Team admits losing initial edge (5)
I believe the answer is:
sidle
'edge' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'team admits losing initial' is the wordplay.
'team' becomes 'side' (both can mean a sports team).
'admits' is an insertion indicator.
'initial' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'losing' is 'l'.
'side' placed around 'l' is 'SIDLE'.
(Other definitions for sidle that I've seen before include "Move in furtive manner, edge along" , "Isled (anag.)" , "Walk furtively sideways" , "Walk crabwise" , "Move like a crab" .)