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3 S&P 500 Charts That Point to the Next Big Move

Stock 1 Min Read

Follow along with Frank as he presents the outlook for the S&P 500, using three key charts to spot bullish breakouts, pullback zones, and MACD signals. Frank compares bearish and bullish setups using his pattern grid, analyzing which of the two is on top, and explains why he’s eyeing SMCI and AMD as potential trades. From there, he wraps the show with a look at some ETF plays.

This video originally premiered on June 17, 2025.

You can view previously recorded videos from Frank and other industry experts at this link.

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Investing

SPUT’s US$200 Million Uranium Buying Plan Spurs Market Rally

Investing 3 Mins Read

The U3O8 spot price climbed sharply to kick off the week, hitting US$76.21 per pound.

Its Monday (June 16) rise is a 9.7 percent gain from the previous week’s close of US$69.47, and came after news that the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX:U.U,OTCQX:SRUUF) had penned a US$100 million bought-deal financing.

The financing was upsized to US$200 million the same day ‘as a result of strong investor demand.’

Sprott (TSX:SII,NYSE:SII), acting on behalf of the trust, confirmed the agreement, which will see Canaccord Genuity Group (TSX:CF,OTC Pink:CCORF) purchase 11,600,000 units of the trust at a price of US$17.25 each.

The offering, expected to close by June 20 pending regulatory approvals, will fund purchases of uranium oxide concentrates and uranium hexafluoride, in line with the trust’s mandate to hold physical uranium.

The news sparked a rally in uranium stocks on Monday.

On the TSX, major miner Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) rose just over 6.5 percent, while NexGen Energy (TSX:NXE,NYSE:NXE) was up 8 percent. Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) was up 12.64 percent in the US, and Denison Mines (TSX:DML,NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) jumped 14.8 percent on the TSX.

In Australia, Deep Yellow (ASX:DYLASX:DYL,OTCQX:DYLLF) surged more than 21 percent, while Boss Energy (ASX:BOE,OTCQX:BQSSF) jumped nearly 18 percent and Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN,OTCQX:PALAF) climbed over 15 percent amid investor optimism that the fresh capital injection could tighten the uranium spot market.

The Sprott trust, launched in 2021 and often referred to as SPUT, has been a key player in physically sequestering uranium from global markets, helping to reduce available supply and influence spot pricing trends.

After reaching a 14 year high of US$82 in early 2024, uranium prices trended downward, falling as low as US$64.30 this year. Despite the consolidation phase, experts believe the long-term outlook is positive.

The deal marks one of the most significant capital raises for uranium buying in 2025, and reflects growing institutional confidence in the long-term viability of nuclear energy as part of the clean energy transition.

SPUT’s move also comes amid momentum in US uranium policy. In late May, US President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at revitalizing America’s nuclear energy sector. The orders are intended to ramp up domestic uranium production to meet growing power demands, especially from artificial intelligence data centers.

Tech giants like Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) have all done nuclear power deals for data centers, honing in on nuclear as a viable solution for their zero-carbon baseload energy needs.

For now, Sprott’s buying spree offers a test of how tight the uranium market really is. With settlement set for later this week, attention will turn to whether its uranium purchases trigger further positive price activity.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Lithium Universe LtdAcquisition of Solar Panel Recycling Technology

Investing 8 Mins Read

Melbourne, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Lithium Universe Limited (ASX:LU7) (FRA:KU00) (OTCMKTS:LUVSF) has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the global rights to commercially exploit a patented photovoltaic (‘PV’) solar panel recycling technology known as ‘Microwave Joule Heating Technology’ (‘MJHT’ or the ‘Technology’).

Highlights

– Agreement to acquire global rights photovoltaic (PV) solar panel recycling technology

– ‘Microwave Joule Heating Technology’ (MJHT) from Macquarie University

– Utilises microwave technology to selectively heat and delaminate PV cells

– 60-78 million tonnes of waste photovoltaic (PV) modules cumulated by 2050

– Today only 15% of waste solar cells are recycled worldwide

– Most end up in land fill as valuable waste

– Hard to recycle, high temperature furnace, toxic chemicals, low recovery

– MJHT and Delamination enables selective separation of materials – higher recoveries

– To investigate further recovery of silver, silicon, gallium and indium

– Binding commitments received to raise $1.7 million via placement to existing and new sophisticated and professional investors

The rights will be secured via an exclusive licensing agreement (‘Licensing Agreement’) with Macquarie University (‘MQU’), held through an Australian-incorporated holding company, New Age Minerals Pty Ltd (‘NAM’). The key terms of the Licensing Agreement are set out in Schedule 1*. The transaction will be effected by LU7 acquiring 100% of the issued share capital of NAM (‘Proposed Transaction’).

The basis of the technology platform utilises microwave technology to selectively heat silicon thereby softening the EVA encapsulant in solar panels, enabling easy delamination and potential recovery of valuable materials at room temperature. This approach avoids the need for extreme heat (1400degC) typically required for separating materials like glass and silicon as well as the use of costly hazardous chemicals in traditional processes. Delamination enables selective separation of materials without the need for mechanical crushing, whereas traditional crushing methods often result in cross-contaminated material and lower recovery rates.

A report published by the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme1 projected that global waste PV modules will amount to 1.7-8.0 million tonnes cumulatively by 2030 and 60-78 million tonnes cumulatively by 2050. By 2035, Australia is expected to accumulate 1 million tonnes of solar panel waste worth over A$1 billion, while the global CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide) solar cell market is projected to grow to US$12.23 billion by 2032.

Currently, only 15% of used PV cells are recycled, with the rest accumulating in landfills.

This low recycling rate is due to complex processes, high-temperature furnaces, toxic chemicals, and poor recovery yields. The Technology, developed by MQU, enhances the extraction of valuable metals such as silver, silicon, gallium, and indium from discarded PV panels using microwave and delaminating techniques. The breakthrough technology offers a promising new approach for enhanced recovery of valuable metals like Silver, Silicon, Gallium, and Indium. The Company plans to initiate further research and development in this area.

THE PROBLEM TODAY

The world’s renewable energy transition is moving fast, with large-scale PV solar panels playing a central role in national energy strategies. The global solar cell market is projected to hit US$39.81 billion by 2037, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 8.2%.

Approximately 37% of Australian households have installed solar panels. This represents over 4 million homes and small businesses with solar power systems. The Clean Energy Council reports that 12.4% of Australia’s electricity generation in 2024 came from rooftop solar.

However, as these panels approach the end of their 25-30-year lifespan, the industry faces a growing challenge: managing solar panel waste and recovering valuable materials. A report published by International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) Task12 and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2016 projected world’s waste PV modules globally to amount to 1,7-8,0 million tonnes cumulatively by 2030 and to 60-78 million tonnes cumulatively by 2050. By 2035, Australia alone is expected to accumulate 1 million tonnes of end-of-life solar panels, with a total material value of over $1 billion. By 2045, Australia could be looking at 34.6 GW of serviceable panels that will need to be recycled or repurposed, equivalent to the total installed solar capacity in the country as of August 2024.

LOW RECYCLING RATES

The global recycling rate for PV solar panels is around 15%, driven by several challenges. The recycling process is complex, requiring high temperatures and toxic chemicals, making it costly and energy intensive. Economic incentives are limited as the recovery of valuable materials like silicon does not provide sufficient financial returns. However, if recycling technologies can effectively attract and recover critical materials like silver, silicon, gallium, and indium, the financial viability of recycling improves, driving higher recycling rates.

Additionally, the lack of recycling infrastructure and the diverse materials in panels further complicate efficient separation, but advancements in technology are addressing these issues.

When waste PV cells aren’t recycled, they often end up in landfills, causing numerous environmental problems.

Panels can contain harmful materials like cadmium and lead, which may leak into the ground and water, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health. Valuable metals like silver, silicon, gallium, and indium are lost, adding to the strain on natural resources. As more solar panels reach the end of their life, landfills fill up, and the energy stored in these materials is wasted. Recycling can help solve these issues by recovering critical materials and cutting down on pollution.

POTENTIAL GROWTH OF PV RECYCLING INDUSTRY

The nascent PV solar panel recycling industry is experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing demand for critical metals such as silicon, silver, and indium, which hold substantial economic value. As the market for endof-life (EoL) solar panels expands, driven by both economic opportunities and environmental needs, the recovery of these materials is becoming a lucrative business. The market for recyclable materials from EoL solar panels is projected to reach over $2.7 billion by 2030 and could approach $80 billion by 2050, according to Rystad Energy. This growth is further fuelled by the fact that recovering materials from used panels can offset the need for costly and environmentally damaging virgin material extraction. Additionally, recycling helps secure a domestic supply of critical metals, reducing reliance on volatile foreign sources. Advancements in recycling technology, particularly in recovering high-value materials like silicon and silver, are making these processes more economically viable and environmentally necessary. Research has demonstrated that up to 98% of silver and nearly all of copper, lead, and other valuable metals can be recovered efficiently, enhancing the profitability of the recycling industry. As technology improves, the recycling of PV panels will play a crucial role in supporting the transition to a circular economy and sustainable energy future.

CRITICAL METALS IN PV CELLS

As the demand for critical minerals continues to rise with the global shift to clean energy, the need to recover valuable materials from these panels becomes increasingly urgent. Solar panels are made up of 95% recyclable materials, including silver, aluminum, silicon, copper, indium, and gallium-all of which are vital to global clean energy supply chains. Rare metals like gallium are essential for solar fuel cells, semiconductor chips, and other high-tech applications, making their recovery from e-waste a key priority.

COMMENTS: EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, IGGY TAN

‘Now that we have completed our lithium refinery DFS and secured all necessary components-including land and partnerships-we are positioned and ready for a lithium price recovery. We are confident in our counter-cyclical strategy and firmly believe that LU7 will benefit significantly when the lithium market rebounds. While awaiting this recovery, we have been presented with an exciting opportunity to acquire a cutting-edge photovoltaic recycling technology’.

‘I am thrilled about the acquisition of Macquarie University’s Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT) and the opportunity to potentially extract critical metals such as silver from solar panel recycling.

The need for effective PV recycling has never been greater, with only 15% of panels currently being recycled. The mass accumulation of solar panel waste in landfills is a growing problem, as valuable critical metals like silver, silicon, gallium, and indium are left behind, contributing to both resource depletion and environmental harm. Microwave technology offers a promising solution to these challenges, enabling higher recovery rates and more sustainable recycling processes. We firmly believe that this technology represents the future of solar panel waste management. We are eager to collaborate with the Macquarie team to develop a more efficient and cost-effective recycling process’.

*To view the full release with tables and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/A0938OHA

To view the Market Presentation, please visit:
https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/JJ10ITOI

About Lithium Universe Ltd:  

Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7) (FRA:KU00) (OTCMKTS:LUVSF), headed by industry trail blazer, Iggy Tan, and the Lithium Universe team has a proven track record of fast-tracking lithium projects, demonstrated by the successful development of the Mt Cattlin spodumene project for Galaxy Resources Limited.

Instead of exploring for the sake of exploration, Lithium Universe’s mission is to quickly obtain a resource and construct a spodumene-producing mine in Quebec, Canada. Unlike many other Lithium exploration companies, Lithium Universe possesses the essential expertise and skills to develop and construct profitable projects.

Source:
Lithium Universe Ltd

Contact:
Alex Hanly
Chief Executive Officer
Lithium Universe Limited
Tel: +61 448 418 725
Email: info@lithiumuniverse.com

Iggy Tan
Chairman
Lithium Universe Limited
Email: info@lithiumuniverse.com

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Resolution Minerals LtdTo Develop U.S. Government Engagement Strategy with Clewett Global Services

Investing 5 Mins Read

Adelaide, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) (FRA:NC3) (OTCMKTS:RLMLF) is pleased to announce the selection of Clewett Global Services as external affairs advisers to support the development of the Horse Heaven Antimony-Gold-Silver-Tungsten project in Idaho, USA.

Highlights

– Engagement in Washington D.C. is a critical step in positioning RML as a trusted partner in the U.S. critical minerals supply chain

– Resolution to consider applying for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) funding to expedite Horse Heaven Project in Idaho

– Neighbouring Perpetua Resources (PPTA.NAS) was fast-tracked for development in April 2025, and received up to US$74 million in DOD funding, highlighting strong U.S. Government commitment and support for antimony and other critical metal projects

– By aligning with U.S. Government strategic priorities, RML is actively enhancing its ability to progress Horse Heaven on a faster schedule

– Antimony, Silver, Gold and Tungsten trading at record-high prices

CLEWETT GLOBAL SERVICES APPOINTED TO WORK WITH RESOLUTION TO DEVELOP U.S. GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

The Horse Heaven Project is located directly adjacent to NASDAQ-listed Perpetua Resources’ $2 billion Stibnite Gold and Antimony Project, which recently gained final record of decision approval from the U.S. Forest Service.

Horse Heaven has strong gold, antimony and silver mineralisation in two highly prospective structurally controlled mineralised corridors, and includes past-producing antimony, tungsten and gold mines.

Historical exploration results from Horse Heaven are highly encouraging and indicate similar geological characteristics to the neighbouring Stibnite project.

Given the importance of antimony to the U.S. Government’s critical minerals strategy, Resolution Minerals is excited to develop the Horse Heaven Project and will be actively seeking the support of the U.S. Government to expedite its progress.

Founding Partner of Clewett Global Services, Todd Clewett, is a seasoned external affairs executive with a track record of success in engaging decision makers in Washington D.C. regarding mining and critical minerals projects. Clewett formerly headed up the external affairs function for both Newmont Corporation and Fortescue.

Background

The U.S. government has prioritised domestic and allied sources of key minerals such as antimony, tungsten and gallium recognising their importance to defense applications and renewable technologies.

Until now, the U.S. has relied mainly on China for the supply of many critical metals. Following China’s total ban on exports of these metals to the U.S. in late 2024, a priority of the new Administration is to shore up its own domestic supply chains of these materials.

Fast-41 Program

The FAST-41 program, established by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), is a program designed to improve the timeliness, predictability, and transparency of the federal environmental review and permitting process.

FAST-41 is designed to streamline and expedite the permitting process for infrastructure and mining projects deemed nationally significant. FAST-41 can offer benefits to project developers, including increased predictability, transparency and faster decision-making.

Some projects currently covered under FAST-41 include:

– Perpetua Resources’ (PPTA.NAS) Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho

– Stillwater Palladium & Platinum Project in Montana

– Jindalee Resources’ (ASX:JLL) McDermitt Lithium Project in Oregon

– BPH and RIO’s Resolution Copper Project in Arizona

– South32’s (ASX:S32) Hermosa Critical Minerals Project in Arizona

Resolution Minerals’ efforts to participate in the FAST-41 program follow the precedent set in April this year by next-door neighbour, NASDAQ-listed Perpetua Resources (PPTA.NAS), whose Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho became the first mining project accepted under FAST-41, and by ASX-listed Jindalee Lithium Limited (ASX:JLL), whose McDermitt Lithium Project in Oregon was also successfully fasttracked under FAST-41 in April.

2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill (‘Big Beautiful Bill’)

The proposed 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill includes US$2.5 billion to support U.S. production of critical minerals via the National Defense Stockpile. In addition, there is US$500 million allocated to the Department of Defense Credit Program for loans, loan guarantees, and technical assistance aimed at developing reliable sources of critical minerals – both within the U.S. and among key international allies.

Congress is expected to pass this bill (in some form) by the end of July 2025. Resolution has commenced plans to pursue all its available options to apply for funding that may become available upon passing of this proposed bill.

Resolution is considering opportunities under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Title III and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programs, which support the development of reliable and resilient supply chains for critical minerals.

RML’s Executive Director, Aharon Zaetz commented:

‘We are extremely honoured for Todd Clewett to want to work with us. We feel very excited that he shares the enthusiasm for the Horse Heaven project and sees the massive potential here. Todd’s experience in working with governments to develop mining projects will be an invaluable asset to RML.

Todd’s experience, knowledge and network in the White House provides him with an extremely rare and unique skillset that RML shareholders are extremely privileged to benefit from.

About Resolution Minerals Ltd:  

Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and battery metals – such as antimony, gold, copper, and uranium.

Resolution Minerals Ltd Listed on the ASX in 2017 and has a broad portfolio of assets, such as the Drake East Antimony-Gold Project in north-eastern NSW and George Project prospective for silica sand and uranium.

Source:
Resolution Minerals Ltd

Contact:
Aharon Zaetz
Executive Director
Resolution Minerals Ltd
M: +61 424 743 098
ari@resolutionminerals.com

Jane Morgan
Investor Relations
Jane Morgan Management
M: +61 405 555 618
jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Sport

Who wins on Day 6? Predictions, picks for College World Series

Sport 2 Mins Read

OMAHA, NE ― The semifinals of the 2025 Men’s College World Series get underway Wednesday, June 18.

Coastal Carolina will take on Louisville (2 p.m. ET) and LSU will face Arkansas (7 p.m. ET) at Charles Schwab Field to close out the double-elimination bracket. The Chanticleers and Tigers need just one win, while the Cardinals and Razorbacks need to win twice.

On Day 5, Louisville defeated Oregon State, 7-6, and Arkansas defeated UCLA, 7-3.

The two bracket winners will face off in a best-of-three championship series for the national title.

Here are our predictions:

Louisville vs Coastal Carolina prediction

Coastal Carolina 4, Louisville 2 — Coastal Carolina hasn’t hit a single home run in Omaha, the only team still left to say so. But the Chanticleers have won with pitching and defense, and they’re set up to be able to return Riley Eikhoff for the semifinals after a short start in Game 1. Louisville has had several incredible comebacks in Omaha, but the Cardinals are low on reliable pitching and its defense has left a bit to be desired.

Arkansas vs LSU prediction

Arkansas 7, LSU 5 ― Arkansas will have its back against the wall playing its third straight elimination game. But LSU will likely be without Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Casan Evans for this game after a rain delay forced the Tigers to pull Eyanson early from his start. The Razorbacks have more to play for in this one and their offense finally started to come alive against UCLA.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Coastal Carolina making College World Series run behind elite pitching staff

Sport 5 Mins Read

  • Coastal Carolina’s pitching staff, ranked second nationally in ERA, is a key factor in its success.
  • Most of Coastal Carolina’s pitchers are homegrown talents who have shown significant improvement this season.
  • The team’s new pitching coach, Matt Williams, and catcher Caden Bodine have played crucial roles in the pitching staff’s development.

OMAHA, NE ― Jacob Morrison walked off the mound at Charles Schwab Field to a rousing standing ovation.

The Coastal Carolina starting pitcher had just finished pitching 7⅔ scoreless innings. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. Four outs from the bullpen later, the Chanticleers had clinched their spot in the College World Series semifinals, where they will take on Louisville on June 18 needing one win to play for a championship.

Morrison, the Sun Belt pitcher of the year, has a perfect 12-0 record this season with a 2.08 ERA. But Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall didn’t choose him to start him in its CWS opener − the Chanticleers didn’t need to.

Instead, Schnall went with a combination of Riley Eikhoff, who is 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA, and Cameron Flukey, who is 7-1 with a 3.29 ERA. Coastal Carolina won that game against Arizona.

Armed with a pitching staff that ranks second nationally in ERA, the Chanticleers are now in the driver’s seat to advance to the College World Series finals for the first time since their 2016 national title run.

‘I think we can continue to be the best pitching staff in Omaha,’ Eikhoff told USA TODAY Sports after the win over Oregon State.

Perhaps even more impressive than Coastal Carolina’s pitching success is how it happened. There aren’t any big-name transfers among the group. Nine of the Chanticleers’ 10 most used pitchers began their college careers with Coastal; the one who didn’t, closer Ryan Lynch, started at a junior college. The group is also relatively young, including two freshmen and three sophomores.

The 2024 Chanticleers were in their final season under longtime coach Gary Gilmore. They were one of the last four teams to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. When Schnall, who was assistant under Gilmore since 2016, took over before this season, the team was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt.

A big reason why Coastal Carolina exceeded those expectations − winning the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles and riding a 25-game win streak − was across-the-board improvement of the Chanticleers’ returning pitchers. Many of those arms credit the success to the hire of pitching coach Matt Williams, who spent the 2024 season at South Carolina, as well as to the impact of catcher Caden Bodine, who is considered one of the top defensive catchers in the country.

‘Pounding the zone has been a huge part,’ Lynch said. ‘All of our starters are very efficient. Get early strikes, pound the zone, try to limit walks, then just having our defense behind us. … And then having (Bodine) behind the plate, just him getting pitches that would be off the plate or low that he’s getting strikes for us.’

Coastal Carolina’s 8% walk rate is the lowest among teams in Omaha and fifth-lowest of all Division I teams in 2025. But while low walk rates are often associated with a lack of high-octane stuff, that’s not the case for the Chanticleers, either. Morrison, whose fastball touches 95 mph at 6-foot-8, was ranked the No. 181 MLB draft prospect for 2025 by MLB Pipeline. Flukey, whose velocity has been up to 98 mph, is considered a top-three rounds prospect for the 2026 draft. Lefty reliever Dominick Carbone has a nasty slider.

For Morrison, a big part of his development was working through Tommy John surgery rehab. He had a 6.55 ERA in 13 starts as a freshman in 2023 but missed the entire 2024 season with injury.

‘I’ve always been a big strike thrower,’ Morrison said in the press conference after the Oregon State game. ‘My freshman year, I threw a ton of strikes but I had a hard time keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate. That was a big thing, not only in my rehab last year, but even in freshman year development, throwing pitches where I want.’

Flukey, a sophomore who had a 5.73 ERA in 19 appearances as a freshman, credits his improvement to putting more trust in his stuff and becoming more willing to attack within the strike zone. This season, he has a 3.29 ERA and cut his walk rate from 10.9% to 5.7%.

Eikhoff, a fifth-year, had an ERA above 4.43 in each of his first three seasons, but in 2025 he has a 2.98 ERA. He was the one Schnall trusted with the ball in the opening game.

Part of Williams’ impact has been the confidence he’s instilled in the pitching staff. He came in during the fall and gave each pitcher a goal to work towards. From there, the pitchers went to work to build one of the country’s best pitching staffs − one good enough to win a national championship.

‘Coach Williams has a lot of credit to (our success), I think,’ Flukey said. ‘But also, as a family, we’ve all kind of pushed each other and made sure everyone’s on their stuff, but Williams has been the start of that, and then we all kind of took a leadership role.’

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Zelina Vega finally finding success with WWE Women’s United States title

Sport 6 Mins Read

Zelina Vega is a big believer in manifestation. Yet not even she could believe her biggest career achievement thus far. 

After her in-ring WWE career started in 2018, Vega finally captured a singles title, winning the Women’s United States Championship by dethroning the inaugural winner Chelsea Green. 

It came at a coincidental time. Exactly one week before she won the title, she told USA TODAY Sports at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony red carpet she hoped the championship was in her future. In a way, manifesting it would happen.

But when Vega landed the Code Red on Green and got the pin to put the gold in her hands, it was a gratifying moment she didn’t expect as she looked at what was finally in her possession.

“It’s as much a shock to you guys as it was to me,” Vega told USA TODAY Sports. “I just realized that as I looked at (the title), I was like, ‘Oh (expletive), this is real.’ That’s when I grabbed my face. That’s when I realized it was real.” 

Long desired by fans, the introduction of the Women’s United States and Intercontinental Championship in November 2024 meant more female stars could finally chase and obtain gold. Mid-card runs expand the possibilities available on the roster.

That made for the perfect opportunity for Vega, who for so long had fallen short of being a singles champion. She has some notable achievements, like the inaugural Queen of the Ring and a Women’s Tag Team Champion in 2021, but like all wrestlers, the goal is to obtain solo gold.

Not only had it been years since she grasped a major accolade, Vega came close to finally doing it several times, only to fall short.

“If I’m being honest, it was very deflating each and every single time for me, too,” she said. “But I think I always got something out of each title opportunity that I got.”

She found plenty of silver linings with the championship losses. She lost to Asuka twice in September 2020, but felt like it showed management she’s capable of performing in the spotlight. Despite losing to Rhea Ripley at Backlash 2023, she “won so much more” being able to perform in Puerto Rico as a proud Boricua. In July 2023, Vega felt rejuvenated when she battled Liv Morgan.

While there was something positive to take in each loss, Vega knew the clock was ticking on fans sticking with her. With consistent losing, the crowd loses interest and eventually moves on.

But after years of just missing out, all the shortcomings, Vega finally did it — and validated herself as someone not to overlook.

“When it happened, the crowd erupted because they’re like, ‘Oh my god, we weren’t expecting this either,’” she said. “It’s nice to prove people wrong.”

Silencing the doubters is how Vega plans to carry her title reign. She has a tough act to follow in Green, who turned the inaugural run into comedy gold with the presidential-style reign and the “Secret Hervice” in Piper Niven and Alba Fyre serving as her security.   

Vega applauded Green’s work because “she’s always able to take something and run with it,” and when it comes to continuing to bring prestige to one of the newer titles on the roster, she wants to showcase that underdog mentality she’s always had. Similar to how Rey Mysterio did with his World Heavyweight Championship run in 2006.

“When it comes to what I want to put onto this title, it is it does not matter how big, how small you are. Ultimately, it’s what you have in your heart,” Vega said.

Zelina Vega honors dad with title

Not only did she prove people wrong, but the title victory meant she could have a full circle moment. Less than a week after the win, Vega went to New York City, where she brought the championship to her dad’s memorial. Michael Angel Trinidad was one of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and his name is on the National September 11 Memorial.

It was an emotional moment as Vega FaceTimed her mom. Both cried, knowing Vega’s father played a major role in her decision to get into wrestling. She noted her father is “always my why” to push through all obstacles, and when she put the title along her dad’s name, she was able to take it all in.

“It felt nice to just finally exhale,” Vega said. “The only times I’ve really ever done that was at Backlash (2023), winning (the title) and then at the memorial. 

“It was nice to feel like I actually accomplished part of the promise that I made so long ago,” she added.

Reuniting with husband Aleister Black in WWE

It’s a great time in Vega’s household; not only is she champion, but her husband, Aleister Black, just made his return to WWE after he left the company in 2021 and went to All Elite Wrestling. Coincidentally, Black’s return to WWE came the same night his wife won the title.

Vega said the championship match wasn’t even the top priority that day, with her focus mostly on making sure her husband was good. It wasn’t all worries though.

“I was kind of just wowed by the fact that I was even seeing him at work again. I looked like a little school girl. I was smiling all day long,” Vega said. 

It made for an even sweeter celebration. When she got backstage from her win, Black was there to greet her and soak it in. Then right afterward, Black was next to get in the ring to have his moment.

She said her and Black have been waiting for so long to work together, and now they get to be on the road together and have plenty of nostalgia kicks. She’s gone from having this crush on Black when they were both in NXT to now full blown husband and wife. She’s a champion, and her husband is back.

After years of hoping dedication would eventually pay off, just about everything seems to be going Vega’s way.

“You have dreams like that,” Vega said. “But this time I didn’t actually wake up.”

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

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Sport

Canada’s Cup drought grows: Kept ‘banging our heads against the wall’

Sport 3 Mins Read

Connor McDavid helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he and his Edmonton Oilers teammates weren’t able to end Canada’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought after back-to-back years losing in the final to the Florida Panthers.

They fell in six games this year after losing in seven games in 2024. The last Canadian team to win the Cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.

‘We lost to a really good team,’ McDavid told reporters after the Game 6 loss. ‘Nobody quit, nobody threw in the towel in, they’re a really good team. They’re Stanley Cup champions back to back for a reason.’

The Oilers went into the final at a disadvantage because Zach Hyman had season-ending surgery. They had trouble handling the Panthers’ forechecking and generating offense.

‘We kept trying the same thing over and over again and banging our heads against the wall,’ McDavid said.

Edmonton won the opener and staged a major rally in Game 4 to tie the final at 2-2, then lost the next two games and the series.

‘We kept saying we wanted to try to win a 2-1 game and never found a way to do that obviously,’ McDavid said. ‘They got great players. How many guys had 20-plus points in the postseason? They’re as deep as they come.’

Goalie Stuart Skinner said the Panthers’ consistency is what won the series.

‘We need to learn from this right now,’ said Skinner, who was in net for Game 6 after backup Calvin Pickard started in Game 5. ‘Letting it happen two times in a row is devastating.’

The Oilers started strong in Game 6 but couldn’t dent Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers took advantage of two mistakes to head to the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. They outscored Edmonton by a total of 9-0 in the first period over the past four games, leaving the Oilers chasing in every game.

Sam Reinhart (four goals) added to the Game 6 lead after a Skinner mistake when a ‘nothing shot’ by Carter Verhaeghe went off him and the Panthers quickly converted the rebound.

‘He shot it at the blocker side, which was smart. I put it in a spot where I thought it was going to be OK,’ Skinner said. ‘Obviously, it wasn’t for a second and he (Aleksander Barkov) just shot it on the backside and Reinhart was in a good spot.’

The Oilers lost McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to injuries down the stretch and didn’t have Evander Kane until the postseason. As a result, they started every series except the final on the road. They trailed the Los Angeles Kings 2-0 in the first round but rallied to beat them, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars before falling in the final.

‘There’s no silver lining to this,’ Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. ‘It’s heart-wrenching. It’s very difficult to handle right now. … It hurts right now and I don’t think it’s going to let up for a while.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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