Taylor Smith felt helpless.

In a short period of time, the soccer star suffered an ACL tear, was cut from the U.S. women’s national team and went through a break-up.

Smith joined Snacks co-hosts Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams on Snacks for Mental Health Day last week to chronicle that period of her life and her ongoing battle with depression in hopes of helping others who find themselves in similar situations.

“Anything that could go wrong went so wrong,” she told them. “I had such a hard time coping with it. When I was in it I felt so frustrated, but now I look back and see that I needed to have more empathy for myself.

“I genuinely felt that there was nothing in this world that was going to make me happy.”

Eventually, Smith felt that she couldn’t cope anymore. The trauma and mental health issues she’d battled since childhood took over her mind, and Smith attempted to take her own life.

Smith ended up in the hospital and continued to struggle with suicidal thoughts. And while they haven’t gone away completely, through therapy, Smith has learned how to cope with the depression that’s controlled her for so long.

“I felt like I was in survival mode for 25 years,” the 28-year-old forward said. “It was just exhausting, and you can’t thrive when you are in that state of mind.”

These days, Smith is thriving. She’s learned to take time for herself and carve out a routine that brings her joy. She loves walking her dogs, journaling and chatting with friends. When Smith was deep in her depression, she says that she neglected her relationships.

“You can only treat people as good as you feel,” she said.

Now, she feels good, and because of that, Smith has been able to pour more energy into her relationships with her friends and with herself.

“I wasn’t healthy so I didn’t want to open up and be vulnerable,” she said. “My coping mechanism was to isolate and be super self-sufficient.”

As Smith has learned to open up, she’s also found peace on the soccer field once more. After being cut by the USWNT, Smith was in what she calls “a bad situation” with the North Carolina Courage, a team coached by Paul Riley despite his firing from the Portland Thorns following an investigation into abusive conduct.

Now, she’s found a home for the next three seasons.

Gotham FC announced on Monday that it had re-signed Smith to a three-year contract, keeping her in New York/New Jersey through the 2025 season. Acquired off of waivers in June, Smith went on to play 18 games for Gotham, recording two goals and one assist in 15 starts.

CLUB NEWS: We have re-signed forward/defender @taylornsmith11_ to a three-year contract through the 2025 season.

📰: https://t.co/nOMNKfwCnQ pic.twitter.com/gdMXuAkSHx

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) October 17, 2022

“From the first day I arrived this summer, I’ve enjoyed every second of being a part of Gotham FC,” Smith said in a press release. “I feel valued here and cannot wait to continue to make a positive impact. I wholeheartedly believe we will build off our last performance and make everyone proud next year. The team, the fans, the city and community are second to none, and I feel so honored to be able to call this home the next three years.”

LPGA star Nelly Korda publicly questioned TMRW Sports' decision to establish a new indoor women's golf league this week. Instead, she argued, TGL should look to integrate LPGA players into the existing TGL competition alongside their PGA counterparts.

Speaking with Golfweek as she prepares for the new season, Korda characterized the choice to create the WTGL as a separate entity as a "missed opportunity." The former world No. 1 suggested that combining men's and women's competitors would be a transformative moment for professional golf.

Korda went on to suggest that competing for identical prize purses would break historical ground. She also expressed surprise that other players have yet to voice similar concerns about TGL's segregated structure.

Co-founded by golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, TMRW Sports revealed plans for its WTGL offshoot earlier this month. The women's competition will utilize the same technology-driven simulator format that launched at Florida's SoFi Center during TGL's first season.

Multiple high-profile LPGA players have signed on to participate in WTGL's debut season, set for this winter. The roster includes reigning No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, along with established stars like Lydia Ko, Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Rose Zhang, and rising star Lottie Woad.

Korda's name has been conspicuously absent from these announcements.

Regarding her potential participation, Korda indicated she remains undecided while evaluating scheduling demands and operational details. Her primary focus currently centers on preparation for the LPGA season, which kicks off this week with the Tournament of Champions.

While Korda balanced her critique by saying the WTGL offers valuable opportunities, she maintained that an integrated league would have more impact on expanding the pro women's golf's reach.

Ford Motor Company has been named the official vehicle of the LPGA Tour, kicking off a multi-year partnership at the 2026 Tournament of Champions in Orlando this week.

This marks the Tour's first official vehicle partner since 2018's Kia sponsorship. Ford has served as a tournament title sponsor since 2024, demonstrating the auto giant's commitment to women's golf.

The expanded partnership includes the Power Her Drive mentorship program, designed to support LPGA players in the early stages of their careers. The program will specifically target athletes in their first or second years, providing resources, career guidance, and development opportunities.

"At Ford, we believe in the power of human capability and potential," said Ford chief marking officer Lisa Materazzo.

"By teaming up with the LPGA Tour in a completely new way, we’re not just sponsoring tournaments, but we're investing in the careers and futures of the next generation of professional athletes."

Ford will also become presenting sponsor of Drive On, a longstanding storytelling campaign focused on highlighting pro golfers' journeys. The collaboration aims to empower girls and women both on and off the golf course.

LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan expressed gratitude for Ford's alignment with the tour, noting that the partnership demonstrates recognition of the transformative power of women's sports.

The Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass is scheduled to return this spring. The tournament will tee off March 26th at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.

UConn basketball will celebrate one of its most consistent stars Wednesday night, when WNBA standout and UConn alum Aaliyah Edwards becomes the latest Huskies of Honor member before the women's team hosts Xavier at Gampel Pavilion.

Edwards epitomized reliability throughout her career at UConn, missing just three games in four seasons while steadily improving her game. She earned BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021 and BIG EAST Most Improved Player in 2023. In her final year, she collected 2024 All-BIG EAST, Wooden Award All-American, and WBCA All-American honors.

The Kingston, Ontario native racked up 1,861 points and 1,020 rebounds through her four years, finishing 16th in program history in total career points and eighth in rebounds. The Washington Mystics took Edwards No. 6 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, before a midseason trade saw her join the Connecticut Sun last year.

Legendary UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma praised Edwards's approach, celebrating both her improvement and her drive during a rough run for the now-No. 1 team.

"Sometimes careers go smoothly; sometimes it's rocky," said Auriemma. "[Edwards] managed to make the best out of a very difficult situation."

Her No. 3 jersey will be added to the wall at Gampel Pavilion during tonight's ceremony.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Of course, today's reigning NCAA champions enter the Xavier rematch on a perfect 21-0 record, having won 16 consecutive victories by at least 25 points. The Huskies routed the unranked Musketeers 104-39 in their first meeting back in late November, hitting a season-high 18 three-pointers while forcing 31 turnovers.

Despite their odds, Auriemma emphasized that UConn basketball must avoid complacency going forward. The team already faced challenges against Seton Hall in Saturday's weather-impacted matchup, overcoming an early deficit to win 92-52.

How to watch UConn basketball in this week's NCAA slate

UConn tips off against Xavier on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, live on Peacock.

However, bigger tests are looming as the Huskies prepare to face SEC mainstay No. 15 Tennessee this Sunday at 12 PM ET, live on FOX.

Tennis legend Serena Williams publicly defended Coco Gauff following the young US star's viral racket-smashing moment at the Australian Open, offering support and advice to the world No. 3.

After Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina in just 59 minutes on Tuesday, cameras captured her smashing her racket in frustration while walking through the Rod Laver Arena tunnel. The 21-year-old had intentionally left the court hoping to avoid public view, but the TV broadcast chose to air the moment live.

Serena Williams quickly came to Gauff's defense on social media, echoing sentiments shared by her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The 44-year-old assured Gauff that passion and caring matter, and there's nothing wrong with hating to lose.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tennis (@tennischannel)

Serena Williams then playfully offered to teach Gauff how to demolish a racket in one swing, referencing her own history with similar outbursts during her legendary career.

Gauff responded to the criticism by emphasizing she deliberately avoids breaking rackets on court and only did so in what she believed was a private space. She called for increased privacy for players, noting that the locker room serves as the Melbourne tournament's only truly private area.

Williams faced similar scrutiny throughout her decorated career, garnering attention for emotional displays including racket-smashing incidents resulting in fines. Despite occasional controversies, she became one of the greatest athletes of all time, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles and holding the No. 1 ranking for 186 consecutive weeks.

Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek also voiced support for Gauff, agreeing that cameras have become too intrusive at tournaments. The incident subsequently sparked broader conversations about player privacy and mental health in professional tennis.