DiDi Richards 2022: St. Thomas

SI Swimsuit | May 15, 2022

Didi Richards made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2022 shooting in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands with fellow WNBA athletes Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Nneka Ogwumike and Te’a Cooper.

Before Richards became the star shooting guard for the Liberty, she was paralyzed from the waist down after a collision in practice playing college basketball at Baylor. She had to learn how to walk again, and only 38 days later she triumphantly returned to the basketball court and was eventually named the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year, the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Richards' story evokes the power we all have within us to persevere, adapt and become our greatest selves.

Being a U.S. territory, St. Thomas is exotic yet American. As the most cosmopolitan of the four U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s a destination brimming with beauty, world-class dining, shopping and incomparable views of the Caribbean.

To learn more about St. Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands click here. | To plan your vacation to St. Thomas click here.

The styling for this shoot was intended to feel both sexy and wearable, with neutral colors and functional layering pieces that can take you from the boat to dinner. We pulled from our go-to designers like Riot Swim, Becca and L Space, who excel in style and quality.

Hair: Sophia Porter
Make-up: Renee Garnes of Opus Beauty
Photographer: Laretta Houston

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Andi Bagus.

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Akoia Swim. Earrings by SOKO. Body chain by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Akoia Swim: Shop a similar style with the Lubang Cotton Bikini ($140).

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Sami Miro Vintage. Top by Gabriela Pires Beachwear. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Sami Miro Vintage: Open Seam String Bikini Bottoms ($126).

Shop tops by Gabriela Pires Beachwear: Didi Richards Top ($125).

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Andi Bagus.

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Suki Cohen. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Suki Cohen.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Akoia Swim. Earrings by SOKO. Body chain by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Akoia Swim: Shop a similar style with the Lubang Cotton Bikini ($140).

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Andi Bagus.

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Sami Miro Vintage. Top by Gabriela Pires Beachwear. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Sami Miro Vintage: Open Seam String Bikini Bottoms ($126).

Shop tops by Gabriela Pires Beachwear: Didi Richards Top ($125).

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Andi Bagus.

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Suki Cohen. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Suki Cohen.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Sami Miro Vintage. Top by Gabriela Pires Beachwear. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Sami Miro Vintage: Open Seam String Bikini Bottoms ($126).

Shop tops by Gabriela Pires Beachwear: Didi Richards Top ($125).

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Akoia Swim. Earrings by SOKO. Body chain by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Akoia Swim: Shop a similar style with the Lubang Cotton Bikini ($140).

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by Eklexic.

Shop swimsuits by Andi Bagus.

Shop earrings by Eklexic.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Suki Cohen. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Suki Cohen.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Suki Cohen. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Suki Cohen.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Akoia Swim. Earrings by SOKO. Body chain by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Akoia Swim: Shop a similar style with the Lubang Cotton Bikini ($140).

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Akoia Swim. Earrings by SOKO. Body chain by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Akoia Swim: Shop a similar style with the Lubang Cotton Bikini ($140).

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards was photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish. Earrings by SOKO.

Shop swimsuits by Heidi Fish.

Shop earrings by SOKO.

DiDi Richards and Nneka Ogwumike were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Te’a Cooper and DiDi Richards were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Nneka Ogwumike and DiDi Richards were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Sue Bird, DiDi Richards, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, and Te’a Cooper were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Te’a Cooper, DiDi Richards, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, and Sue Bird were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Sue Bird, DiDi Richards, Nneka Ogwumike, Te’a Cooper, and Breanna Stewart were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.

Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Nneka Ogwumike, DiDi Richards, and Te’a Cooper were photographed by Laretta Houston in St. Thomas.