American Raven Saunders, who took silver in the shot put final on Sunday, used her time on the Olympic podium to send a message to those watching worldwide.

During the medal ceremony, the 25-year-old shot putter lifted her arms into an “X” position, a symbol she says represents “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”

Raven Saunders launches it with a toss of 19.79m in the women's shot put finals 💥#SeeHerShine | #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/QQLElY5wCZ

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 1, 2021

Following her second-place performance, Saunders told NBC: “I’m not just fighting for myself. I’m fighting for a lot more people.”

"I'm not just fighting for myself, I'm fighting for a lot more people."

🖤 @GiveMe1Shot#OlympicHERstory | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/126C48ySWB

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 1, 2021

“I want to give a shoutout to all the LGBTQ community, everybody that is dealing with mental health issues, everybody that is Black. I’m giving a shoutout to everybody,” Saunders said.

The 25-year-old Olympian from South Carolina has been open about her mental health struggles leading up to the Tokyo Games and has used her platform to encourages others. Saunders made a statement during Sunday’s competition, wearing a red-and-green Hulk mask, sporting purple-and-green hair and ending her TV interview with words of encouragement: “We can do it.”

Alexandra Eala continues her ascent in professional tennis, achieving a career-high No. 45 in Monday's WTA rankings update, making her the highest-ranked Filipina player in WTA Tour history.

The 20-year-old left-hander approached her Abu Dhabi Open first-round match against Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez with growing confidence after a breakout 2025 season. Eala lept five spots from her previous career-best No. 49 ranking, continuing her steady progression toward breaking into the WTA Top 40.

Eala's rise stems from her historic Miami Open semifinal run last March, where the wildcard entry stunned three Grand Slam champions in consecutive matches. She defeated No. 24 Jelena Ostapenko, No. 15 Madison Keys, and No. 2 Iga Świątek, becoming the first Filipina to beat a Top 10 player and reach a WTA 1000 semifinal.

Following that performance, Eala reached her first Tour-level final at Eastbourne while capturing her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara. She finished 2025 at No. 50 before opening 2026 with semifinal appearances in both singles and doubles at the Auckland Open.

The Rafa Nadal Academy trainee recently competed at her first Australian Open but fell in the opening round of both singles and doubles. She then participated in the inaugural Philippine Women's Open as a wildcard, advancing to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Camila Osorio.

Alexandra Eala returns to Abu Dhabi for the first time since her 2024 debut, when she entered at No. 187 via a wildcard and lost to Magda Linette in the first round. Now competing as a Top 50 player, she hopes to become the first Filipina to win the tournament.

"I'm working hard," Eala told reporters. "We're working hard to maintain the level that I'm at, and working even harder to go deeper and higher into the rankings inch by inch."

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.