The Minnesota Lynx are off to a confounding 0-4 start to the regular season, with the team’s early roster cuts under scrutiny.

In early May, the Lynx cut Layshia Clarendon, Crystal Dangerfield and four other players and signed Odyssey Sims.

Dangerfield, who won Rookie of the Year in 2020, averaged 7.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists through 31 appearances during the 2021 campaign.

Clarendon averaged 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists through 21 appearances last season, helping the Lynx make a playoff run. Coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters Clarendon’s cut was injury-related, but Clarendon has disputed that claim, tweeting, “I am 100% cleared to play and practice. I’m feeling strong and ready to play!”

I’ve gotten a few media requests for comments on being waived and my injury. I have no comments other than I am 100% cleared to play and practice. I’m feeling strong and ready to play!

— Layshia Clarendon (@Layshiac) May 4, 2022

Minnesota also waived 2021 draft pick Rennia Davis, Yvonne Turner, Kayla Jones and Hannah Sjerven.

On May 12, one week after signing Sims to a training camp contract, the Lynx mutually parted ways with the veteran guard. On the same day, the team agreed to a contract buyout with forward Angel McCoughtry.

McCoughtry signed with Minnesota in February after missing the 2021 season due to an ACL injury. In her two games with the Lynx this season, the 35-year-old averaged 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

“Although the organization has been very patient with my injury and helping me heal my body, sometimes it’s about what fits best for both parties,” McCoughtry said in a statement.

NEWS: @minnesotalynx Agree To Contract Buyout With Angel McCoughtry

Full Release: https://t.co/vgSyB0Qhpf

— Lynx PR (@Lynx_PR) May 12, 2022

The Lynx roster shuffle continued Friday as the team signed a pair of former UConn players in Moriah Jefferson, who was waived by the Dallas Wings, and Evina Westbrook, who was waived by the Seattle Storm.

Minnesota re-signed Milić, Sjerven and Turner to hardship contracts after releasing the players earlier in the month — although Turner’s return did not last long. The guard was released again Monday in response to the Lynx activating Kayla McBride, who returned after finishing her European season.

Welcome to Minnesota, @_BonnBonn! pic.twitter.com/W0blA15DRm

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 13, 2022

The constant roster shuffling seems to have impacted the team’s on-court performance, as the Lynx have fallen to the Storm, Mystics, Fever and Sky in their first four contests this season.

The team has struggled without star Napheesa Collier, who is expecting her first child this month, though the 25-year-old has said she hopes to return to the court this season.

Minnesota also has yet to find a consistent presence at the point guard position but hopes Jefferson can fill the role.

“We’re looking for leadership, someone to not only be able to organize, but have the sense to understand what you’re running, why you’re running it,” Reeve said Friday. “It may take a little bit of time in terms of the nuances, but in terms of just management of the floor, that’s something we feel like Moriah can do.”

The Lynx will look for their first win of the season when they take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday.

Despite a few shocking upsets in the early rounds of the 2025 NCAA soccer tournament, the ACC has retained its status as the conference to beat, with the powerhouse sending three teams to this season's College Cup semifinals on Friday.

With two tickets to Monday's national championship match on the line, four-time title-winners and No. 3-seed Florida State will take on College Cup debutants TCU in Friday's first semi, with the No. 2 Horned Frogs booking their semifinals spot by ousting fellow SEC standout No. 1 Vanderbilt 2-1 last Saturday.

The nightcap, on the other hand, will be an all-ACC affair, as No. 2 Duke continues their hunt for a first-ever national title against the tournament's overall No. 1 seed, Stanford.

The three-time NCAA champ Cardinal has been unstoppable, outscoring their opponents 21-5 across the tournament's first four rounds to set up a season-first matchup with the Blue Devils.

The 2025 College Cup will take place for the first time at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, home of the NWSL's Kansas City Current.

How to watch the 2025 College Cup semifinals

Friday's 2025 College Cup semifinals will begin with No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Florida State at 6 PM ET, with No. 1 Stanford's clash against No. 2 Duke kicking off at 8:45 PM ET.

Both semifinals — plus Monday's 7PM ET championship match — will air live on ESPNU.

Playa Society is honoring the 25th anniversary of the classic sports film "Love & Basketball" this week, with the popular women's basketball outfitter dropping a capsule collection entitled "First Quarter: Ball Better Than You" — an homage to one of the film's iconic quotes.

"This is a love story, about our love for 'Love & Basketball,'" notes Playa Society about the collection. "Our love for [lead character] Monica, who served as the first representation of an unapologetic female athlete in film. Our love for [writer and director] Gina Prince-Bythewood for her persistence in delivering culture and truth. And our love for the energy of it all that inspired Playa Society to fill in the gaps for women in sports."

"I am so humbled by the enduring impact of the film on both ballers and non-athletes, who are inspired by characters who believe in themselves enough to fight for an impossible dream," Prince-Bythewood said of the project.

With New York Liberty teammates and girlfriends Natasha Cloud and Izzy Harrison serving as models, the "First Quarter" collection includes T-shirts, hoodies, and more.

This week's drop is just the first in the works between Prince-Bythewood and Playa Society founder Esther Wallace, with the LA Sentinel describing their collaboration as "blending nostalgia, culture, and women's sports in a way that honors the film while pushing the narrative forward."

How to purchase from Playa Society's "Love & Basketball" collection

All items from the "First Quarter" collection are now available in limited quantities at PlayaSociety.com.

The inaugural North American iteration of World Sevens Football (W7F) kicks off in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, when eight standout clubs will battle for three days for the the largest share of the 7v7 competition's $5 million prize pool.

All eight clubs boast championship backgrounds, including the reigning NWSL Shield-winning Kansas City Current, 2023 NWSL Shield-winners San Diego Wave, Liga MX Femenil Apertura winner Tigres UANL, current Northern Super League Shield-winner AFC Toronto, and more.

This weekend's edition is the second-ever W7F tournament, after the new venture launched with a Europe-centric competition in Portugal last May, crowning Bayern Munich as its debut champions.

In W7F, the 11v11 clubs instead field seven players per side on a pitch half the size of a regulation field, with matches comprised of two 15-minute halves along with smaller goals, no offside rule, and rolling substitutions throughout the games.

All eight clubs will compete in the group stage on Friday and Saturday, with the top four teams advancing to Sunday's knockout rounds.

How to watch this weekend's W7F tournament

The North American debut of W7F kicks off when the NWSL's Kansas City Current faces Brazilian powerhouse Clube de Regatas do Flamengo at 5 PM ET on Friday.

All games, including Sunday's 4:30 PM ET championship match, will air live on HBO Max as well we either TNT or truTV.

The SEC displayed its basketball dominance on Thursday's courts, as the conference won all four of the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge Day 2 matchups to feature at least one Top-25 team.

No. 2 Texas handled No. 11 North Carolina 79-64 while No. 3 South Carolina and No. 13 Ole Miss survived nail-biters against No. 22 Louisville and No. 18 Notre Dame, respectively.

"I thought [our players] got out and made big plays for themselves in the fourth and building the five-point lead," said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. "It was a turning point for us, whether we were going to succumb to losing the game or fight to get back in it."

No one had a better night than No. 5 LSU, however, as the Tigers faced their season's first Power Four opponent to a 93-77 result over unranked Duke, erasing a 14-point deficit behind six double-digit LSU scorers — led by 18 points from star guard Flau'jae Johnson.

"We scored 93 tonight, and look how poor we played in the first quarter. We were behind. Scoring the ball is not going to be a problem," said Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey. "Our problem is we have to just continue to get better on the defensive end and take care of the ball."

Across the 16 total 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge games, the SEC took 13 victories, with only unranked Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and SMU earning ACC wins — over Auburn, Florida, and Arkansas, respectively — this week.

How to watch Top-25 NCAA basketball this weekend

This weekend's NCAA docket sees the nonconference schedule cool down, with No. 16 USC hosting No. 21 Washington in the only ranked battle.

The Trojans and Huskies will tip off in LA at 8 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage airing on the Big Ten Network.