NWSL officiating continues to come under fire this season, as Portland Thorns star Sophia Smith called out a questionable no-call from the team’s latest match.

Smith had raced to the front of the Kansas City Current goal when she was tackled from behind by a Current player. No foul was called on the play, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

“I will be practicing how to shoot the ball when both legs get completely taken out from under me,” wrote Smith, who also stars for the U.S. women’s national team.

today at training I will be practicing how to shoot the ball when both legs get completely taken out from under me https://t.co/h7m4GTgJOb

— Sophia Smith (@sophsssmith) September 20, 2022

“Fouls like this are exactly how I broke my leg in college, that’s why they can’t go unnoticed,” she added in a follow-up tweet.

fouls like this are exactly how I broke my leg in college, that’s why they can’t go unnoticed. alright thanks for coming to my Ted Talk bye https://t.co/NnAeYMsY5Z pic.twitter.com/xxQMp8rgWe

— Sophia Smith (@sophsssmith) September 20, 2022

Her Thorns teammate Kelli Hubly responded to Smith’s original tweet, saying that she too would be “learning how to take a knee and cleat to the ribs without thinking my rib cage is broken.”

I also today will be learning how to take a knee and cleat to the ribs without thinking my rib cage is broken

— kel (@kellihubly) September 20, 2022

NWSL coaches and players have increasingly called out the refereeing, and just last month a pair of officials were penalized for what the Professional Referee Organization, which supplies the league’s officials, called an “egregious officiating error.”

Most of the league’s referees also work other jobs, and they do not have a collective bargaining agreement. That could change, though, as PRO announced in July that it had withdrawn its appeal preventing the Professional Soccer Referees Association’s attempt to unionize.

The NWSL has also taken steps to improve the refereeing, with the league adopting VAR beginning with the 2023 season. The introduction of VAR would mean that no-calls could go under review.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has called VAR the “single most important thing” that the league could do to improve officiating in the league. But the league is taking other steps to improve officiating.

“Really, it’s not only VAR for next season,” Berman said. “We are taking a much more proactive approach in partnering with PRO so that our players, our coaches, our chief soccer officers start to increase their confidence with how this is being implemented and also have an opportunity to have feedback on ways that we can improve.”

Emma Raducanu secured a dominant victory at the Transylvania Open on Monday, defeating Belgium's Greet Minnen 6-0, 6-4 in her first competitive match since parting ways with coach Francis Roig.

The 23-year-old UK star showcased confidence in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, dispatching her opponent in convincing fashion. Raducanu took the opening set in just 25 minutes, winning 90% of her first-serve points as she raced to a 6-0 bagel.

Raducanu hired Rafael Nadal's former coach last summer but announced plans to reassess her approach following last month's second-round Australian Open exit. The partnership lasted approximately six months, resulting in yet another coaching change since her breakthrough 2021 US Open title.

Working with former British professional Alexis Canter in Romania, Raducanu appeared relaxed and focused. She broke Minnen's serve in the third game of the second set and maintained control despite the Belgian's strong challenge.

"Very happy today. I think I played a great match from the beginning," the world No. 30 said after the match. "I was super aggressive and the crowd from the minute I walked out was incredible."

The victory marks a positive restart for Raducanu, after struggling with injuries and inconsistent form in recent years.

How to watch British tennis star Emma Raducanu this week

As the WTA 250 tournament's top seed, Raducanu next faces Slovenia's Kaja Juvan on Wednesday, live on The Tennis Channel.

Following the event, she plans to compete at WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai before heading to Indian Wells in March.

Nikki Hiltz achieved a career milestone Sunday by winning the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the 118th Millrose Games held New York's Nike Track & Field Center.

Hiltz, 31, crossed the finish line with a world-leading and personal-best time of 4:19:64. The California native and world No. 4 in the 1,500-meter captured the coveted Millrose Games title after several previous attempts.

Following the victory, Hiltz called winning the Wanamaker Mile a bucket-list accomplishment. The eight-time consecutive US champion described the final lap as a celebration after years of pursuit.

“We don’t have a lot of things in our sport where your name is etched onto something,” they told the NBC Sports broadcast. “So no matter what happens in my career, my name’s never getting off that trophy, and that’s a really good feeling.”

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Nikki Hiltz is at the top of their running game in 2026

Hiltz, who identifies as transgender and non-binary, wore a pink one-piece speed suit and neon orange racing spikes. The Lululemon-sponsored athlete was recently selected for induction into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame.

The race featured intense competition as Hiltz surged to the lead at the midway point. 2024 Olympics silver medalist Jessica Hull stayed close, with Hiltz subsequently pulling away from the Australian in the last 30 meters.

After crossing the finish line, the 2024 Paris Olympian celebrated with the crowd, giving high-fives and encouraging louder cheers. The champion formed a heart with their hands, blew a kiss, and received flowers along with the winner's trophy.

Hull finished second with a time of 4:20.11, while Poland's Klaudia Kazimierska took third with 4:21.36. Australian Linden Hall placed fourth with a personal-best 4:21.45, while Kenya's Susan Ejore-Sanders rounded out the top five with 4:22.23.

US runner Sinclaire Johnson — who surpassed Nikki Hiltz as the current US mile record-holder last July — finished 10th.

Caitlin Clark made her NBC pregame show debut on Sunday, offering insights into her upcoming third WNBA season while expressing admiration for Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic.

During NBC's Basketball Night in America ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks broadcast, Caitlin Clark highlighted specific aspects of Doncic's game she hopes to incorporate into her own play. The Indiana Fever star praised the NBA player's versatility and basketball intelligence.

Caitlin Clark emphasized Doncic's singular ability to excel without relying solely on athleticism or speed. She also noted his exceptional passing and scoring skills, praising how he manipulates defensive positioning to create advantages.

According to Clark, Doncic uses his body to keep defenders at bay — a skill she hopes to further develop. The WNBA superstar acknowledged that while Doncic may not always be the fastest or most athletic, his spatial awareness and tactical decision-making set him apart.

Clark also weighed in on NBA legend Michael Jordan's take on hostile road environments. She expressed gratitude to Indiana Fever fans traveling to away games, noting strong support in venues the New York Liberty's Barclays Center and the Valkyries' always-packed San Francisco arena. Following Jordan's philosophy, Caitlin Clark stressed silencing opposing crowds quickly by forcing early timeouts.

During the broadcast, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year competed in a HORSE competition against NBA icon Jamal Crawford, showcasing her own shooting prowess.

She later revealed a desire to play at Madison Square Garden, joking about taking on any team willing to play the Fever at the iconic NBA venue.

How to watch Caitlin Clark on NBC Sports this NBA season

Clark will next join Basketball Night in America on March 29th, adding commentary before the Knicks face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 2026 LPGA Tour officially teed off on Thursday, when 39 top-ranked golfers began competing for a piece of this year's $2.1 million HGV Tournament of Champions purse.

Following Thursday's first round, No. 17 Nasa Hataoka (Japan) led the field with a 6-under 66 performance, with world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand), No. 11 Lottie Woad (England), No. 24 Linn Grant (Sweden), and No. 53 Chanettee Wannasaen (Thailand) chasing her just one shot behind.

Defending Tournament of Champions winner No. 27 A Lim Kim (South Korea) enters Friday's second round three strokes back.

Leading a US contingent that includes No. 13 Angel Yin, No. 25 Lauren Coughlin, and No. 49 Lilia Vu is 2025 Tournament of Champions runner-up No. 2 Nelly Korda, who capped Thursday trailing Hataoka by two shots.

"Overall, I'm happy with my round. [It's only] Thursday, so hopefully, I can continue building momentum going into the next three days," said the 27-year-old US star. "But [I] can't complain."

Featuring 16 of the Top 25 golfers, including 2024 champion No. 6 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and 2023 winner No. 23 Brooke Henderson (Canada), the 2026 LPGA season-opening tournament pairs pros with amateur celebrities including USWNT legend Brandi Chastain and golf icon Annika Sörenstam.

How to watch the 2026 HGV Tournament of Champions

Live coverage of the 2026 HGV Tournament of Champions airs at 11:30 AM ET on Friday and 3 PM ET on Saturday on the Golf Channel, before NBC broadcasts the LPGA season opener's final round at 2 PM ET on Sunday.