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.”

The 2026 WNBA schedule has arrived, as the league released key dates on Wednesday despite ongoing CBA talks that threaten to delay the start of the upcoming season.

Opening day will be Friday, May 8th, when the WNBA tips off with a tripleheader featuring incoming expansion side Toronto Tempo against the Washington Mystics, the New York Liberty hosting the Connecticut Sun, and the Golden State Valkyries visiting the Seattle Storm.

Fellow 2026 addition Portland Fire will debut on Saturday, May 9th, hosting the Chicago Sky to close out another tripleheader that includes a 2025 WNBA Finals rematch between the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury, as well as a Rookie of the Year showdown between the Paige Bueckers-led Dallas Wings and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever.

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Other 2026 season highlights include the return of the annual WNBA Commissioner's Cup in June and the Chicago Sky-hosted All-Star Weekend in late July, with the league set to pause for a two-week break in early September to allow its stars to compete in the FIBA World Cup.

After the regular-season closes on Thursday, September 24th, the 2026 WNBA Playoffs will tip off on Sunday, September 27th, with a repeat of last year's best-of-three first round, best-of-five semifinals round, and best-of-seven Finals.

Notably, the 2026 WNBA schedule drop falls within the current status quo period, which allows the league to conduct certain aspects of its business as usual under the old CBA while continuing to negotiate new terms with the players union.

"I'm just starting to see [the light at the end of the tunnel]," New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart told Front Office Sports this week, hinting at a bargaining resolution while an official work stoppage remains on the table.

Spanish midfielder and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí is officially eyeing a return to the pitch.

Following a lengthy rehabilitation process for a broken leg suffered last year, the Barcelona superstar is signaling that her comeback will be defined by even better form.

Bonmatí has spent the early part of 2026 focusing on a recovery program designed to not only restore her fitness but also to enhance her durability. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner emphasized that the time away from competition allowed her space to reflect and rebuild, something she intends to use to her advantage as she rejoins both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

"The goal wasn't just to heal the bone," Bonmatí told reporters from the International Sports Press Association on Monday.

"It was to come back better than I was before the injury. I've worked on aspects of my game and my physicality that you often don't have time for when you are playing every three days."

Bonmatí’s absence has significantly impacted Barcelona, where she's long served as the primary engine in the midfield. While the club has maintained its league dominance, her tactical intelligence and transitional play are vital for their upcoming campaigns.

The 28-year-old's return is equally meaningful for Spain, as the team heads down the road to the 2027 World Cup.

Medical staff have remained cautious with her timeline, prioritizing long-term health over an accelerated return. However, with Bonmatí now participating in full-contact training sessions, a full re-entry appears sooner rather than later.

For the rest of the footballing world, a "better than ever" Bonmatí is a daunting prospect. Should she successfully translate training into award-winning performances on the pitch, the gap between her and the rest of the field may only widen.

In the meantime, Barcelona is once again through to the Spanish Women Super Cup. This Saturday they'll face rivals Real Madrid in an all-new El Clásico, this time with a Super Cup title on the line.

How to watch Barcelona FC vs. Real Madrid in the Women's Super Cup Final

Barcelona kicks off against Real Madrid on Saturday, January 24th at 1 PM ET, live on DAZN.

Gymnastics superstar Jordan Chiles might have already conquered the world, but she isn’t finished with the record books just yet.

The UCLA star and Olympic gold medalist is officially on Gym Slam watch. According to a recent report from Forbes, Chiles is on the verge of becoming one of the few college gymnasts in history to record a Perfect 10 on all four apparatuses.

The senior already notched perfect marks on her signature events — bars and floor — for fifth-ranked UCLA. Now, Chiles is hunting an elusive 10.0 on vault and beam, intent on joining college gymnastics' most exclusive ranks.

Chiles came close to rounding out the Slam last weekend against Nebraska. That's when the 24-year-old received a Perfect 10 on vault and 9.90 on uneven bars, before posting a 9.975 on beam — a fraction of a point shy of her goal.

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Only 15 gymnasts have achieved the Gym Slam, including legends Trinity Thomas, Maggie Nichols, and fellow Bruin Kyla Ross. The milestone would solidify her transition from an Olympic powerhouse to one of college gymnastics' greatest all-arounders.

After a decorated run at the Paris 2024 Games, Chiles returned to UCLA to finish second in both the Big Ten and NCAA all-around rankings.

Chiles will get another shot at history when UCLA visits East Lansing on Sunday to face Big Ten rivals No. 21 Michigan State. However, the pair's head-to-head history favors the Spartans, with the Bruins falling twice to their conference foes in 2025.

How to watch Jordan Chiles compete in UCLA gymnastics

No. 5 UCLA takes on No. 21 Michigan State on Sunday, January 25th at 1 PM ET, live on FOX.

More NWSL stars are jumping ship, as both the San Diego Wave and North Carolina Courage saw respective key players Delphine Cascarino and Denise O'Sullivan sign with WSL clubs over the last few days.

Former Wave forward Cascarino inked a deal through the 2029/30 season with the London City Lionesses on Monday, one day after San Diego announced they had mutually parted ways with the French international despite her contract running through 2026 with an option for the 2027 NWSL season.

"I'm really happy to be here," said the 28-year-old in a statement. "London City is the only independent women's club in the WSL, which excites me."

North Carolina midfielder and captain O'Sullivan made a similar move on Saturday, as the Ireland international signed with Liverpool following more than eight seasons and a club-record 186 appearances for the Courage.

The last-place WSL team reportedly shelled out a club-record transfer fee of approximately £300,000 to roster the 31-year-old two-time NWSL champion and three-time Shield-winner, who called Liverpool "a new challenge" that will see her "only a 40-minute flight away" from her family in Cork, Ireland.

Though the NWSL departures of Cascarino and O'Sullivan mark a kind of homecoming for the European standouts, they are just the latest to exit the US league, after USWNT star Sam Coffey joined WSL-leaders Manchester City last week.

"England — for men and women — is the country of football," noted Cascarino. "It's always been a goal of mine to play in this league."