swimsuit brand. She posed for the magazine alongside fellow WNBA athletes Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, DiDi Richards and Te’a Cooper. The quintet traveled to St. Thomas, where they posed for photographer Laretta Houston.

Ogwumike plays for the Sparks and was No. 1 in the WNBA Draft in 2012. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year that same year. The 32-year-old athlete was a star basketball player — and student — at the collegiate level. She graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and made four consecutive Final Four appearances with her team.

Ogwumike said she felt “amazing” on set for last year’s tropical photo shoot.

“I’m really happy to be out here and be pushed to the limits, literally, but in such a beautiful place,” she said.

She added that the SI Swimsuit feature pushed her a little bit out of her comfort zone, which is something the athlete expressed that she does more regularly these days.

“I’m trying to challenge myself a little bit more when it comes to photo shoots and even, you know, production and acting and stuff, so I’m just trying to let go of any feelings of vulnerability and embarrassment and just dive headfirst into that so I am turned on,” Ogwumike admitted.

Below are eight of our favorite photos taken by Ogwumike at last year’s WNBA Athlete Photo Session in St. Thomas.