Brittany Mahomes, Pregnant Ronika Love and new mom Christen Goff break WAG stereotypes in Sports Illustrated’s cover issue

Forget Victoria Secret, the real action this Super Bowl week is happening on the sand. Sports Illustrated just dropped its February 2026 digital issue, and it’s a full-blown takeover by the NFL’s most powerful partners. But don't call them "plus-ones," the magazine is officially rebranding the "WAG" label, proving that while their husbands play for rings, these women are busy building empires.SI didn't settle for one cover star, they give six individual digital covers featuring a heavy-hitting lineup of entrepreneurs, athletes, and artists:This issue leans heavily into the "real life" behind the glam. Ronika Love stole the headlines by posing for her cover while pregnant, a move she called her "most powerful season yet." She also threw out the best quote of the shoot, suggesting that if they are WAGs, the men should be called "HABs" (Husbands and Boyfriends).Meanwhile, Christen Goff made her return to the magazine just seven months after giving birth to her daughter, Romy, in July 2025. She used her feature to talk about the "transformative" confidence of motherhood, marking a shift for SI toward celebrating the diverse stages of a woman's life.Shot by photographer Katherine Goguen at the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, the fashion was a "kitschy" nod to the NFL. Every model wore custom pieces in their partner's team colors, think Steelers Gold for Normani and Chiefs Red for Brittany. It was a clever way to bridge the gap between their independent brands and their famous Sunday sidelines.This issue effectively kills the "trophy wife" trope, replacing it with a group of women who are launching tequila brands, winning volleyball matches, and owning pro sports teams.