US World Cup winners get cover spread

New York - Each and every member of the US women's World Cup-winning soccer team are getting the cover girl treatment from Sports Illustrated.

The respected US sports magazine announced on Monday that copies of this week's edition would be printed with 25 different covers - one for each player, one for coach Jill Ellis and one group shot of the whole squad.

Sports Illustrated and other magazines often print multiple covers featuring different photos to mark special events.

But the decision to print 25 separate covers for one edition is unprecedented.

"Each player deserves her own cover, that's what we settled on," Sports Illustrated managing editor Chris Stone said in a statement.

The move comes after the American women ended a 16-year drought to claim their third World Cup crown on July 5 with a 5-2 rout of Japan.

Last week the team were honored with a victory rally in Los Angeles before being feted with a ticker-tape parade in New York, becoming the first women's sports team in history to receive the honour from the Big Apple.