ESPN is naming names of more pro, amateur and Olympic athletes who'll drop their uniforms for ESPN The Magazine's 2nd Annual Body Issue hitting newsstands Oct. 8.
Among those posing nude or semi-nude in the issue's "Bodies We Want" section, ESPN said Monday, are: Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi; ; New York Knicks free agent Amar'e Stoudemire; PGA golfer Camilo Villegas; Olympic skier Julia Mancuso; Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek ; the San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis; the Florida Marlins' Hanley Ramirez; volleyball player Kim Glass; wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer; and a dozen members of the USA Water Polo Women's National team.
USA TODAY's Michael McCarthy previously reported tennis star Venus Williams, U.S. World Cup goal-keeper Tim Howard, billiard player Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee, surfer Kelly Slater and a dozen members of the USA Water Polo Women's National Team would appear in the issue.
The group photos of the women's water polo team are getting strong consideration for the cover. ESPN has not announced yet what athletes will appear on the cover or covers of the issue which became ESPN The Magazine's top newsstand seller last year.
"I never thought in a million years I'd pose naked in a national magazine," says the team's Lauren "Lolo" Silver in a statement.
Last year's cover athletes included: tennis star Serena Williams; NFL running back Adrian Peterson; the NBA's Dwight Howard; NASCAR driver Carl Edwards; mixed martial artist Gina Carano and amputee track star Sarah Reinertsen.--Michael McCarthy
Reid Cherner has been with USA TODAY since 1982 and written Game On! since March 2008.
He has covered everything from high schools to horse racing to the college and the pros. The only thing he likes more than his own voice is the sound of readers telling him when he's right and wrong.
Michael Hiestand has covered sports media and marketing for USA TODAY, tackling the sports biz ranging from what's behind mega-events such as the Olympics and Super Bowl to the sometimes-hidden numbers behind the sports world's bottom line.