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2025 NCAA softball tournament, WCWS picks, predictions

Sport 7 Mins Read

The field has been set for the 2025 NCAA softball tournament, which means the road to the Women’s College World Series is set, too.

As was expected going into the selection show, the SEC dominated: Fourteen of the conference’s 16 teams are heading to the postseason, led by SEC tournament co-champions Texas A&M and Oklahoma, the top two seeds of the tournament, respectively. The SEC claimed seven of the top eight seeds and nine of the top 16 overall.

The Sooners are aiming for a dynastic fifth straight national championship, which would place them in rarefied air in all sports. But the field looks more perilous than it has in years past this year, with Patty Gasso’s team lacking its usual pitching depth.

Here’s a look at our predictions for the 2025 softball NCAA Tournament and Women’s College World Series:

Bryan-College Station Regional

  • No. 1 Texas A&M (45-9)
  • Marist (47-7-1)
  • Liberty (47-12)
  • Saint Francis (26-24)

The Aggies should breeze through their regional with two wins and reach the championship game. Texas A&M will advance to the super regional.

Norman Regional

  • No. 2 Oklahoma (45-7)
  • Boston University (39-17)
  • Omaha (39-11)
  • Cal (35-19)

The Sooners are going to be motivated after not getting the No. 1 overall seed. Fully expect Gasso and Oklahoma to turn up the heat in their regional.

Gainesville Regional

  • No. 3 Florida (43-14)
  • Mercer (38-24)
  • Georgia Tech (27-22)
  • Florida Atlantic (44-10)

Florida was the No. 2-ranked team in RPI at the end of the season. The Gators finished sixth in the SEC, but played one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

Fayetteville Regional

  • No. 4 Arkansas (40-12)
  • Saint Louis (34-22)
  • Oklahoma State (33-18)
  • Indiana (33-18)

The Razorbacks have arguably the best player in the nation in Bri Ellis. That alone should carry them through the regional.

Tallahassee Regional

  • No. 5 Florida State (46-9)
  • Robert Morris (30-16)
  • USF (43-14-1)
  • Auburn (32-22)

Florida State is playing as well as any team in the country, with a deep pitching staff and the best hitting lineup in the ACC. The Seminoles should breeze through their regional.

Austin Regional

  • No. 6 Texas (46-10)
  • Eastern Illinois (34-20)
  • Michigan (38-19)
  • UCF (33-22-1)

Big Ten tournament champion Michigan could prove to be a tough test for the Longhorns, but Texas is as battle-tested as any program in the country and should ultimately prevail.

Knoxville Regional

  • No. 7 Tennessee (40-14)
  • Miami (Ohio) (35-24)
  • North Carolina (40-15)
  • Ohio State (43-12-1)

The Lady Vols have one of the best pitchers in college softball in Karlyn Pickens and no one else in the regional can match her arm talent. Tennessee advances.

Columbia Regional

  • No. 8 South Carolina (40-15)
  • Elon (33-19)
  • North Florida (45-13)
  • Virginia (37-17)

South Carolina snuck in for the final super regional host site. The Gamecocks will take full advantage and have the opportunity to host UCLA in the next round.

Los Angeles Regional

  • No. 9 UCLA (49-10)
  • UC Santa Barbara (34-24)
  • San Diego State (37-17)
  • Arizona State (35-19)

The Bruins, like Oklahoma, are going to be motivated after being ‘snubbed’ for the final super regional host spot.

Baton Rouge Regional

  • No. 10 LSU (41-14)
  • SE Louisiana (48-14)
  • UConn (35-17)
  • Nebraska (39-13)

Jordy Bahl transferred to Nebraska to bring home a national championship. Bahl delivers for the Cornhuskers as they upset host LSU to advance to the super regionals.

Clemson Regional

  • No. 11 Clemson (44-12)
  • SC Upstate (39-14)
  • Northwestern (29-18-1)
  • Kentucky (29-26)

The Tigers should feel confident entering their regional after winning the ACC softball tournament championship. Clemson has the ‘it’ factor when it comes to making comebacks and should be good enough to carry on to the super regional.

Lubbock Regional

  • No. 12 Texas Tech (45-12)
  • Brown (33-15)
  • Washington (34-17)
  • Mississippi State (37-17)

The Red Raiders outscored their opponents 26-0 over three games in the Big 12 Tournament and appear to be playing their best softball. It also helps to have NiJaree Canady on your side.

Tucson Regional

  • No. 13 Arizona (45-11)
  • Santa Clara (32-20)
  • Grand Canyon (46-6)
  • Ole Miss (37-17)

The Wildcats are ready for the regional round following wins over Alabama, Stanford and UCLA in nonconference play. But don’t sleep on Ole Miss and Grand Canyon giving them a run for their money.

Durham Regional

  • No. 14 Duke (38-16)
  • Howard (31-18)
  • Coastal Carolina (41-17)
  • Georgia (31-20)

How about the Bulldogs showing off the strength of the SEC with a major upset over Duke in the Durham Regional? Georgia has the talent to pull off the upset.

Tuscaloosa Regional

  • No. 15 Alabama (37-21)
  • Jackson State (28-23)
  • Belmont (40-14)
  • Virginia Tech (41-11)

Virginia Tech had a strong season in the ACC and has a talented pitcher in Emma Lemley. She could carry the Hokies past host Alabama into the super regional round.

Eugene Regional

  • No. 16 Oregon (47-7)
  • Weber State (28-30)
  • Binghamton (36-12)
  • Stanford (40-11)

Oregon is another program that could feel ‘disrespected’ after barely clinging on for the last national seed. The Ducks had nonconference wins over Florida State and Tennessee and won the Big Ten regular season championship.

Super Regionals

Bryan-College Station Super Regional

  • No. 1 Texas A&M vs. No. 16 Oregon: Aggies win in three games

The Aggies are ranked No. 1 in RPI for a reason. Texas A&M is talented in all three phases of the game and, despite having a strong roster, Oregon is not a match. But the Ducks do force the ‘if necessary’ game.

Norman Super Regional

  • No. 2 Oklahoma vs. Virginia Tech: Oklahoma sweeps

The magical run for the Hokies ends here with a motivated Oklahoma squad looking to make history. The Sooners just prove too much for Virginia Tech and earn the sweep.

Gainesville Super Regional

  • No. 3 Florida vs. Georgia: Florida sweeps

Who doesn’t want to see the Gators and Bulldogs battle in the postseason, regardless of the sport? Florida will earn a sweep over their rivals and reach the WCWS once again.

Fayetteville Super Regional

  • No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Arizona: Arizona wins in three games

This could be a fun back-and-forth super regional with both teams ranking inside the top 12 in RPI. However, in the end, the Wildcats pull off the upset and advance to the WCWS.

Tallahassee Super Regional

  • No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 12 Texas Tech: Florida State wins in three games

Texas Tech has a strong batting lineup and Canady. However, the Seminoles are deeper in pitching and batting.

Austin Super Regional

  • No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Clemson: Texas wins in three games

The Longhorns and Tigers present another strong super regional matchup. However, the home field advantage for Texas proves to push the team over the top to advance to the WCWS again.

Knoxville Super Regional

  • No. 7 Tennessee vs. Nebraska: Nebraska wins in three games

Bahl vs. Pickens will be a treat for all college softball fans on a national stage. However, Bahl is going to continue to carry the Cornhuskers over the Lady Vols into the WCWS.

Columbia Super Regional

  • No. 8 South Carolina vs. No. 9 UCLA: UCLA wins in three games

The Bruins are motivated following the snub behind the Gamecocks. Expect UCLA to flex its offensive power against South Carolina and get back to the WCWS following a short stint away.

Women’s College World Series

  • No. 1 Texas A&M
  • No. 2 Oklahoma
  • No. 3 Florida
  • No. 5 Florida State
  • No. 6 Texas
  • No. 9 UCLA
  • No. 13 Arizona
  • Nebraska

WCWS championship series

Prediction: No. 1 Texas A&M over No. 3 Florida in three games

The Aggies have been the most impressive team in college softball this season. Texas A&M will go 3-0 in the WCWS to get to the championship series. The Gators will dispose of the Sooners during their run but ultimately fall to Texas A&M in three games in the championship series.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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NCAA softball tournament bracket: Regional TV schedule, game times

Sport 11 Mins Read

One of the most anticipated days of the college softball calendar has come and gone — and with it, a bracket has now been set.

The 2025 NCAA softball tournament field was officially finalized Sunday, with 64 teams from across the country learning where and who they’ll be playing as they chase a spot in the Women’s College World Series — and, from there, potentially a national championship.

Watch select NCAA tournament games with ESPN+

The group of invitees was perhaps unsurprisingly dominated by the SEC, which saw 14 of its 15 teams make the NCAA tournament — Missouri was the only exclusion — while earning seven of the top eight seeds to the event.

Who got in? What teams will be hosting in the regional round? And when will games be taking place when the tournament begins later this week?

Here’s a look at the bracket and schedule for the 2025 NCAA softball tournament:

NCAA softball tournament bracket

Here’s a look at the schedule for the regional round of the 2025 NCAA softball tournament:

All times Eastern.

Bryan-College Station Regional (College Station, Texas)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Marist vs. Liberty | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Saint Francis vs. No. 1 Texas A&M | 3:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 2 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 4:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 7 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 4 p.m. | TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 6:30 p.m. | TBD

​Norman Regional (Norman, Oklahoma)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Omaha vs. Cal | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Boston University vs. No. 2 Oklahoma | 6 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 2 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 4:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 7 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 2 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 4:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Gainesville Regional (Gainesville, Florida)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Georgia Tech vs. Florida Atlantic | 2 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)
  • Game 2: Mercer vs. No. 3 Florida | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | noon | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 5 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Fayetteville Regional (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Indiana vs. Oklahoma State | 4 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
  • Game 2: Saint Louis vs. No. 4 Arkansas | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 4 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 6:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Tallahassee Regional (Tallahassee, Florida)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: South Florida vs. Auburn | noon | ESPNU (Fubo)
  • Game 2: Robert Morris vs. No. 5 Florida State | 2:30 p.m. | ACC Network (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 3 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 5:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 8 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | noon | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 2:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Austin Regional (Austin, Texas)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Michigan vs. UCF | 2 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
  • Game 2: Eastern Illinois vs. No. 6 Texas | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD

​Knoxville Regional (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Miami (OH) vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 1:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
  • Game 2: North Carolina vs. Ohio State | 4 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | noon | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 5 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | noon | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 2:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Columbia Regional (Columbia, South Carolina)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: North Florida vs. Virginia | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Elon vs. No. 8 South Carolina | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Los Angeles Regional (Los Angeles)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 9 UCLA | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: San Diego State vs. Arizona State | 10 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 5 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 7:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 10 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 7:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 10 p.m. | TV TBD

Baton Rouge Regional (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: UConn vs. Nebraska | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 10 LSU | 5:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 5:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Clemson Regional (Clemson, South Carolina)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Northwestern vs. Kentucky | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: USC Upstate vs. No. 11 Clemson | 4:30 p.m. | ACC Network (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 1:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 4 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Lubbock Regional (Lubbock, Texas)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Brown vs. No. 12 Texas Tech | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Washington vs. Mississippi State | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 2 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 4:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 7 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 3 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 5:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Tucson Regional (Tucson, Arizona)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Santa Clara vs. No. 13 Arizona | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Grand Canyon vs. Ole Miss | 10 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 4 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 6:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 9 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 7:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 10 p.m. | TV TBD

Durham Regional (Durham, North Carolina)

Friday May 16

  • Game 1: Howard vs. No. 14 Duke | noon | ACC Network (Fubo)
  • Game 2: Coastal Carolina vs. Georgia | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 1:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 4 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 2:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 5 p.m. | TV TBD

Tuscaloosa Regional (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Belmont vs. Virginia Tech | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Jackson State vs. No. 15 Alabama | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | noon | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 5 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 2 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 4:30 p.m. | TV TBD

Eugene Regional (Eugene, Oregon)

Friday, May 16

  • Game 1: Binghamton vs. Stanford | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Game 2: Weber State vs. No. 16 Oregon | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 17

  • Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 4 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 6:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 9 p.m. | TV TBD

Sunday, May 18

  • Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 6:30 p.m. | TV TBD
  • Game 7 (if necessary): Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 9 p.m. | TV TBD
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Shedeur Sanders has the right mindset as he begins his NFL career

Sport 3 Mins Read

Shedeur Sanders has the correct mindset as he embarks on his NFL career. The Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback isn’t discouraged by his much-publicized draft slide. Nor is Sanders operating like a fifth-round pick on the roster bubble.

Sanders is conducting himself as though he has a chance to be the Browns starting quarterback.

“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong,” Sanders said to the media at Browns rookie minicamp. “I prove myself right. I fully have self-belief.”

Five quarterbacks were picked in front of Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, despite Sanders being coined as the second-best quarterback in the class in several mocks. The Browns even selected quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round before trading up in the fifth round to take Sanders.

“I was a late-round draft pick, but we’re here now. None of that stuff matters,” Sanders said. “I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.”

Some factors contributed to Sanders’ stunning draft fall. But the silver lining is that Sanders enters a crowded but relatively weak quarterback room that consists of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Gabriel and Deshaun Watson who is expected to miss the entire 2025 season due to an Achilles injury.

Cleveland’s subpar quarterback depth chart affords Sanders an opportunity to win the Browns starting job in Year 1.

“I just feel like, in life, in everything, it’s just me versus me,” Sanders said of the Browns’ QB competition. “I can’t control any other decision besides that. I just try to be my best self at all times.”

If Sanders were to become the Browns’ starting quarterback, he’d have earned it. Reporters on the ground at Cleveland’s rookie minicamp noted Gabriel took first reps over Sanders. However, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski cautioned not to read too much into who gets initial snaps at this juncture of the offseason.

‘I wouldn’t look into, really, anything,’ Stefanski said on Friday. ‘I think you’ll see the whole weekend, going through the spring, we don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first.’

Cleveland started seven quarterbacks in the past two seasons. Furthermore, the Browns have had 40 starting quarterbacks since 1999, the most in the NFL during that span. It’s nearly impossible for a franchise to be successful with the amount of quarterbacks the Browns have trotted out on the field in a quarterback-driven league.

Consequently, the Brown have only finished four seasons above .500 since 1999.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, famously selected in the sixth round at pick No. 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft, told the ‘Impaulsive’ podcast that he reached out to Sanders.

“Use it as motivation,” Brady said of the advice he gave to Sanders. “You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.”

If Sanders adheres to Brady’s advice and performs well this offseason, he’s got an opportunity to end the Browns’ colossal quarterback merry-go-round. From first impressions, he’s off to a positive start.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Pacers dominate Cavs in Game 4: Highlights

Sport 4 Mins Read

The Indiana Pacers have a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Myler Turner and the Pacers produced a dominant performance in the 129-109 Game 4 victory over the Cavaliers on Sunday night.

Turner had 20 points and seven rebounds for Indiana. Pascal Siakam finished with 21 points and six rebounds in the rout.

Darius Garland had 21 points and six assists in the loss for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell did not play in the second half because of a reported ankle injury, and his status for Game 5 is uncertain.

The tensions ran high between the two teams as early as the first quarter, which featured an exchange between Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin and Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter. Mathurin was given a Flagrant 2 foul for hitting Hunter and was ejected from the game.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights for Game 4 between the Cavaliers and Pacers:

Highlights: Pacers 129, Cavaliers 109

3Q: Pacers 109, Cavaliers 77

The Pacers had three players with 20 or more points through the first three quarters of play. Pascal Siakam had 21 points and six rebounds. Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each scored 20 points.

Darius Garland had 21 points for Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell did not score in the third quarter and was back in the locker room during the period. Mitchell was reportedly dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as doubtful to return to the game.

Halftime: Pacers 80, Cavaliers 39

The Pacers continued to overwhelm the Cavaliers throughout the first half, finishing on a 19-2 scoring run to end the second quarter. The Cavs did not lead in the first half.

Indiana was successful from the 3-point line, finishing the first half with 60% after shooting 30-for-50.

The Cavaliers struggled from long range, shooting 5-for-19 (26.3 percent).

Myles Turner had a game-high 18 points in the first half. He shot 7-for-11 from the field, including 4-for-4 from the 3-point line.

Obi Toppin had 13 points off the bench for the Pacers. Donovan Mitchell had 12 points for the Cavaliers.

1Q: Pacers 38, Cavaliers 23

The Pacers built a solid lead in the opening period after leading by as many as 19 points in the game against the Cavaliers.

Things got chippy in the first quarter with both Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin and Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter at the center of an exchange.

Mathurin was given a Flagrant 2 foul for hitting Hunter with a ‘closed fist.’ Mathurin was ejected from the game.

Hunter retaliated with a shove to Mathurin. Myles Turner also stepped in late, shoving Hunter. Both Turner and Hunter were given technicals.

What time is Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 4?

Game 4 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers will tip at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

How to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 4: TV, stream

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
  • TV: TNT, TruTV
  • Stream: Fubo, Max

Watch Cavaliers-Pacers Game 4 with Fubo

Cavaliers vs. Pacers NBA playoff schedule, results

(Pacers lead series, 2-1)

  • Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112
  • Game 2: Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119
  • Game 3: Cavaliers 126, Pacers 104
  • Game 4: Cavaliers at Pacers | Sunday, May 11 | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV, Max, Sling TV
  • Game 5: Pacers at Cavaliers | Tuesday, May 13 | TBD | TNT, truTV, Max, Sling TV*
  • Game 6: Cavaliers at Pacers | Thursday, May 15 | TBD | ESPN, Fubo*
  • Game 7: Pacers at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 18 | TBD | TBD*
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Editor's pick

Fortnite applies to launch on Apple’s App Store after Epic Games court win

Editor's pick 2 Mins Read

Epic Games said on Friday that it submitted Fortnite to Apple’s App Store, the month after a judge ruled in favor of the game maker in a contempt ruling.

Fortnite was booted from iPhones and Apple’s App Store in 2020, after Epic Games updated its software to link out to the company’s website and avoid Apple’s commissions. The move drew Apple’s anger, and kicked off a legal battle that has lasted for years.

Last month’s ruling, a victory for Epic Games, said Apple was not allowed to charge a commission on link-outs or dictate if the links look like buttons, paving the way for Fortnite’s return.

Apple could still reject Fortnite’s submission. An Apple representative did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Apple is appealing last month’s contempt ruling.

The announcement by Epic Games is the latest salvo in the battle between it and Apple, which has taken place in courts and with regulators around the world since 2020. Epic Games also sued Google, which operates the Play Store for Android phones.

Last month’s ruling has already shifted the economics of app development for iPhones.

Apple takes between 15% and 30% of purchases made using its in-app payment system. Linking to the web avoids those fees. Apple briefly allowed link-outs under its system but would charge a 27% commission, before last month’s ruling.

Developers including Amazon and Spotify have already updated their apps to avoid Apple’s commissions and direct customers to their own websites for payment.

Before last month, Amazon’s Kindle app told users they could not purchase a book in the iPhone app. After a recent update, the app now shows an orange “Get Book” button that links to Amazon’s website.

Fortnite has been available for iPhones in Europe since last year through Epic Games’ store. Third-party app stores are allowed in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Users have also been able to play Fortnite on iPhones and iPads through cloud gaming services.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Week Ahead: NIFTY Stays In Technically Challanging Environment; Price Action Against These Levels Crucial

Stock 4 Mins Read

Amid ever-increasing uncertainties on the global front and similarly rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian equity markets demonstrated strong resilience. They consolidated before ending the week on just a modestly negative note. The trading range remained modest; the Nifty oscillated in a 590-point range. While the markets defended their key support levels, the volatility surged. The volatility barometer, the India Vix, spiked 18.49% to 21.63 on a weekly basis.. The headline index finally closed with a net weekly loss of 338.70 points (-1.39%).

A few important things to note from a technical perspective. The 200-DMA is at 24044; the 50-week MA is at 23983. This makes the zone of 23950-24050 a very important support zone for the Nifty. So long as the Index is able to defend this zone, it will continue consolidating in a defined range. Incremental weakness would creep in only if the 23900 level is violated decisively. On the higher side, as evident from the charts, the markets have continued to resist the rising trendline resistance. From now on, the Nift’s behavior vis-à-vis the zone of 23950-24050 would be crucially important to watch; the Index’s ability to defend or not defend this zone will dictate the trend over the coming weeks.

The levels of 24350 and 24600 are expected to act as probable resistance points in the coming week. The supports are at 23900 and 23630.

The weekly RSI is 54.36; it stays neutral and does not diverge against the price. The weekly MACD is bullish and stays above its signal line. A bearish engulfing candle has emerged. Its emergence near a pattern resistance adds credibility to the resistance placed near 24500-24600.

The pattern analysis of both daily and weekly charts shows that the Nifty has traded quite on the expected lines and within the analyzed range. It has continued resisting the rising trendline resistance near 24500-24600; it has so far defended the key that is created between the 200-DMA and the 50-week MA. The markets would weaken only if they violate the crucial 23900 level; so long as this point stays defended, we can expect the markets to consolidate in a defined range.

Based on the overall technical structure, it is likely that the markets will not see any immediate upward trend. While if the markets end up breaching the 23900 level remains to be seen, it is doubtful that they will initiate any sustainable trending upmove and move past the 24500 levels soon. The hedging activity and the cost of hedging have increased; this is evident from Vix, which has significantly risen over the past few days. While the Nifty has defended the key support levels so far, it remains in a technically challenging environment. It is strongly recommended that the market participants adopt a defensive approach by focusing on the low beta stocks and the stocks with improving relative strength. Staying low on leveraged positions, a continued cautious outlook is advised for the coming week.

Sector Analysis for the coming week

In our look at Relative Rotation Graphs®, we compared various sectors against the CNX500 (NIFTY 500 Index), representing over 95% of the free-float market cap of all the listed stocks. 

Relative Rotation Graphs (RRG) show that the Nifty PSE Index has rolled inside the leading quadrant. Infrastructure, Nifty Bank, PSU Bank, FMCG, Consumption, Commodities, and the Financial Services Indices are also inside the leading quadrant. These groups are likely to outperform the broader Nifty 500 Index relatively.

The Nifty Metal Index has rolled inside the weakening quadrant. This may cause the sector to slow down and give up on its relative performance. The Services Sector index also remains in this quadrant.

While the Nifty IT Index continues to languish in the lagging quadrant, the Auto and the Realty Indices are sharply improving their relative momentum against the broader markets while staying inside this quadrant.

The Nifty Midcap 100 index has rolled inside the improving quadrant; may see its relative performance bettering over the coming days. The Media and the Energy Indices are also inside this quadrant, and may continue seeing improvement in their relative performance against the broader markets.

Important Note: RRG charts show the relative strength and momentum of a group of stocks. In the above Chart, they show relative performance against NIFTY500 Index (Broader Markets) and should not be used directly as buy or sell signals.  

Milan Vaishnav, CMT, MSTA

Consulting Technical Analyst

www.EquityResearch.asia | www.ChartWizard.ae

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Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Group Eleven Surges 69 Percent on Assay Results

Investing 10 Mins Read

The US Federal Reserve met on Tuesday (May 6) and Wednesday (May 7) for the third time in 2025. Ultimately, the committee decided to maintain its benchmark rate in the 4.25 to 4.5 percent range that was last set in November 2024.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell cited balance in the central bank’s dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment, but noted that the Trump administration’s tariffs have been more aggressive than anticipated. This was a prime factor in the Fed’s rate decision — officials are waiting for more data on how tariffs will affect inflation and employment.

On Thursday (May 8), the White House announced a trade deal with the UK. Although initial details of the deal were limited, what was provided indicates the UK will reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers for US products and companies.

Among them are provisions for improved access to the UK market for US farmers and cattle ranchers and an increase in US ethanol exports. In exchange, the US will ease tariffs on British auto imports, with the first 100,000 vehicles being taxed at the 10 percent reciprocal rate and 25 percent on any additional vehicles.

Additionally, new negotiations will be held for an alternative arrangement to tariffs on steel and aluminum products from the UK. However, the deal does not remove the 10% reciprocal tariffs on any imports from the UK.

North of the border, Statistics Canada released its April labor force survey on Friday (May 9). The data showed little change in employment throughout the month, with just 7,500 jobs added to the workforce. Meanwhile, the employment rate declined 0.1 percent to 60.8 percent and the unemployment rate ticked up 0.2 percent to 6.9 percent.

The biggest increase of 37,000 new jobs was owed to the hiring of temporary workers related to the recent federal election. The next highest gains were in the finance, insurance and real estate sector, where 24,000 workers were added. The biggest losses were felt in manufacturing, which declined by 31,000 workers, and wholesale and retail trade, which shed 27,000 workers.

Markets and commodities react

In Canada, major indexes were mixed at the end of the week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) gained 1.46 percent during the week to close at 25,357.74 on Friday, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) moved up 3.57 percent to 683.4 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) falling 0.41 percent to 119.12.

US equities were flat this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) flat gaining 0.08 percent to close at 5,659.90, the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) gaining 0.67 percent to 20,061.45 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) rising 0.18 percent to 41,249.37.

The gold price strengthened in the middle of the week but remained off recent highs, but still managed to post a 2.72 percent gain, closing out Friday at US$3,328.93.

The silver price was also up, rising 2.38 percent during the period to US$32.76.

In base metals, the COMEX copper price was flat, falling just 0.64 percent over the week to US$4.66 per pound. Meanwhile, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) rose 2.18 percent to close at 531.54.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Stock data for this article was retrieved at 4 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

1. Group Eleven Resources (TSXV:ZNG)

Weekly gain: 69.44 percent
Market cap: C$53.2 million
Share price: C$0.305

Group Eleven Resources is an exploration company working to advance its flagship PG West zinc, lead, copper and silver project in the Republic of Ireland. The wholly owned asset consists of 22 prospecting licenses covering 650 square kilometers and hosts the main Ballywire prospect, which was discovered in 2022.

Shares in Group Eleven gained this past week after an exploration announcement on Thursday.

The company reported assay results from four holes at Ballywire, with one highlighted copper and silver result recording grades of 1.46 percent copper and 356 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver over 19.9 meters.

It includes an intersection of 3.72 percent copper and 838 g/t silver over 6.4 meters.

It also reported an additional zinc, lead and silver hole with grades of 3.1 percent zinc, 1.4 percent lead and 22 g/t silver over 47.1 meters, which included an intersection of 7.7 percent zinc, 3.2 percent lead and 57 g/t silver over 12.9 meters.

2. Element 29 Resources (TSXV:ECU)

Weekly gain: 66.67 percent
Market cap: C$61.62 million
Share price: C$0.50

Element 29 Resources is an exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of projects in Peru.

Its primary projects consist of the Elida copper-molybdenum-silver project in West-Central Peru and the Flor de Cobre project in the Southern Peruvian copper belt. The Elida site is composed of 29 concessions covering 19,749 hectares and hosts five distinct exploration targets within a 2.5 by 2.5 kilometer alteration system.

A September 2022 resource estimate shows an inferred resource of 321.7 million metric tons (MT) containing 2.24 billion pounds of copper at a grade of 0.32 percent, 205.7 million pounds of molybdenum at a grade of 0.03 percent and 27 million ounces of silver at 2.61 percent.

The company’s less explored Flor de Cobre project is composed of 11 mining concessions and one mining claim covering 3,135 hectares. The company announced in March that it received environmental permitting for the site and would be partnering with the GlobeTrotters Resource Group, which discovered Elida, on exploration at For de Cobre.

Shares of Element 29 posted gains this week, but the company did not share any news.

3. Giant Mining (CSE:BFG)

Weekly gain: 56.1 percent
Market cap: C$18.48 million
Share price: C$0.32

Giant Mining is an exploration company working to advance its Majuba Hill District copper, silver and gold project north of Reno, Nevada. The site consists of 403 federal lode mining claims and four private property parcels that cover an area of 3,919 hectares. Mining at the property took place between 1900 and 1950, resulting in the production of 2.8 million pounds of copper, 184,000 ounces of silver and 5,800 ounces of gold.

Extensive exploration work has been carried out at Majuba Hill, with 89,930 feet being drilled since 2007.

The most recent news from the project includes a pair of releases this week.

First, on Wednesday, the company announced that it has completed four of the five planned drill holes in its 2025 exploration program, with one of the samples sent to the lab for analysis.

The second release came on Thursday, when Giant announced that it has begun drilling the final hole of the program and expected to reach a depth of 1,000 feet. The company said the current program was designed with artificial intelligence to expand the known zones of copper mineralization and advance the project toward a mineral resource estimate.

4. PPX Mining (TSXV: PPX)

Weekly gain: 55.56 percent
Market cap: C$44.58 million
Share price: C$0.07

PPX Mining is a precious metals company that is focused on its Igor project, which contains the operating Callanquitas underground mine, located in the Otuzco province of Northern Peru.

An updated resource estimate for Callanquitas released by the company in January 2024 shows measured and indicated amounts as oxides of 81,090 ounces of gold and 2.9 million ounces of silver. The inferred resource as sulfides stands at 34,450 gold equivalent ounces at 4.63 g/t gold equivalent.

In a prefeasibility study for Igor, which was amended in January 2022, the company indicates that the 1,300 hectare site previously hosted small-scale mining operations and holds a 50 MT per day gold-processing plant from the 1980s. In November 2024, PPX announced that it had started construction of a 350 MT per day carbon-in-leach and flotation plant that will be used to process oxide and sulfide ore from Callanquitas.

The latest construction update came on March 26, when the company said major plant equipment was ready to ship from China. The equipment includes crushing plant units, metal detectors, ball mills and flotation cells. The company has not provided a further update on the timeline for when the shipments would arrive on site.

The most recent news from PPX came on Monday (May 5), when it announced that it had closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement. The terms of the funding will see the company issue 17.83 million shares for gross proceeds of C$802,303. Funding raised will be used for further exploration of Callanquitas and general working capital.

5. Triumph Gold (TSXV:TIG)

Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: C$11.97 million
Share price: C$0.03

Triumph Gold is an explorer and developer advancing projects in the Yukon and BC, Canada.

Its three properties in the Yukon are all within the Dawson Range and consist of its flagship Freegold Mountain project, which has 20 identified mineral resources hosting gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, lead and zinc deposits; the Tad/Toro copper, gold and molybdenum project; and the Big Creek copper and gold project.

Triumph’s property in Northern BC is called Andalusite Peak.

The most recent update from the company came on Wednesday, when it announced it has refined its exploration focus on geochemical surveys and detailed geological mapping at the Andalusite Peak project, as well as defining new targets at Freegold Mountain. Additionally, the company said it has engaged Independent Trading Group to provide market-making services and enhance the liquidity of common shares.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

As of February 2025, there were 1,572 companies listed on the TSXV, 905 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,859 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

How do you trade on the TSXV?

Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Recap: Bitcoin Breaks US$100,000, Coinbase Makes US$2.9 Billion Power Play

Investing 6 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (May 9) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$103,116 as markets closed for the week, up 2 percent in 24 hours.

The day’s range has seen a low of US$102,526 and a high of US$103,636. After breaking through the US$100,000 threshold on Thursday (May 8), the digital asset has found support.

Bitcoin performance, May 9, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

The crypto market’s surge is attributed to positive geopolitical developments, particularly surrounding a US-UK trade agreement and optimism over upcoming trade talks with China.

A better-than-expected jobs report also reignited institutional interest. Meanwhile, the MOVE index has cooled from its late March-early April spike, encouraging broader risk-taking across financial markets.

On the technical side, Bitcoin’s realized cap has hit an all-time high above US$893 million. Cointelegraph’s Marcel Pechman notes that strong options activity suggests that prices above US$105,000 could fuel further gains. Analyst Egrag Crypto is forecasting a rally to US$170,000, contingent on Bitcoin breaking past its previous all-time high of US$109,000.

However, with Bitcoin’s relative strength index approaching 70, overbought conditions are emerging, and investors are urged to be cautious of short-term volatility.

Ethereum’s (ETH) price surge has outperformed that of Bitcoin and can be attributed to an increase in transactions following Wednesday’s (May 7) Pectra upgrade. ETH’s price has increased by over 25 percent from last week and 42 percent month-on-month. It finished the week at US$2,325.35, a 10 percent increase over 24 hours.

The day’s range saw a low of US$2,288.24 and a high of US$2,372.09.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) closed at US$171.67, up 7.1 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$168.64 and a high of US$172.75.
  • XRP was trading at US$2.35, reflecting a 3.6 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.33 and a high of US$2.40.
  • Sui (SUI) was priced at US$3.89, showing a decreaseof 0.6 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.87 and a high of US$4.03.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7799, up 5.5 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.7763, and it reached a high of US$0.7953.

Today’s crypto news to know

Coinbase to acquire Deribit in US$2.9 billion crypto derivatives deal

Coinbase has announced plans to acquire Deribit, a leading crypto derivatives exchange, for $2.9 billion — the largest deal in the crypto industry to date. This strategic move positions Coinbase to expand its offerings in the crypto options market, catering to the growing demand for advanced trading products.

The acquisition includes US$700 million in cash and 11 million shares of Coinbase Class A common stock.

Deribit, which processed US$1.2 trillion in trading volume last year, controls approximately 85 percent of the global crypto options market. This deal is expected to enhance Coinbase’s presence in the international derivatives market and diversify its revenue streams. Analysts view the acquisition as a significant step for Coinbase to compete with other major exchanges like Binance and Kraken in the derivatives space. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close later this year. Until then, Deribit will continue its operations as usual.

Rumble’s crypto wallet launch and Q1 earnings

Rumble’s (NASDAQ:RUM) CEO confirmed the firm will launch a Bitcoin and stablecoin wallet to compete with the Coinbase Wallet in Q3. The Rumble Wallet will launch in partnership with Tether.

“Our goal is to become the most prominent non-custodial Bitcoin and stablecoin wallet, powering the creator economy,” according to a May 9 (Friday) X post by Chris Pavlovski.

On the earnings front, Rumble reported a net loss of US$2.7 million for Q1 on Thursday, a significant improvement over the US$43 million loss reported in Q1 2024. The company’s revenue of US$23.7 million exceeded analysts’ estimates; however, the firm reported a decrease in monthly active users to 59 million, down from 68 million in Q4 2024.

Rumble opened 2.44 percent higher on Friday (May 9) and closed the week with a gain of over 17 percent.

Meta’s potential stablecoin integration

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is reportedly in discussions with cryptocurrency enterprises regarding the potential implementation of stablecoins for select, smaller-scale creator disbursements.

Five informed sources told Fortune that the corporation has engaged in consultative deliberations with multiple cryptocurrency infrastructure providers, albeit without having yet settled upon a definitive strategic approach.

An insider suggests that the entity may adopt a multi-token framework, encompassing the integration of established stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt and Circle’s USD Coin, amongst other alternatives.

This news comes the day after Democratic lawmakers withdrew support for the GENIUS Act after concerns arose over the lucrative crypto dealings of companies tied to US President Donald Trump. The bill stalled on the floor of the Senate, prompting a public statement from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

“This bill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand dollar dominance and US influence in financial innovation. Without it, stablecoins will be subject to a patchwork of state regulations instead of a streamlined federal framework.’

Celsius founder sentenced to 12 years for crypto fraud

Alex Mashinsky, founder and former CEO of Celsius Network, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for defrauding customers and manipulating the price of the company’s CEL token.

Between 2018 and 2022, Mashinsky misled investors about the safety of their funds, using customer deposits to inflate CEL’s value and personally profiting over US$48 million. Celsius, which once managed over US$25 billion in assets, collapsed in 2022 amid a broader crypto market downturn, leaving thousands of users unable to access their funds.

SEC considers crypto exemptions

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is “considering a potential exemptive order” to let crypto firms bypass requirements to register as a broker-dealer, clearing agency exchange to issue, trade and settle securities. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce made the announcement in a speech published on Thursday.

Companies would still be expected to comply with rules to prevent fraud and market manipulation and may also need to meet certain disclosure and recordkeeping requirements.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Tech 5: OpenAI Restructures, Apple Pursues AI Search, Constellation Shares Jump

Investing 7 Mins Read

This week proved pivotal for the tech and energy sectors as market dynamics and the regulatory landscape shifted.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) made waves by signaling a foray into artificial intelligence (AI) search and challenging app store regulations, while OpenAI underwent a major restructuring amid legal battles with Elon Musk.

Meanwhile, legislation targeting AI chip tracking gained momentum, and the nuclear energy sector saw increased activity with Ontario Power Generation’s new reactor project and potential White House actions.

Earnings reports from major players like Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR), AMD (NASDAQ:AMD), Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM) and Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) painted a complex picture of growth and challenges in a turbulent economic environment.

The interplay of innovation, regulation and market forces played out against a backdrop of trade developments between the US and the UK, with optimism regarding forthcoming negotiations with China boosting sentiment toward the end of the week.

Read on to dive deeper into this week’s top stories.

1. Apple’s App Store appeal, AI search plans and chip news

Apple is formally contesting last week’s judicial ruling mandating a reduction in its App Store commission.

The company filed an appeal against the order that would compel it to lower the existing 27 percent fee imposed on businesses offering links within their apps to external payment processing alternatives.

In related news, Apple executive Eddy Cue revealed during federal court testimony that the tech giant is investigating the development of its own AI-powered search engine for the Safari web browser. The news had an immediate impact on Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) shares, resulting in a 9 percent decline on Wednesday (May 7) afternoon.

In other news, Apple is reportedly making advances in its in-house silicon development.

The company is designing new proprietary chips intended to serve as the main central processing units for a range of future Apple products. These include anticipated devices such as smart glasses, more powerful iterations of its Mac computer line and specialized AI servers.

Combined with this week’s macroeconomic and geopolitical developments, Apple’s share price experienced turbulence, ultimately closing 2.25 percent below Monday’s (May 5) opening price on Friday (May 9).

2. OpenAI announces restructuring, acquisition and leadership changes

In a notable week for AI giant OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman shared a reorganization strategy on Monday, announcing that its operational arm will transition into a new public benefit corporation, with its non-profit arm acting as the primary shareholder. The decision follows talks with civic leaders and state attorneys general.

A person familiar with the matter told Business Insider that the new plan will let the company receive the full US$30 billion investment from SoftBank (TSE:9984). Meanwhile, sources told Bloomberg on Monday that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and OpenAI are still in negotiations regarding a restructuring plan. A later report from the Information reveals that OpenAI plans to slash its 20 percent revenue-sharing agreement with Microsoft to 10 percent by 2030.

Regarding the ongoing legal dispute between Sam Altman and Tesla (NADAQ:TSLA) CEO Musk, who alleges that the company has strayed from its founding mission, Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, told Reuters on Monday that the team intends to proceed with the lawsuit. Toberoff also called the restructuring a “cosmetic” move that turns charitable assets into private wealth, adding that “the founding mission remains betrayed.”

In other news, OpenAI made its largest acquisition to date this week, agreeing to buy AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf for about US$3 billion, and named ex-Instacart (NASDAQ:CART) CEO Fidji Simo as its new head of applications.

According to reports, Simo will manage operations and report directly to Sam Altman, who will retain his title as CEO. Altman will shift his focus to research, safety efforts and advancing artificial general intelligence.

3. AI chip regulatory developments

US Representative Bill Foster is preparing to introduce legislation aimed at tracking the location of AI chips, such as those produced by NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), after they are sold.

The proposed bill, first reported by Reuters on Monday, would task US regulators with developing rules to monitor these chips, ensuring they remain in authorized locations under export control licenses.

It would also seek to prevent unlicensed chips from being activated outside of authorized locations.

In other chip-related news, NVIDIA shares rose following news that the Trump administration plans to eliminate the so-called “AI diffusion rule.” However, a spokesperson from the US Department of Commerce clarified upcoming plans in a statement to CNBC’s Kif Leswing on Wednesday, commenting:

“The Biden AI rule is overly complex, overly bureaucratic, and would stymie American innovation. We will be replacing it with a much simpler rule that unleashes American innovation and ensures American AI dominance.”

The announcement highlights the Trump administration’s intention to keep some guardrails in place to protect US interests, despite pushback from tech industry executives.

At a Congressional hearing on Thursday (May 8), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of maintaining US leadership in AI development. He cautioned against overregulation, warning that poorly designed rules could hinder America’s competitive edge, particularly against China.

4. Palantir, AMD, Arm and Super Micro share results

Palantir’s Q1 revenue rose 39 percent year-on-year to US$884 million, driven by demand for its data analytics software in the US. The company expects demand to continue, forecasting Q2 revenue between US$934 million and US$938 million. Palantir’s share price fell by 8 percent after hours as investors anticipated even stronger results. The company posted a loss of 5.6 percent for the week after a volatile week for tech stocks, as overvaluation concerns persist.

Advanced Micro Devices’ Q1 earnings report shows quarterly revenue of US$7.4 billion, an annual increase of 36 percent, with adjusted earnings per share of US$0.96. Despite an initial 7 percent stock surge following a positive quarterly report, AMD shares fell following the company’s announcement of a projected US$1.5 billion revenue decrease this year, attributed to US government limitations on the sale of AI chips to China.

Palantir, Super Micro, AMD and Arm performance, May 6 to 9, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

For Q4 2024, Arm Holdings reported quarterly revenue of more than US$1 billion for the first time in its history, but forecast revenue and profit for Q1 2025 below Wall Street estimates, resulting in a 4 percent slump on Thursday morning

Super Micro Computer’s net sales increased from US$3,85 billion in Q3 2024 to US$4.6 billion, while the company’s earnings per share fell year-on-year from US$0.66 to US$0.17.

The company lowered its full-year revenue guidance from US$23.5 billion to US$25 billion, down to US$21.8 billion to US$22.6 billion, with trade war-induced uncertainty and increasing competition cited as obstacles to growth. The company’s share price opened over 5 percent lower the next day and fell by over 3 percent this week.

5. Constellation shares jump, White House plans reactor push

Shares of Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) rose nearly 10 percent in two days ahead of the Tuesday (May 6) release of its Q1 earnings report, which revealed revenue that exceeded expectations by over 20 percent.

Later, during an earnings call, CEO Joe Dominguez said the company was close to inking multiple long-term deals to provide nuclear power to meet surging energy demands, further bolstering investors’ optimistic outlook.

In another significant development within the nuclear energy sector, Ontario Power Generation said it has secured the necessary approvals to commence construction on the first of four small modular reactors (SMR) designed by GE Verona (NYSE:GEV), which will be located at the company’s Darlington site near Toronto.

The Darlington project is anticipated to be the first deployment of this particular SMR technology within a G7 nation.

Separately, Axios reported on Tuesday that sources familiar with the matter say the White House is in the final stages of preparing executive actions intended to accelerate the deployment of nuclear reactors. These plans, reportedly under consideration for several weeks, could be officially announced imminently.

On Friday, NPR said its reporters have seen a draft of such an order. According to the report, the order instructs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to send new reactor safety guidelines to the White House for review and possible amendments. The draft also calls for a reduction of NRC’s staff and a “wholesale revision of its regulation” in coordination with the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Sport

Celtics rout Knicks in Game 3, cut series deficit to 2-1

Sport 3 Mins Read

NEW YORK – The Boston Celtics had a few days to think about blowing another 20-point lead to the New York Knicks. There was plenty of blame to go around for the meltdowns, which put the defending NBA champions down 2-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series heading to Madison Square Garden.

Star Jayson Tatum said poor execution at the end of games was one reason for the collapses, but his play in particular needed to get better — and he emphatically said it would.

His words clearly made their mark. He and his teammates ensured there would be no Knicks comeback in Game 3.

Payton Pritchard hit five 3-pointers and scored 23 points off the bench, leading five players in double figures as Boston built another big lead, up 16 points after one quarter, and went on to dismantle the listless Knicks 115-93. The Celtics cut their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 2-1.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said his team had to ‘tap into your darkness’ in the days leading up to Game 3 to secure its first victory of the series.

‘I’ve said it 1,000 times. There’s no one way of how it’s supposed to go,’ Mazzulla said. ‘There are no expectations here. We’re on a path, trying to go after greatness. You just always stick to the process of what you think gives you the best chance to win on that possession and to win in that game.’

Game 4 is Monday night in New York (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Knicks are seeking their first conference finals appearance since 2000. Last year, they blew a 2-0 series lead in this round to the Indiana Pacers.

Tatum scored 22 points, with nine rebounds and seven assists, Jaylen Brown had 19 points, and Derrick White added 17 points for Boston, which led wire-to-wire.

For the Knicks, any energy and momentum coming off two historic road victories went away as the sellout Madison Square Garden crowd had little to cheer about. The Celtics played like the team in control of the series, building a 25-point halftime lead, with a mix of 3-point shooting and forcing the Knicks into ill-advised shot attempts while they were trying to get back into the game.        

The Celtics returned to the identity that carried them throughout their 61-win regular season. Boston set an NBA record with 1,457 3-pointers and 3,955 attempts. The approach cost them, though, in Game 1 of the series, when they missed 45 shots from beyond the arc in a three-point overtime loss.

Boston got back to its sharpshooting ways in Game 3, hitting 20 of 40 shots from 3-point land, a far cry from the mind-blowing 75 missed 3s in the first two games in Boston.

White and Jrue Holiday continued the onslaught with 3-pointers at the start of the second half for the Celtics, who led by as many as 31 before sitting most of their starters in the fourth quarter.

They also fouled Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, the team’s worst free-throw shooter, in the third quarter. Robinson only hit four of his 12 free-throw attempts, including an airball, encapsulating the day for the Knicks. New York got no closer than 20 points the rest of the way.

Jalen Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, had 27 points and seven assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 15 rebounds. New York shot 40% and made five of its 23 3-point shot attempts.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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