Christen Press becomes the seventh current or former U.S. women’s national team player to appear nude on ESPN’s Body Issue. (Photo Copyright Linehan Photography for The Equalizer)
Christen Press is the latest football star to strip naked in the annual ESPN The Magazine Body Issue, joining the usual list of athletes who take part in the publication.
The United States women’s national team and Chicago Red Stars forward will appear in the magazine’s annual issue, in which athletes from various sports pose nude to celebrate their bodies, which, for athletes, are their earnings bread.
“I spent a lot of time feeling distrustful of my body, but it did me so much good. This is my tool, my vessel for my work,” Press said in a statement. “I’m very grateful for how I feel when I play. I feel very powerful, I feel fast, I feel unstoppable, and it’s because of my body.
(MORE: NWSL Week in Review: USWNT leaves Rio a week early)
This year’s Body Issue is headlined by NBA star Dwyane Wade, as well as MLB star Jake Arrieta and NFL players Vince Wilfork and Antonio Brown. Along with Press, Chicago women’s sports star Elena Delle Donne, 2015 WNBA MVP with the Chicago Sky, will also appear in the issue. Several Olympians will also participate before the Rio 2016 Games.
Press becomes the seventh current or former American soccer player to participate in the Body Issue, joining Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Ali Krieger, Sydney Leroux and Natasha Kai. Alex Morgan has appeared twice in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
The Body Issue will be available online July 6 and on newsstands July 8.
(MORE: Vanessa DiBernardo thrives as Red Stars keep rolling)
The press will be one of the athletes appearing on the cover:
