Simone Biles gave Cleveland's newest WNBA franchise a boost this week when she showed up in a Cleveland Sirens hat during a TikTok video posted on September 5th. The Columbus, Ohio native paired the Lake Erie blue cap with a trampoline session full of tumbling passes and midair twists that looked like a scaled-down floor routine.
Simone Biles Hints at LA28 Olympics Campaign
Simone Biles's caption only added to the social media buzz.
"Full send 2028 or no??!!" Biles wrote, fueling ongoing speculation about whether she'll compete at the 2028 LA Olympics.
She would be 31 by then, but after earning three golds and a silver at the 2024 Paris Games, few are counting her out — including Cleveland's front office.
@simonebilesowens still have pit in my eyes & will probably need to get a massage. #gymnastics ♬ original sound - Simone Biles
Cleveland Sirens Buzz Growing Beyond WNBA Fans
The Sirens' official TikTok account responded to the post with a string of blue heart emojis, and Biles liked the reply. The team revealed its name and branding on August 4th at Rocket Arena ahead of its planned 2028 debut.
For women's sports fans, the exchange between the decorated Olympian and the WNBA team was a welcome sign that the expansion franchise is building buzz well beyond Ohio.
Jordan Chiles is back for more, as the gold medalist announced she’ll train for a third Olympics in a video narrated by her namesake: NBA legend Michael Jordan.
The 25-year-old becomes the fourth 2024 Golden Girl to eye an LA 28 comeback. She joins teammates Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera.
“Why again? Because the dream is still there,” Jordan says in the social media post. Then, Chiles caps the message with a simple “Why not?”
Should she qualify, Chiles would become just the fourth US women’s gymnast to compete in three Olympics. She joins the ranks of icons Simone Biles and Dominique Dawes.
The news came shortly after the 23-time All-American announced plans to rejoin UCLA as a student coach, capping a decorated Bruins career that spans three individual titles.
“Being in Pauley [Pavilion] as a gymnast was chapter one,” she said on Instagram. “Now, I get to start a new chapter as coach Jo.”
Hezly Rivera clawed back from fourth place to defend her all-around crown at the 2026 US Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix on Sunday. The Olympic gold medalist closed with 111.950 points to repeat as national champion.
Hezly Rivera Stages Stunning Comeback in Phoenix
Rivera trailed by more than a point after Day 1, dropped there by an early slip on uneven bars.
She flipped the meet in the final rotations, anchored by a balance beam gold at 28.700. Her 14.400 vault stood as the highest single-vault mark of the night. A 28.300 on floor exercise sealed silver on that apparatus and lifted her past the field.
The 17-year-old is just the second American woman in 13 years to repeat as senior all-around champion, after Simone Biles.
Rivera's Road to the 2026 World Championships
World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) teammate Claire Pease took all-around silver with 110.800 and won the uneven bars title. Charleigh Bullock earned bronze with a steady 110.550. Reese Esponda claimed the floor crown, and Olympic champion Jade Carey won vault gold.
Rivera and Pease earned automatic invites to the 2026 World Selection Event this fall. That meet sets the roster for the World Championships in Rotterdam from October 17-25.
Leanne Wong has withdrawn from the 2026 US Gymnastics Championships after hyperextending her knee in podium training.
The two-time world all-around silver medalist shared the news Wednesday on Instagram, two days before USA Gymnastics hopefuls open competition. Her exit removes a top contender from the field in Phoenix.
Why Leanne Wong Withdrew From the US Gymnastics Championships
The injury happened Tuesday, one day before the meet began. Wong had been preparing for Friday and Sunday's rotations. Now, the USA Gymnastics event moves ahead without one of its most decorated returners.
"This isn’t how I wanted this week to go, but I trust that God’s plan is greater than my own. Thank you all for the love and support," Wong wrote. "I'm looking forward to what's ahead and trusting the process."
The knee setback caps a rough summer for Wong. She first tweaked her wrist ahead of the July 18th US Classic and competed only on beam. She fell during that routine and scored an 11.9, well out of her usual range.
Recovery from the injury had already cut into her prep window heading into Phoenix.
Still, her season may not be over. Wong remains eligible to petition into the world selection competition in late September. That path could keep her on track for October's World Championships roster.
Jordan Chiles is bringing her bold personal style to gymnastics apparel. The two-time Olympian teamed up with Nike and GK Elite to create her first signature leotard collection, released July 15th. Two-time World Team Champion Skye Blakely debuted her own line alongside Chiles on the same day.
Jordan Chiles Nike Leotards: Flo-Jo Inspiration & Design Details
The Jordan Chiles Nike collection draws from fashion and pop culture, with a one-legged silhouette inspired by track legend Florence Griffith Joyner. Dynamic color blocking and a prominent logo Swoosh round out the look.
"Pinch me!" Chiles wrote on Instagram, sharing photos of her collection. "A dream turned into a leo. This collection is all about showing up boldly, competing fearlessly, and bringing your whole self to the floor."
How Skye Blakely Sketched Her Nike Line
Blakely, meanwhile, took a different creative approach. She brought original hand sketches to the design process and leaned into feminine color palettes paired with clean cuts.
Both athletes played a hands-on role throughout development. They tested fit, materials, and trims to make sure each piece holds up in training and competition. Every leotard also carries the athlete's signature stamped directly onto the garment.
Jordan Chiles's gymnastics line and Blakely's collection are available at Nike.com.
Katelyn Ohashi's comeback bid and Jade Carey's shot at another title both came up short Saturday at the 2026 US Classic in Hartford, Connecticut. Instead, it was 17-year-old Reese Esponda who walked away with the all-around crown.
Reese Esponda Claims U.S. Classic All-Around Title Over Jade Carey
Esponda posted a 54.900 to edge Carey (54.050) and Zoey Molomo (53.900). Still recovering from a foot injury earlier this season, Esponda sealed the win with a 14.150 double-twisting Yurchenko vault in the final rotation and also took the floor exercise title.
Carey, meanwhile, earned top honors on vault as she continues a steady return to elite US gymnastics competition. Skye Blakely added two more event wins, taking uneven bars (14.100) and balance beam (14.250).
Katelyn Ohashi Misses Gymnastics Nationals Qualifying Threshold
Then there was Ohashi. The former UCLA star and viral sensation needed a 26.800 combined score across two apparatuses to qualify for August's US Championships in Phoenix.
After adjusting her routine alongside former coach Valorie Kondos Field, she posted matching 13.200 scores on beam and floor, just 0.400 points short. Ohashi returned to elite competition last month after seven years away and has said she plans to keep training toward 2027.
"I feel like I had a really solid meet," Ohashi said. "I'm so proud of everything I've done this year."
Suni Lee is shooting for another Olympic run, as the decorated gymnast is officially rejoining USA Gymnastics ahead of LA28.
The 23-year-old Auburn alum has won six Olympic medals. Her collection includes all-around gold in Tokyo and team gold in Paris.
Lee’s return caps a remarkable arc. A 2023 chronic kidney disease diagnosis nearly ended her gymnastics career and forced her to step away from collegiate competition.
After entering remission in 2024, Lee will chronicle her comeback in a forthcoming documentary produced by Fanatics Studios.
“I know there’s more in me, and this is my chance to challenge myself, test my limits, and see what I’m truly capable of,” she said.
Simone Biles is resting at home after a medical emergency she described as a near-death experience brought her to the hospital. The 29-year-old Olympic gymnast shared details of the health scare on her Instagram Stories earlier this week.
"Almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week," Biles wrote, calling it one of the scariest experiences of her life.
The crisis happened while her husband, Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens, was away at offseason NFL practice.
USA Olympic Legend Shares Recovery Update After Hospital
Despite the severity of the scare, Biles assured fans she is safely back home. She posted photos of herself resting in bed alongside her two French bulldogs, Lilo and Rambo.
Friends and family quickly filled her room with bouquets to show support.
Biles has not yet disclosed what caused the emergency. Still, she promised to share more information once she fully recovers. For now, the most decorated gymnast in USA Olympic and World Championship history is focused on rest.
Simone Biles's Summer Olympics Future Remains Uncertain
The health scare adds another layer of uncertainty to Biles's Olympic gymnastics future. Even before this week's emergency, her status for the 2028 LA Games remained unclear.
"Whether on the apparatus or in the stands, I still don't know that," she told French sports outlet L'Equipe in April 2025. "But 2028 seems so far away, and my body is aging. I felt it in Paris."
Biles continued her noncommittal stance during a January 2026 appearance on TODAY.
"If I have to say anything, I'm just like, 'Give me a little bit more time to recover, mentally, physically,'" she said. "We got a little bit more things to do and then we'll see."
For now, fans worldwide are sending well-wishes as she heals.
Olympic champion Laurie Hernandez is trading the balance beam for Broadway, debuting in the musical & Juliet this spring.
The two-time Olympic medalist will play the dance role of Charmion beginning March 17th. The limited Stephen Sondheim Theatre run marks a career milestone, after Hernandez conquered Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars.
"To make my Broadway debut in & Juliet is a dream come true," Hernandez said in a statement.
"The show is so much fun to watch as an audience member, and I can't wait to join this incredible cast and actually perform in the show each night."
Laurie Hernandez adds to her post-USA Gymnastics résumé
Laurie Hernandez first captured attention at the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the "Final Five" US Women's Gymnastics team. She won a team gold medal and individual silver on the balance beam in Brazil.
She went on to make headlines several years later, detailing years of emotional and verbal abuse suffered under Team USA coach Maggie Haney in a New York Times interview. USA Gymnastics subsequently suspended Haney for eight years.
After retiring, she became a two-time New York Times bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and UNICEF Ambassador. The 25-year-old went on to earn a degree from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in drama and creative writing.
Hernandez's role in & Juliet was previously performed by social media star Charli D'Amelio. The production — which earned nine Tony Award nods — runs through June 14th.
US tennis star Coco Gauff continues to win off the court, with the 2025 French Open champion topping Sportico's list of the 15 Highest-Paid Female Athletes for the third consecutive year.
Fueled by $23 million in off-court endorsements, the $31 million earned by the 21-year-old world No. 3 WTA player edged out the $30 million total income that fellow tennis star and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka garnered in 2025.
Unsurprisingly, a full 10 athletes on the Sportico Top 15 list are tennis stars, a direct result of the fact that all four Grand Slams and the Masters 1000 tournaments boast equal prize money between the men's and women's competitions — a shift that began with the 1973 US Open.
That established expectation of gender equity in prize money has tennis far outpacing salaries in most other women's sports.
Also making the Top 15 are two LPGA golfers — world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul (No. 15 on the Highest-Paid Female Athletes list) and US star No. 2 Nelly Korda (No. 7) — as well as popular Olympic skiier Eileen Gu (No. 4), WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark (No. 6), and USA gymnastics legend Simone Biles (No. 11).
Notably, Gu, Clark, and Biles as well as Venus Williams (No. 14) all proved the power of endorsements on this year's list, with nearly all of the quartet's earnings coming from sponsorship deals.