Former Colorado Buffaloes soccer star Phoenix Dawn Miranda is a feared defender on the pitch with a jam-packed list of accolades, but is now embarking on another major accomplishment: her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut.
Originally from Hawaii, Miranda made an instant impact at the University of Colorado upon her arrival in 2021, after three years on the U.S Youth National Team. She would then take home Newcomer of the Year honors in her first season as a member of the Buffaloes.
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Miranda’s spot in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition won’t be alone, as she will be joining fellow Big 12 athletes Hailey Van Lith of Texas Christian University — and soon will debut for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky — and Rayniah Jones of the University of Central Florida.
SI Swimsuit editor in chief MJ Day discussed why each model was selected and the reason for continuing the longstanding tradition that has disrupted the media space.
“These women are why we do what we do,” Day wrote.”These stories we share here and on our platforms are about so much more than what meets the eye. They are about the power of authenticity, the strength of vulnerability and the beauty of living a life that’s unapologetically yours.”
Photo by Taylor Ballantyne /Sports Illustrated/Contour by Getty Images
Over the course of a successful college career, Miranda played in 29 career shutouts, including 11 in her senior season.
Miranda was ranked No. 82 in Top Drawer Soccer’s midseason Top 100 rankings of 2024. This was in large part to her career-high 21 starts during her final season, which included 1,685 minutes of play.
As she showed in her dazzling Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut, Miranda is far from one-dimensional. Upon recently graduating from the University of Colorado, Miranda majored in Ethnic Studies.
Miranda plans to play professionally for the Seattle Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League after graduation. She was recently extended a non-roster invite to training camp at the end of February.
As a defender, Miranda didn’t get many opportunities to score, but her first one of her collegiate career came at the perfect time.
In 2023, the Aiea, Hawaii native kicked a game-winner against Northern Colorado in the season opener. She would earn her fifth career assist a year later, her senior season, in a decisive 2-1 victory over Utah in a Big 12 Tournament game.
Miranda will hopefully continue playing soccer professionally after such a solid foundation with her career in Colorado, but for now, she is sure to impress with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
