Nelly Korda announcement is made ahead of 2025

Sports Illustrated has confirmed runaway World No.1 Nelly Korda as SI Swimsuit’s newest athlete for 2025.

Korda, 26, will appear in May’s edition.

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SI confirmed the news with a statement on their website on Saturday 2 November.

“We’re so happy to welcome Korda to the fold in the 2025 SI Swimsuit Issue as an athlete,” wrote SI.

“Today, Korda is in Boca Raton, Fla., posing for next May’s magazine in front of photographer Ben Horton’s lens.”

MJ Day, SI Swimsuit editor in chief, said:”We are thrilled to launch our shoot season for the 2025 issue with an extraordinary lineup of powerful female athletes.

“This remarkable group, featuring Olympic medalists, world champions, and record holders, embodies the next generation of all-stars poised to transform the world of sports.

“They defy stereotypes and champion equality, inspiring young girls to envision themselves as both athletes and leaders.

“At SI Swimsuit, we’ve always celebrated the future of women, and there’s no better way to honor these remarkable achievements than by featuring them on the pages of our issue.”

Korda is a runaway World No.1 having enjoyed her greatest year to date with six victories coming in seven events on the LPGA Tour earlier this season, highlighted by a second career major title at the Chevron Championship in April.

When Korda captured her sixth title of the 2024 LPGA Tour season at the Mizuho Americas Open, her 14th overall on the circuit, she became the fourth player in ladies history to win six or more times in a season before the end of May and the second player to do so in the last 70 years.

Korda also became the third American since 1980 to win six or more times in a LPGA Tour season and the first since Beth Daniel won seven times in 1990.

She then went and helped Stacy Lewis’ Team USA win the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones GC, a victory that marked Korda’s first win in four attempts in the biennial dust-up against Europe.

The TaylorMade staff player’s game has slowed down somewhat in recent months but she still finds herself with a commanding lead in the season-long Race to CME Globe Rankings as a result of her early season play.

She also holds nearly a five-point lead over Lilia Vu at the top of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Korda was ruled out of action last month due to a neck injury.

Her latest injury setback marks the second time she has been forced to take some time out of the game.

In June, Korda was forced to WD from next week’s Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – London after being bitten by a dog.