Must be some Longhorns in the atmosphere.

LSU faces 1st ranked test of the NCAA season

No. 5 LSU is facing their first big test of the season, opening 2025/26 conference play on Thursday against fellow SEC powerhouse No. 11 Kentucky.

• “There’s nothing else that I can learn about this team in a non-conference schedule,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said after Sunday’s 109-41 win over Alabama State. “What I’m gonna learn is gonna be through these games in the SEC.”

Big picture: Known in recent years for a weak non-conference schedule, the Tigers have nonetheless impressed so far, closing out their 14-game slate with a 55.4-point average margin of victory while scoring more than 100 points in 11 matchups.

• Senior guard Flau’jae Johnson and star South Carolina transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley share the team’s scoring crown with 15.1 points per game, while senior Amiya Joyner tops the rebounds tally with 7.3 per game.

True test: LSU will face stiff competition in a Kentucky team hitting their stride under former Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks.

• Hokies transfer Clara Strack leads the Wildcats in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks, as the team enters SEC play with just one loss to No. 7 Maryland on their record.

Tune in: LSU takes on Kentucky on Thursday at 8 PM ET, live on SEC Network+.

San Diego makes major roster moves

San Diego made waves this week, as the 2022 NWSL expansion team announced founding goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s mutual contract termination.

• Sheridan joined the Wave ahead of the club’s inaugural season, making 87 appearances over four seasons while registering nine shutouts in the team’s 2023 Shield-winning campaign.

• “Kailen has been an integral part of this Club since day one,” Wave sporting director Camille Ashton said in a Monday’s statement. “We thank her for the contributions to this Club and this city and wish her the best in the next chapter of her career.”

Big picture: While San Diego hunts for a new starting keeper, they pointed to the future by announcing the signing of Florida State defender Mimi Van Zanten.

• Van Zanten is fresh off her second NCAA championship in three seasons, building youth experience with the USWNT before joining the Jamaica women’s national senior team.

• “Her championship experience and ability to contribute on both sides of the ball make her a strong addition to the Wave,” Ashton said of the 20-year-old.

Bottom line: San Diego has long had an aggressive transfer market approach, but the move away from 2023’s Shield-winning core raises questions about the future.

Minnesota Frost makes pre-Olympics push

No. 3 Minnesota is looking to skate up the table, as the two-time PWHL champs hope to make up ground before the third-year league’s Olympic break.

• Eight games into the 2025/26 season, the Boston Fleet top the PWHL standings with 19 points, trailed by the No. 2 Toronto Sceptres with 15, while the No. 4 Montreal Victoire sit one point behind the Frost with 11.

• “Our league is good. Every game is going to be close,” Minnesota head coach Ken Klee said last week. “It’s just about getting better and keep accumulating points.”

Big picture: With the league’s original six teams off to a hot start, there’s only a few weeks left before players hang up their PWHL jerseys for February’s Winter Games.

• Teams outside the playoff chase are also making a statement, as New York Sirens forward Casey O’Brien scored her first pro goals on Sunday to power the sixth-place squad past No. 5 Seattle 4-3 — while also becoming the first rookie to record a hat trick in PWHL history.

• “We’ve been putting in a lot of work in practice and video, focusing on the little things,” O’Brien said postgame. “Tonight felt like the payoff.” (See full highlights)

Tune in: Minnesota takes on Toronto tonight at 7 PM ET (Prime), before New York hosts No. 7 Vancouver tomorrow at 1 PM ET, live on MSG Network.

Injury-struck South Carolina suffers another blow

No. 3 South Carolina suffered a blow this week, as star transfer Ta’Niya Latson exited Sunday’s 96-55 win over Providence with a lower leg injury.

• “She’s smiling,” coach Dawn Staley said of Latson after the game, providing an optimistic update. “She got treatment all through the second half.”

Big picture: Latson joined South Carolina after leading DI basketball in scoring with Florida State last year, going on to trail only top-scorer Joyce Edwards for the Gamecocks this season.

• Any absence could exacerbate the team’s injury woes, with forward Chloe Kitts’s pre-season SEI giving way to Madina Okot’s and Agot Makeer’s limited availability.

• South Carolina could see roster relief sooner rather than later, as French center Alicia Tournebize is set to join the team midseason.

Up next: The Gamecocks will hope for a full squad when they face Alabama on Thursday at 1 PM ET, live on ESPN.

US tennis stars eye United Cup repeat

The world’s top tennis stars will open 2026 in Australia, with Team USA’s WTA and ATP leaders gearing up to defend their United Cup title this Friday.

• The two-time champion US enters as the tournament’s No. 1 seed, bolstered by top-ranked WTA talents No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 4 Amanda Anasimova, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 7 Madison Keys.

• “I’m super excited,” Gauff said. “I had such a good time in my first year playing with the team, and I’m looking forward to going back.”

The field: With the Australian Open on the horizon, the United Cup pits 18 teams against each other as players from both tours tune up for next year’s Slams.

• Fan favorite No. 16 Naomi Osaka will feature for tournament debutant Japan, while No. 2 Iga Swiatek (Poland), No. 8 Jasmine Paolini (Italy), and No. 29 Emma Raducanu (Great Britain) also take the court. (See full lineup)

Tune in: The United Cup runs January 2nd through 11th, live on the Tennis Channel.

Number of the day 

$450,000

2026 expansion side Denver has reportedly signed USYNT star Ayo Oke from Liga MX Femenil’s Pachuca for a $450,000 transfer fee, one of the largest in NWSL history.