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In her end of season media availability for Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, Collier called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league’s lack of transparency, in addition to officiating concerns, player safety and stalled CBA negotiations.

Collier made it clear that she was speaking for herself ‘I’m not speaking for anyone else. I’m sure other people feel this way, but I want to be clear that I’m speaking for myself. This is how I feel,’ Collier said  but fellow WNBA players, coaches and former stars are speaking up in support of Collier.

‘I agree with everything she said,’ Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull said Tuesday afternoon. ‘We’re at a really important time in the league and changes need to be made. And so you’re seeing her talk about that and really proud of her for making that statement today.’

Hull is not the only person reacting to Collier’s scathing statement. Here’s what the WNBA world is saying.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert

In a statement shared with USA TODAY Sports, Engelbert said she has ‘the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA.’

‘Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league,’ Engelbert said. ‘My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game.  I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.”

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve

 Reeve said she had to be careful with her words on Tuesday, noting that ‘Cathy (Engelbert) is out there firing fines’ after she was reportedly docked $15K for her postgame comments and behavior following her ejection in the Lynx’s Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

‘(Collier’s) voice is a really important one and I’m proud of Phee,’ Reeve said in her exit interview. ‘Who Phee has become as a player and a person in this league is really important. Her voice is important… I support our player.’

Elena Delle Donne

Seven-time WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne shared highlights from Collier’s statement on her Instagram story, saying she fully relates to Collier’s comments about league leadership lacking ‘basic integrity.’ Collier said Engelbert hasn’t reached out to her all season even when she went down with a left ankle injury in Game 3 of the Lynx’s semifinal WNBA playoff series against the Phoenix Mercury.

‘It’s the human element, it’s basic integrity and it’s the bare minimum any leader should embody,’ Collier said. ‘This year alone, I’ve gotten calls, texts, and well wishes from so many players across the league. … But do you know who I haven’t heard from? Cathy (Engelbert). Not one call, not one text.’

In response, Delle Donne said ‘the Queen has spoken.’ Delle Donne, who retired in April after 10 seasons and a WNBA championship (2019), was named the league MVP twice (2015, 2019). She added: ‘It’s the care for the human part for me. I’m still not sure if Cathy knows I retired. Heard from everyone but her.’

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull

Hull said the WNBA players ‘are driving this change’ in the league.

‘From the players’ perspective, things need to change, reffing needs to change, leadership needs to change,’ Hull said on Tuesday. ‘Our league is at a spot that it hasn’t been in the past 10 years. We’re growing exponentially and we need change to mirror that. And I think where the players see the league going is different than where leadership sees the league going and somehow we need to see that aligned. I think the CBA negotiations will help hopefully get us there.’

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark

Collier recalled a specific conversation she had with Engelbert back in February during the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league co-founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart.

‘I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin (Clark), Angel (Reese) and Paige (Bueckers), who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin (Clark) should be grateful to make $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”

Clark has no comment on Collier’s statement, the Fever told Indystar, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White

Fever head coach Stephanie White said she has ‘a lot of respect for Napheesa (Collier).’

‘I’m thankful that we have strong women that are willing to say the things that matter and say the things that will move the needle for change,’ White added. ‘(Collier) quietly goes about her business. She has been a dominant player in our league and on the global stage, she understands she’s been a part of the (WNBPA) and understands the business side of it as well as the basketball side of it.’

Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray

Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray highlighted the growing tensions between players and the league amid ongoing CBA negotiations. The current CBA, which was signed into effect in January 2020, shortly after Engelbert took over as commissioner in 2019, will expire on Oct. 31 after the WNBPA opted out of the agreement last October.

‘We have a lot of work to do, more so on the W side and with Cathy (Engelbert), and understanding our value as a league, as players, and there’s no league without the players,’ Gray said on Tuesday. ‘We’re not where we should be or we thought we would be when we decided to opt out… It’s not anywhere where we thought it would be. It’s market share, it’s salaries, it’s player safety, it’s everything. I wouldn’t say that we’re where we want to be for maybe one thing.’

New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese

Angel McCoughtry

Collier said she’s ‘not concerned about a fine,’ Angel McCoughtry offered to cover the cost. McCoughtry last played for the Minnesota Lynx in 2022.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby

Washington Mystics forward Alysa Clark

Alysa Clark serves as the WNPBA Vice President.

Indiana Pacers Tyrese Haliburton

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This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • Only one team received an ‘A’ in USA TODAY Sports’ NFL team grades for September, while another got an ‘F.’
  • The Bengals were the lone team to receive an ‘incomplete’ due to Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury.
  • The Colts, Eagles and Rams were among those who narrowly missed out on the top mark.

As the calendar flips to October, teams have completed less than a quarter of their slate. But this is nonetheless a meaningful juncture as byes begin and players filter onto and off of injured reserve. And with each franchise having four games in the books, every coaching staff and roster has some emerging trends to respond to.

Grading can’t be done in a vacuum, so every mark that USA TODAY Sports is doling out is determined with the team’s preseason expectations and overall capabilities taken into account.

With that in mind, here are grades for all 32 teams based on their September play:

NFL team grades for September

A

Buffalo Bills: Despite its standing as one of the league’s two remaining undefeated teams, Buffalo isn’t without fault. But it’s hard to argue with the results. A shapeshifting offense is mowing down all comers, averaging a league-best 0.18 expected points added per play, according to Next Gen Stats. With the ability to seamlessly toggle between Josh Allen airing it out to an array of pass catchers and turning the reins over to James Cook and the ground game, Joe Brady’s attack has the flexibility to keep opponents off balance all season. Rocky play at safety and frequent lapses in stopping the run have left some unease about the defense, which has also had trouble getting off the field on third downs (42% conversion rate allowed). But Buffalo has maintained the theme of rising to the occasion ever since its stunning Week 1 rally to upend the Baltimore Ravens. It will need to continue that trend once the schedule gets tougher on the back end, but this is a team plowing a trail to a possible No. 1 seed at a time when the AFC’s other leading contenders are faltering.

A-

Indianapolis Colts: They were cruising for the only A+ of the young season until an unfortunate series of miscues, including AD Mitchell’s two major blunders and the defense only having 10 men on the field for the game-winning score, doomed Indianapolis in Sunday’s loss to the Rams. Still, not much can tarnish an initial run that has featured Daniel Jones’ full-on revival as a starting quarterback. Shane Steichen has coaxed consistency out of not only Jones but an entire attack that has routinely stayed on schedule with an NFL-best 50% success rate, according to Sumer Sports. Lou Anarumo’s arrival has made the defense notably more dynamic, though cornerback Xavien Howard is revealing himself as a liability after surrendering seven catches on 10 targets for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Rams. If the early formula largely holds, Indianapolis should at least make a push for its first division crown since 2014.

Los Angeles Rams: The national view of this team might be significantly different had Sean McVay’s crew managed to hold on against the Eagles in Week 3. No matter. With Matthew Stafford continuing to sling the ball with impressive command and Puka Nacua outpacing the rest of the NFL with 42 catches and 503 receiving yards, Los Angeles remains every bit of the legitimate contender we’ve come to know under McVay. Is that enough to stave off the rest of the NFC West as well as push Philadelphia for the conference crown? To be determined. But beyond a shaky outlook at cornerback, there’s not much holding this group back at the moment.

Los Angeles Chargers:Jolting the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil to open the season served as an impressive mission statement from a group intent on ending its rival’s nine-year reign atop the AFC West. But after Justin Herbert surged to a spectacular start, the quarterback – and Los Angeles’ offense – already might be at an inflection point. In the last two games, Herbert has now been pressured 50 times and taken 26 hits, with the protection gaffes worsening upon Joe Alt’s exit in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants. While determining out how to move forward with the passing attack figures to be a supreme challenge for Jim Harbaugh, the grade should be determined based only on what has already occurred. Despite the emerging problems, sitting in the lead for the division is a fine place to be.

Seattle Seahawks: After overhauling its offense and subbing in Sam Darnold for Geno Smith, Seattle could have been forgiven if it stumbled out of the gates this season. Instead, the Seahawks have sizzled after a Week 1 misstep against the San Francisco 49ers, surging to a three-way tie atop the NFC West at 3-1. Darnold, who ranks third in the NFL with 9 air yards per attempt, has repeatedly taken advantage of the deep shots afforded to him with play-action looks, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the only player other than Nacua to have reached 400 yards through four games. Meanwhile, Mike Macdonald’s defense remains as difficult to crack as ever. The big letdown has been the run game, which was supposed to be the focal point of new coordinator Klint Kubiak’s attack but has turned up just 3.6 yards per carry so far. There’s still plenty of time and intention to get that phase up to the level of the rest of the operation, however, and an outfit that seemed like an afterthought in the playoff race now is very much part of the early discussion.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Their late-game mojo finally met its match against the Eagles, who finally managed to slam the door shut after Tampa Bay became the first team in the Super Bowl era to record a game-winning score in the final minute of the fourth quarter in each of its first three games. But this stretch has been all about merely scraping by, and the Buccaneers have managed to do just that. With Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin back, the four-time defending NFC South champions should be able to round into something closer to the form they’ve displayed when at full strength. It’s high time to cut down on the special teams errors, however, after having two punts and a field goal blocked.

B+

Detroit Lions: Credit Dan Campbell and his new-look staff with quelling any panic that began to percolate after the season-opening flop against the Green Bay Packers. The Lions have reclaimed their place as the NFL’s highest-scoring group (34.3 points per game), proving that Ben Johnson’s departure wouldn’t jam the gears of a machine-like operation. And while new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is still finding his way, he’s helped the unit tap into a big-play streak, with seven sacks against the Baltimore Ravens and three takeaways against the Cleveland Browns. Things might not run as smoothly as they did throughout the season in last year’s 15-win campaign, but Detroit has summarily dismissed any notion of its imminent demise.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence is completing a career-low 58.3% of his passes with just five touchdowns and four interceptions. A receiving corps beset by drops has failed to consistently help, with 2024 Pro Bowler Brian Thomas Jr. nearing sophomore slump status while catching just 12 of his 32 targets. And No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter’s ironman routine has fallen flat, with the Heisman Trophy winner yielding limited returns on each side of the ball. What, then, has been the engine for the Jaguars’ surprising 3-1 start? The defense’s league-leading 13 takeaways have allowed Jacksonville to tilt each contest in its favor, and Liam Coen has transformed another rushing attack in less than a year. Expecting to continue winning the turnover battle in such lopsided fashion is unrealistic, especially with the schedule getting considerably tougher in a three-game stretch that brings the Chiefs, Seahawks and Rams to town before the bye. But the Jaguars’ winning edge shouldn’t be written off given the potential for improvement in the passing attack.

San Francisco 49ers: For most teams, navigating a bad run of injuries is a week-to-week matter, with a new season typically affording a fresh slate. Not so for San Francisco, which has seen significant personnel losses re-emerge as the prevailing theme of another campaign. Through four weeks, the team managed to push past quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle being sidelined for the short term. Yet things finally seemed to come to a head in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, with Purdy showing ill effects of his toe ailment upon his return and a battered receiving corps struggling to rise to the occasion. Kyle Shanahan and Co. deserve their flowers for weathering the issue as best they can for another year, and that resilience could prove meaningful down the stretch. But the talent drain, both stemming from injuries and the roster paring necessitated by a cap recalibration, might be insurmountable.

B

New England Patriots: Too kind of a grade for a team that had five turnovers just a week ago? Mike Vrabel surely isn’t pleased with how often his team has tripped itself up in its first attempts to find a stride. Yet after years of aimless wandering to conclude the Bill Belichick era and then move past it with Jerod Mayo, the franchise is showing signs of an emerging turnaround. Drake Maye has quietly accelerated his ascent in Year 2 by ranking fifth in passer rating (109.4) and fourth in EPA per dropback (0.23). Meanwhile, the defense looks on the precipice of a major breakout with standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez back in the fold. Above all, the Patriots are starting to demonstrate a handle on a clear way out of the cellar: punishing lesser opponents for their mistakes while trying to minimize their own.

B-

Pittsburgh Steelers: A 3-1 opening to Aaron Rodgers’ time at the helm might be taken as a resounding success for some, especially at a time when everyone else in the AFC North is floundering. But from their close call in the season opener against the New York Jets to their fourth-quarter crumpling in Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings, the Steelers have established a nasty habit of making things far more difficult than they need to be. At least they international trip brought out plenty of good, with the run game complementing the quick-hit passing attack and the defense ratcheting up the pressure with a heavy dose of blitzes. Turning those into trends the team can implement stateside would alleviate a lot of the initial trepidation surrounding the Steelers.

Kansas City Chiefs: The gloom of an 0-2 start has dissipated at least somewhat, with the longstanding class of the AFC just one game back of the division lead. More important than where Kansas City stands now, however, is how it got here. Xavier Worthy’s return from a shoulder injury sustained in the opener single-handedly transformed a passing attack that couldn’t count on finding anything easy without him. With defenses having to account for Worthy’s speed downfield, a ripple effect is created in which other pass catchers can finally thrive over the middle and Mahomes can more comfortably beat the blitz. That doesn’t fully excuse the Chiefs from failing to clear their own bar in the first three weeks, but the lackluster production is easier to stomach knowing where things could be headed as Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension also approaches its expiration.

Chicago Bears: The vibes in Chicago might actually be … good? Even as pervasive offensive miscues keep the full Ben Johnson experience from taking hold, the coach’s partnership with Caleb Williams has sparked a good deal of hope for a franchise that has gone without much for more than a decade. Chicago shouldn’t have needed a blocked field goal to wrap up a win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and there’s plenty of work to be done in both stopping the run and establishing it. But even if the Bears don’t become a serious factor in the NFC North until next year, there’s at least reason to stick around to see how a discernible sense of progress shakes out.

C+

Green Bay Packers: In opening with two of the most dominant outings of the month, Green Bay built a significant buzz as a leading Super Bowl contender. Those days now feel a long way off after the Packers came crashing back to earth in the last two weeks, during which the team bungled a gimme game against the Browns and came within a single second of another massive misfire before salvaging a tie with the Dallas Cowboys. Maybe dealing with that variance is simply how life is going to be for the NFL’s youngest roster. But after appearing to have solved last year’s troubles with measuring up against the league’s elite, Green Bay looks ill-equipped to join that group itself until it figures out how to establish more consistency – and strike a proper balance of aggression and composure – on both sides of the ball.

Washington Commanders: Too early to render much of a definitive verdict on this all-in edition of the Commanders given Jayden Daniels’ absence from the last two contests. But Washington failed each of its road tests while getting by at home against subpar foes. Most worrisome for the team is the nature in which it was overwhelmed in each loss, as the Packers defense sent Daniels reeling and the Falcons diced apart a sloppy defense for 436 yards. Getting back Daniels and Terry McLaurin should give Washington the window to leave the first month behind it, especially if it can clean up the mistakes on the other side of the ball. But maybe this is an introduction to some tougher breaks for a group that had a lot of things go its way in a fortuitous 2024 run.

Atlanta Falcons: When it comes to bombing a test, falling 40-0 to a division rival that last season set the NFL record for points allowed is real ‘see me after class’ stuff. But the Falcons took their faceplant against the Carolina Panthers plenty seriously, firing wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard afterward while also moving offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the booth to the sideline. The result was a bounceback effort that yielded 24 first downs against the Commanders and the kind of all-around excellence that was expected of a unit that looked to be on the brink of something special in Michael Penix Jr.’s first full season as a starter. It shouldn’t have taken a unit with this much talent so long to get going, but the trendline is at least pointed upward.

Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones bookended his offseason with decisions that drew massive scrutiny from outside. While the move to hire first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer hasn’t yet proven cataclysmal, the fallout from trading Micah Parsons is undeniable for a defense that has been ripped apart for an NFL-worst 297.3 passing yards per game. Better communication could go a long way toward resolving the coverage busts that have become all too frequent, but there’s also a personnel disconnect with Matt Eberflus’ zone-heavy scheme that looks irreparable in the middle of the season. Dak Prescott has done yeoman’s work to cover for the flawed composition of this roster, but engaging in weekly shootouts seems bound to result in disappointment for a group not built to win this way.

C

Arizona Cardinals: Everything seemed to be trending toward a third-year leap in Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort’s extensive build. Yet after just barely handling two overmatched opponents in the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, Arizona revealed itself as not ready to compete with the rest of the NFC West just yet in consecutive losses to the 49ers and Seahawks. For all the progress the defense has made thanks to the signings of Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell, an offense that still can’t foster a consistent connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a major disappointment. A better push up front could help the run game ramp back up after James Conner was lost for the season, but the Cardinals are facing a serious risk of being left behind in the division yet again.

Minnesota Vikings: In building one of the NFL’s most well-rounded rosters, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah seemed to afford Minnesota a good deal of leeway as it prepared to break in J.J. McCarthy as its new starting quarterback. Not only have the Vikings failed to determine whether they have a viable long-term answer behind center, but the team’s margin of error for its signal-caller has eroded considerably. McCarthy’s wild debut reinforced that patience would be required in his development, and Minnesota has hardly been anywhere near as reactionary as outsiders have been in responding to his first two starts and subsequent sidelining by a sprained ankle. But the Vikings’ vision of complementary football has hardly come to fruition, and the mounting injuries along the offensive line could make it impossible to minimize the ask of McCarthy this season.

Denver Broncos: Not much to be gleaned in victories over a pair of the league’s most forlorn franchises in the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals. Still, Sean Payton probably will accept whatever promising signs he can get from his offense after an uninspiring beginning to the season. Denver has to avoid digging itself into holes on first and second down, a problem that’s been exacerbated by a predilection for penalties. Yet even though the Broncos failed to get out to the fast start that Payton harped on before the season, the lasting damage here might not be extensive.

C-

Carolina Panthers: The case against buying into the concept of momentum carrying over from one NFL season to another resides in Charlotte. When the perpetually resetting Panthers managed to pull off overtime wins in two of the team’s final three contests last season, some saw the stretch as an indication that Carolina was building toward something substantial in 2025. Outside of the shutout against the Falcons that is shaping up to be an aberration, however, things appear as dire as ever. Carolina surrendered 42 unanswered points to the Patriots and has seen its already putrid pass rush repeatedly stall out with a 24% pressure rate. Meanwhile, the Bryce Young-Tetairoa McMillan connection that began so promising has come apart. If Dave Canales doesn’t identify solutions quickly, the Panthers could be forced to take drastic action in the latest attempt at an in-season course correction.

Cleveland Browns: There’s a lot more upside here than one might expect from a franchise that gave off a strong sense it was spinning its wheels until 2026. Jim Schwartz’s defense doesn’t offer any easy outs, with the unit allowing a league-low 222.5 yards per game and 4.1 yards per play. Meanwhile, the promising rookie class is helping to reload a roster hurting for young talent, as running back Quinshon Judkins, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. have all made strong initial impressions. All of that has been rendered moot, however, by an offense that has coughed up eight turnovers and can’t seem to get anything started. Even more deflating than the early results is the lack of a path forward. Monday’s trade for offensive tackle Cam Robinson will only go so far toward repairing a woefully undermanned front, and the shaky receiving corps has only compounded issues that arose elsewhere. While Kevin Stefanski might not budge anytime soon in his refusal to bench Joe Flacco, turning to Dillon Gabriel might be one of the only moves left at his disposal to chart a new course for the unit.

Las Vegas Raiders: The Silver and Black opted to pursue sizable investments at both quarterback and running back to establish an immediate sense of clarity in the backfield. Instead, the Raiders have presented two of the more prominent cases of underperformance at each spot. The common denominator seemed to be the offensive line, which repeatedly allowed for No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty to be swarmed behind the line of scrimmage in the first three games while also giving up 51 pressures on Geno Smith during that same span. But even when the front stepped up considerably in a Week 4 outing against the Bears, Smith still came apart at the seams with his second three-interception game in three weeks, dooming Las Vegas to its third consecutive loss. Perhaps the team’s 240-yard rushing day, which represents a single-game high for any offense in 2025, should be taken as an indication that Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly could be putting everything together in short order. Until they do, the Raiders won’t achieve the return to relevance that owner Mark Davis has so doggedly sought.

Miami Dolphins: The days of mere mediocrity surely seem alluring to many in South Florida. The Dolphins earned the Week 1 spotlight for all the wrong reasons with a 33-8 drumming by the Colts that was a disaster on nearly every front. Miami exhibited more determination and promise in its following two losses before finally coming out ahead of the New York Jets in a prime-time ensuring one of the AFC East doormats its first win. With Tyreek Hill suffering a dislocated knee in that game, however, an overdue reset for the franchise now looks almost inevitable.

New York Giants: A win over the previously unbeaten Chargers in Jaxson Dart’s starting debut saved Big Blue from entering outright disaster territory. It’s worth noting, however, that this is almost the exact scenario that the Giants said throughout the offseason they were so intent on avoiding. In installing Dart, a directionless regime has seemingly compromised the development plan of its rookie signal-caller so as not to let the season at hand spin completely out of control. But with Malik Nabers’ torn ACL hindering an already insufficient supporting cast, life could get a lot tougher for Dart once foes focus on clamping down on his running ability and quick-hit passes. Desperation seldom serves young players well, and the Giants have clearly arrived at the point where short-term considerations are outweighing the long view.

New Orleans Saints: This might stand out as a somewhat generous mark for one of the league’s three winless entities and a group with the third-worst point differential at -55. Yet the first year under Kellen Moore has featured a strong amount of resolve from a bunch determined to bridge a sizable talent gap with each of its opponents. New Orleans kept Buffalo’s hands full in an eventual 31-19 loss and has clawed to stay in games despite not leading since the first half of its season-opening defeat against the Cardinals. Yet with the front office caught midway through the demolition phase of a personnel overhaul, the returns could be far worse in a season of stasis.

D+

Baltimore Ravens: How did Baltimore stumble to a 1-3 start after looking virtually unstoppable for the first three quarters of the season opener against the Bills? Injuries are responsible for sapping a chunk of the defense’s prowess, and the attrition has only accelerated in the last two weeks. But with Lamar Jackson and the offense unable to go it alone – and the two-time MVP also nursing a hamstring injury – the Ravens have supplanted the Chiefs as the most concerning top contender. A softer schedule and better health could give rise to yet another midseason surge. Until an uptick starts to take shape, however, Baltimore will be left to ponder how the rare level of continuity the team was set to enjoy came undone so quickly.

D

New York Jets: Either Aaron Glenn’s message of accountability has fallen on deaf ears or the first-year coach needs a new way to preach to his players – or both. The winless Jets have somehow fallen short of even the most scaled-back expectations, repeatedly botching the basics with pre-snap penalties (six on offense Monday against the Dolphins) and fumbles (an NFL-worst six lost already). Don’t merely condemn one side of the ball, however, as a defense still dotted with high-level talent is routinely being caught off guard. It all leaves an uncomfortable question: Has this regime given way to something even worse than the ‘same old Jets’ that Glenn denied this group embodied?

D-

Houston Texans: In terms of discrepancy between preseason expectations and early results, there’s no bigger disappointment than the Texans. The defending AFC South champions’ plan to repair their offense by empowering C.J. Stroud with more responsibility and reworking the front has thus far backfired spectacularly, with the team averaging just 16 points per contest. Some might view the 26-0 win over the hapless Titans as a get-right game, but it’s difficult to affix that label to an effort that included the Texans surrendering the fastest sack you might ever see when Jeffery Simmons barreled untouched from over the ball to engulf Stroud. The only reasonable sources of salvation are a defense that reliably turns around favorable field position and a boost in the efficacy of the run game behind fourth-round rookie Woody Marks.

F

Tennessee Titans: Safe to say that the rampant errors that defined Brian Callahan’s inaugural season as a coach shouldn’t rest with Will Levis alone. Even in an attempt to embrace a new day with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, Tennessee is without peer in an unparalleled litany of issues. By almost any measure, the offense stands alone as the league’s least effective attack. Callahan responded with appropriate alarm by relinquishing play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree after three weeks, but the changes only produced the unit’s second sub-200-yard day of the season in the shutout by the Texans. Ward, who has been sacked a league-high 17 times, isn’t taking the troublesome trends lightly, saying the Titans have ‘dropped a quarter of our (expletive) games and have yet to do anything.’ Callahan can’t assert that his team does anything remotely well right now, and there’s no indication of a breakthrough anywhere in the near future.

Incomplete

Cincinnati Bengals: There’s simply no way to properly assess a team that’s been reduced to mere survival mode in the wake of Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury. Quibble all you want with the various decisions that led to Burrow shouldering such a disproportionate load for the organization, but no franchise could reasonably be expected to overcome a comparable loss. Any notion of treading water with Jake Browning is running on life support with a rudderless roster dropping its last two contests by a combined 63 points. The only question now is whether Cincinnati manages to pivot at all as what started as an all-in campaign sinks further into the abyss of a lost year.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The United Nations might be the only place that has more flags than an NFL game in 2025.

Fans, players and coaches know the drill. Every big play, highlight reel moment and game-changing turnover come with the same default response – a visual scan of the field looking for a yellow flag. It has become something that announcers weave into their calls.

ESPN’s Joe Buck can often be heard saying, ‘No flags,’ or ‘I don’t see any flags,’ in those moments. On Monday night in Denver, it was Buck’s partner, Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, that stole the headlines.

‘The product’s not very good,’ Aikman said after a flag in the third quarter. ‘I’m gonna be honest. It’s not very good. I mean, this is ridiculous.’

It was the 22nd penalty of the night and the 15th accepted during the Denver Broncos game against the Cincinnati Bengals contest on ‘Monday Night Football.’

There was still 7:10 left in the third quarter at the time.

Aikman’s frustration was spurred on by a penalty called on Denver’s Alex Palczewski. The offensive lineman was flagged for a blindside block moments before – a call that ESPN rules analyst Russell Yurk agreed with. Aikman, however, seemingly had enough.

‘I’m not gonna keep my mouth shut,’ Aikman said of the penalty after it was announced by referee Alex Moore. ‘That’s a good call. Just not a necessary call. No opportunity to try and make a play.

‘Nothing brings a broadcast to a screeching halt more than these yellow flags,’ Aikman continued after taking a break for a play – an assessment that Yurk also agreed with.

Football fans were treated to a ‘Monday Night Football’ doubleheader in Week 4, with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins playing in the other game. The officiating crew, led by Craig Wrolstad, was also a topic of discussion in South Beach.

‘That’s gotta be a flag,’ ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said following a late hit on the Jets’ Jeremy Ruckert in the fourth quarter. ‘I mean, you can’t miss this. That’s two tonight that are obvious against the Jets that they just haven’t thrown.’

Earlier in the contest, the Jets had a touchdown wiped off the board for a pass interference call against Garrett Wilson that has since drawn the ire of social media.

‘I watch football and they don’t call that, but I’ll make sure I don’t do it again and leave no doubt,’ Wilson told reporters after the game.

“I’m personally frustrated because I feel like me personally, us not winning, I watch football all the time and I just feel like, I don’t know if this is wrong to say, but I think I get called for more stuff just based off us just not winning,” Gardner said after the game. “I watch these winning programs and there’s some egregious things and it don’t get called, letting the players play. I got called on something today, and I’m just supposed to let him push off on the top of the route?”

Referees have always been a topic of discussion in the NFL, but it has become increasingly heated in recent years with rule changes and gambling taking centerstage.

It begs the question – have the number of flags per game actually increased or does it just feel like it?

Are NFL referees throwing more flags this season?

According to NFL Penalties, the 2025 regular season is seeing an average of 17.4 total flags per game with 1,116 – including offsetting and declined – in just 64 games.

It’s the highest total per game in the regular season since the site started tracking flags in 2009.

  • 2025: 17.4
  • 2024: 15.25
  • 2023: 13.6
  • 2022: 13.2
  • 2021: 13.9
  • 2020: 13.1
  • 2019: 16.2
  • 2018: 15.9
  • 2017: 15.8
  • 2016: 15.8
  • 2015: 16.3
  • 2014: 15.9
  • 2013: 13.7
  • 2012: 14.4
  • 2011: 14.8
  • 2010: 14.0
  • 2009: 13.9
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LOS ANGELES — It was the shot that left the Cincinnati Reds shell-shocked.

The ball came in at 100.4-mph.

It was sent out at a stunning 117.7 mph.

Shohei Ohtani circled the bases, and even though he was just the first batter of the night Tuesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the game was all but over at that point.

And by the end of the night, with the Dodgers clobbering the Reds, 10-5, hitting five homers – including two apiece by Ohtani and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez – they were checking out the temperatures in Philadelphia. Why not, they’ll soon be packing their suitcases for a trip to play the Phillies in the National League Division Series.

Oh, sure, you still need to win two games in this best-of-three wild-card series, but the way the Dodgers dominated the Reds in Game 1 in front of 50,555 at Dodger Stadium, they left no doubt that they plan to make this as short a series as possible.

The Dodgers knocked Reds ace Hunter Greene out of the game after three innings, punishing him with three home runs, while Dodgers starter Blake Snell put on a pitching clinic.

The last time Snell faced the Reds Aug. 2, 2024 the San Francisco Giants, he pitched his first career no-hitter.

This night, the Reds produced all of one hit, and struck out nine times in the first six innings.

Snell’s domination against the Reds is so ridiculous that entering the seventh inning, when the Reds finally snapped their 29-inning postseason scoreless streak, they were 1-for-42 against Snell dating back to the no-hitter.

That is an .029 batting average.

Snell wound up pitching seven innings, giving up four hits and two runs with his nine strikeouts, throwing 91 pitches.

The Dodgers will now send out Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Wednesday night, against Redsstarter Zack Littell, trying to close out the series, hopefully saving Ohtani for Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Phillies.

The Reds, of course, knew that this was David vs. Goliath before the series started.

The Dodgers have won the NL West title 12 times in 13 years, with four pennants and two World Series championships during this stretch.

The Dodgers had six All-Stars in the starting lineup, and one on the bench. They had three MVPs in the lineup, and one that didn’t make their playoff roster.

The Reds had one All-Star in the lineup, and their last MVP won the award 15 years ago, and is retired.

This is the Reds’ first postseason appearance in a full season since 2013. They haven’t even won a postseason series since 1995.

The Dodgers have a luxury tax payroll of $416 million.

The Reds’ payroll is $119 million.

So, yes, you do the math.

“I don’t know, I don’t think I brought that up once all year,’’ Reds manager Terry Francona said about their payroll disparity. “I never will, because I was on the other side in Boston .. but we don’t have the ability to outspend mistakes. So, you try not to make very many of them.

“Once the game starts, nobody’s going to care what you’re making. That’s what I love about it, let’s go play baseball.’’

Well, the Dodgers, with five players on the field earning at least $20 million, did just that, showing just why they make the big bucks.

“That’s why I came here,” said Snell, who signed a six-year, $182 million free-agent contract last winter. “Get to the postseason, and see how good I can be. …To face the best when the stakes are highest, that’s what I’ve always wanted.”

It’s no different for Ohtani, who once again showed why he’s worth every penny of his $700 million contract. He not only produced the hardest-hit homer off a 100-mph since MLB began using Statcast in 2015, but hit a 454-foot homer that went halfway up the pavilion in the sixth inning off right-handed reliever Connor Phillips.

The Dodgers became the fifth team in postseason history to have two players produce multi-homer games, last accomplished by Phillies in Game 3 of the NLCS with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos.

The Reds, who call themselves “cockroaches” that can’t be killed, at least showed what can happen if they can get into the Dodgers’ bullpen, getting the tying run to the on-deck circle until  Jack Dreyer finally shut the door.

The Reds are hoping their comeback bid will have a carry-over entering Game 2, with the Dodgers wanting to believe their bullpen woes were just a mere blip.

In the meantime,  the forecast in Philadelphia this weekend is a balmy 77 degrees with no rain.

The Dodgers may want to pack the sunscreen.

Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale

Dodgers survive eighth-inning scare

The Reds pushed three runs across to make it 10-5 and got the tying run to the on-deck circle with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the eighth. But Jack Dreyer got Tyler Stephenson and Ke’Bryan Hayes to escape the jam.

Dodgers tack on two more to take 10-2 lead

After giving up two runs in the top of the seventh, the Dodgers scored twice in the bottom of the frame, getting a run on a throwing error and then an RBI single from Ben Rortvedt.

Reds score two in the seventh

Cincinnati got on the board in the top of the seventh with an RBI when Elly De La Cruz hit an RBI groundout against Blake Snell and came around to score on Tyler Stephenson’s RBI double, cutting the Reds’ deficit to 8-2.

Snell is done after seven stellar innings, giving up four hits and two runs with nine strikeouts and one walk in his first postseason start for the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani hits second homer

With a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning, Shohei Ohtani crushed a 454-foot two-run homer off Cincinnati’s Connor Phillips for his second home run of the game.

The Dodgers became the fifth team in history to have two players each hit multiple home runs in the same postseason game, according to Sarah Langs.

Teoscar Hernandez clubs second home run

Having already dealt the big blow in the Dodgers’ four-run third, Teoscar Hernandez hit an opposite-field solo homer off Reds reliever Scott Barlow in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Dodgers lead to 6-0.

Hunter Greene done after three innings

Reds ace Hunter Greene was replaced by Scott Barlow to start the fourth inning, bringing Greene’s postseason debut to an end. The 26-year-old right-hander gave up six hits – three of them home runs – and five earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks.

Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman go back-to-back

Last year’s World Series hero Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run homer off Hunter Greene in the bottom of the third and Tommy Edman followed with a solo shot to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 5-0.

Shohei Ohtani home run leads off Game 1 for Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers MVP Shohei Ohtani, who played with one healthy shoulder last year in the World Series, reminded everyone just what he can do this postseason when he’s healthy.

Ohtani jumped on Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene’s 100-mph fastball and sent it into the right-field pavilion, traveling 117.7 mph off his bat in Game 1 of the wild-card series.

Dodgers-Reds underway in Chavez Ravine

Blake Snell struck out Reds leadoff hitter TJ Friedl to begin Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. Snell is making his 13th career postseason appearance, pitching 48⅔ innings or the Rays and Padres.

Dodgers lineup tonight

  1. Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
  2. Mookie Betts (R) SS
  3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
  4. Max Muncy (L) 3B
  5. Teoscar Hernández (R) RF
  6. Tommy Edman (S) 2B
  7. Andy Pages (R) CF
  8. Enrique Hernández (R) LF
  9. Ben Rortvedt (L) C

Reds lineup tonight

  1. TJ Friedl (L) CF
  2. Noelvi Marte (R) RF
  3. Miguel Andujar (R) DH
  4. Austin Hays (R) LF
  5. Spencer Steer (R) 1B
  6. Elly De La Cruz (S) SS
  7. Tyler Stephenson (R) C
  8. Ke’Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
  9. Matt McLain (R) 2B
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Investor Insight

Rua Gold offers a compelling investment opportunity driven by its highly promising gold assets in New Zealand’s historic gold-producing regions, and supported by the government’s renewed focus on fast tracking economic growth.

Overview

Rua Gold (TSXV:RUA,OTC:NZAUF,WKN:A4010V,OTCQB:NZAUF) is a gold exploration company focused on two prolific, historic gold-producing regions in New Zealand: Hauraki Goldfield and Reefton Goldfield. Both these regions boast of previous high-grade gold production, with more than 15 million ounces (Moz) produced in the Hauraki district and over 2 Moz in the Reefton Goldfield. New Zealand is a tier 1 mining jurisdiction with highly prospective geology, and a skilled workforce. The new government of New Zealand has committed to promoting economic growth through mining- and business-friendly policies, such as the Fast Track Approval Bill, which proposes quicker approval timelines for a range of projects, including mining.

Rua Gold solidified its position as the dominant Reefton Goldfield explorer with the acquisition of Reefton Resources, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Siren Gold (ASX:SNG). The completion of the transaction expands Rua Gold’s tenement package to cover over 95 percent of the Reefton Goldfield.

New Zealand’s critical minerals list includes both gold and antimony, enhancing the significance of Rua Gold’s ongoing exploration campaign which revealed promising antimony potential. Rua Gold sits on the majority of New Zealand’s known antimony inventory, a strategic advantage that positions the Reefton Project to contribute substantial economic value while strengthening New Zealand’s critical mineral supply.

Rua Gold benefits from a team of professionals boasting extensive expertise in geology and mining. The company’s board of directors is led by Oliver Lennox-King (Fronteer, Roxgold), who has a successful track record developing projects and companies.

Company Highlights

  • Rua Gold is a gold exploration company advancing two highly prospective land packages in New Zealand’s historic gold districts – the Hauraki Goldfield and the Reefton Goldfield.
  • Premiere Mining Jurisdiction: New Zealand is recognized as a tier 1 mining jurisdiction, underpinned by proven high grade geology and a long history of gold production. The country hosts orogenic deposits (+9 Moz), epithermal sources (+15 Moz), and alluvial deposits (+22 Moz).
  • Key Assets: The company’s portfolio includes the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand’s South Island and the Glamorgan property on the North Island.
  • Supportive Government Policy: The new government has prioritized economic growth, highlighted by the Fast Track Approval Bill, which enables mining permits to be granted in less than 6 months, the fastest permitting timeline in the world.
  • High-Quality Prospects: Rua Gold’s projects feature both orogenic and epithermal gold systems with historical production grades ranging from 16 to 50 g/t gold.
  • Exploration Programs: The company is fully permitted and financed, with multiple near-term catalysts. Active exploration is underway, including drilling programs at the Reefton district properties.
  • Leadership Team: Rua Gold is led by a seasoned board and management team with deep regional knowledge and a strong track record of discovery success. With financing and permits secured, the company is well-positioned to unlock value and drive growth.

Key Projects

Reefton Goldfield

Rua Gold holds six project areas at the Reefton Goldfield: Northern, Capleston, Murray Creek, Ajax, Crushington, and Southern. The Reefton district has a rich history of gold production with over 2 Moz of gold recovered at 24.5 g/t. Among the noteworthy findings from recent years of exploration is the greenfield discovery of the Pactolus quartz vein. Assays have unveiled significant high-grade gold concentrations in this vein.

Rua Gold’s systematic exploration has highlighted the potential for the rejuvenation of this district in renewed opportunities around the historic high-grade gold deposits. Rua Gold completed an extensive assessment of the historical mines situated within the company’s tenements in the Reefton Goldfield, yielding five targets in the Murray Creek area.

Rua Gold has expanded its Reefton exploration program with a third drill rig and a planned 4,000 m of diamond drilling at Auld Creek in the coming months. The company is targeting a resource of >300,000 oz AuEq by the end of 2025 and positioning to enter New Zealand’s proposed fast-track permitting process. At Glamorgan, access agreements are underway, with surface work scheduled for Q3 2025 and drilling expected to begin in Q4 2025. Rua Gold is fully funded to execute this growth strategy, with a cash balance of US$14 million as of June 30, 2025.

Drilling at Auld Creek has returned high-grade intercepts, including 17 m @ 9.8 g/t AuEq (with 10 m @ 15.3 g/t AuEq) and 8 m @ 8.9 g/t AuEq (with 5 m @ 11.1 g/t AuEq). These results extend the vertical extent of the Fraternal shoot from 160 m to 300 m and strike length from 350 m to 620 m, with mineralization remaining open in all directions. Surface geochemistry suggests the system may continue for more than 2.5 km, underscoring significant potential for resource growth.

Glamorgan Project

The Glamorgan project comprises over 4,600 hectares in the Hauraki district on New Zealand’s North Island. Hauraki boasts of a substantial presence of high-grade gold and silver mining, with approximately 50 epithermal deposits mined since the 1860s. These deposits have yielded over 15 Moz of gold and 60 Moz of silver. Glamorgan has a 3.8 km zone displaying indications of gold mineralization, backed by soil and rock samples, suggesting the presence of an epithermal gold mineralized system at the property.

Glamorgan is located 2.8 kms north of Oceana Gold’s recent significant discovery at Wharekirauponga. The company has applied for a minimum impact access agreement with the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Once granted, the company will commence an exploration program that includes soil sampling, magnetic and resistivity geophysical surveys, and geological mapping.

Rua Gold completed the first phase of surface exploration on its Glamorgan epithermal gold prospect which identified two significant soil anomalies over 4 kms in length. Rua Gold also completed the second phase of surface exploration at its Glamorgan Project, an epithermal gold system located in the Hauraki Goldfield on New Zealand’s North Island.

The Hauraki Goldfield is a prolific epithermal gold province that has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold from over 50 historic mines. The Glamorgan Project sits adjacent to OceanaGold’s Wharekirauponga deposit, which hosts Indicated Mineral Resources of 1.4 Moz at 17.9 g/t Au and is expected to commence construction in the second half of 2025.

Management Team

Oliver Lennox-King – Non-executive Chairman

Oliver Lennox-King boasts a distinguished and extensive career within the mineral resource sector, encompassing a broad experience in financing, research, and marketing. Since 1992, he has occupied senior executive and board roles in various junior exploration and mining enterprises. Most recently, Lennox-King was the chairman of Roxgold from 2012 until July 2021, when it was sold for $1.2 billion to Fortuna. In addition to Roxgold, he also served as chairman of other notable firms, including Pangea Goldfields, Aurora Uranium, and Fronteer Gold.

Robert Eckford – CEO and Director

Robert Eckford is a certified professional accountant with significant expertise in mergers and acquisitions, accounting, finance, and commercial management within the mining sector. Most recently, he was co-founder and head of finance for Aris Mining, and prior to that, he had worked with international mining companies, including Barrick Gold, Yamana Gold, and Leagold Mining.

Simon Henderson – COO and Director

Simon Henderson is an exploration specialist and has over 40 years of experience, most of which is in New Zealand. He was part of the discovery team for several significant gold finds in New Zealand, such as Wharekirauponga. He maintains robust connections with key local stakeholders and the country’s permitting authorities.

Zeenat Lokhandwala – CFO and Corporate Secretary

Zeenat Lokhandwala brings over a decade of expertise in mergers and acquisitions, finance, accounting and taxation. She is the former CFO of Great Bear Royalties and director of finance at Great Bear Resources.

Brian Rodan – Director

Brian Rodan has more than 43 years of experience who is currently serving as Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Rodan is the founding director of Dacian Gold (ASX:DCN)

Mario Vetro – Director

Mario Vetro has extensive experience structuring and providing guidance to resource companies. He is the co-founder of K92 Mining and the proprietor of Commodity Partners.

Paul Criddle – Director

Paul Criddle has extensive experience constructing and overseeing gold mines in Australia and West Africa. He was formerly a chief operating officer for West Africa at Fortuna and also served as the COO for Azimuth and Perseus. He was previously the managing director at Matador Mining.

Tyron Breytenbach – Director

Tyron Breytenbach is a geologist with operational and capital markets experience. He is currently the CEO of Lithium Africa Resources. Previously, he was senior vice-president of Capital Markets at Aris Mining and served as managing director at Cormark Securities. Before transitioning to capital markets, Breytenbach spent a decade in the mining sector as a geologist, focusing on orogenic and epithermal gold deposits and specializing in resource estimation. He earned his BSc (Honours) degree from Rand Afrikaans University in South Africa and is a designated professional geologist in Ontario.

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Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is pleased to advise that a senior Locksley team has completed a visit to Rice University in Houston, Texas, to formally evaluate the Company’s research collaboration with Rice.

Highlights

– Given increased industry interest in DeepSolv(TM), the Company has requested the expansion & acceleration of the Rice technology program

– The expansion would include the following components:

o Testing of multiple antimony feedstocks at different processing stages, direct ore, post DMS and high-grade concentrates

o Testing of antimony feedstock from multiple sources including the Mojave Project, EV Resources and additional other 3rd party samples

– Meetings held with Professor Pulickel Ajayan, Rice Executive Vice President for Research, and Technology Transfer Office

– Dedicated project workshop with the Ajayan research team to discuss technical programs

– Locksley in discussions with an additional mining group regarding the opportunity of evaluation the DeepSolv(TM) technology

– Locksley is focused upon providing Antimony processing independence to the USA and the opportunity presented by the $1.5bn+ domestic market

During the visit, the Locksley team met with Professor Pulickel Ajayan and members of his laboratory, senior Rice administrators including the Executive Vice President for Research and the Office of Technology Transfer and representatives from Rice Public Affairs. These discussions were followed by a dedicated project workshop with the Ajayan group, providing the foundation for the joint technical program under the collaboration.

The work program, formally launched through this visit, will focus on two parallel thrusts:

1. The development of DeepSolv(TM) product, for the extraction and refining of antimony feedstocks

2. The evaluation of antimony-based materials for advanced energy storage applications

As previously announced, Locksley has secured an agreement with EV Resources for the supply of external antimony ore, which will be incorporated alongside feedstock from the Mojave Project to support the development of DeepSolv(TM). In addition, DeepSolv(TM) continues to gain industry momentum, with discussions now underway with an additional potential user for the treatment of antimony ore. Given the growing industry interest in DeepSolv(TM) the Company is actively evaluating options to expand and accelerate the Rice technology program.

Locksley views the Rice partnership as a cornerstone of its U.S. strategy, providing access to world class expertise and positioning the Company to advance both upstream and downstream opportunities in antimony and rare earths.

Locksley’s Chairman Patrick Burke, commented:

‘This visit marks an important milestone in Locksley’s mine-to-market strategy to onshore the supply of antimony and rare earths into the United States. By formally commencing our collaboration with Rice University and incorporating additional ore supply secured through our agreement with EV Resources, we have laid the foundation for a practical and accelerated testwork program. These initiatives position Locksley at the centre of developing a secure domestic supply chain, aligned with U.S. government priorities. We look forward to working closely with Professor Ajayan and his team as we move rapidly toward delivering tangible results.’

*To view images and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/U3C84R75

About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

Tottenham Project

Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation

Source:
Locksley Resources Limited

Contact:
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
E: info@locksleyresources.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

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African Discovery Group (OTC:AFDG) (“AFDG” or the “Company”) has entered into a term sheet to acquire the Butembo Copper exploration license in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by acquiring 100% of the shares of SOCIETE GRABIN MINING SAS (the “Transaction”). The Butembo Copper project is a greenfield exploration project located in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 40km south of the provincial capital of Beni. The project is located 33km west of the Ugandan border with verified road and rail access to the port of Mombasa.

The area is generally underexplored relative to the well-known copper belts of the Katanga copper belt to the south – however the Mesoproterozoic Kibalian greenstone belt is known for its tungsten-tin-gold occurrences, and it hosts the well-known Kilembe Mine nearby which has produced substantial quantities of both copper and cobalt

According to Rio Tinto, African deposits make up eight out of the 10 highest grade deposits discovered since 1990. The recent discovery of the Butembo copper deposit has underscored the need for further exploration work in areas peripheral to the Katanga Copper Belt.It is important to note that the artisanal pits initially targeted and extracted alluvial gold in the surficial gravels that overly the schists hosting the copper mineralization.The implication is that Butembo is prospective for both gold and copper.

The Butembo discovery is a near surface high-grade copper oxidized ore with measured grades of up to 18% with depth and lateral extension potential of over 5km along strike. The project is located at the base of the Ruwenzori mountains and borders Virunga National Park. There is extensive artisanal activity for both copper and gold and by extension a thriving small scale minerals industry exists in Butembo going back years. Regolith clay samples to the north have tested positively for copper – this is interpreted as a positive indicator of a northern extension to Butembo.

The artisanal and first phase exploration pits around the flood plain of the Talehya River, which runs through the concession, have been tested over an initial 500m of strike length – and the results have been positive with one of these analyses reporting the 18% Cu mentioned above as well as 16.3% in another exploration pit.

The deposit is in the vicinity of the historic Kilembe copper mine (4 million tons) across the border in Uganda whose sulphide mineralization occurs within biotite schists thought to have formed by hydrothermal fluids during early tectonic cycles that were trapped in structurally favorable impermeable locations. This offers a unique insight into the potential geological controls of the Butembo deposit. Mineralization is structurally controlled, occurring along northeast-trending shear zones and folds that facilitated hydrothermal fluid flow. The primary ore minerals include chalcopyrite, pyrite, and linnaeite, forming massive sulfide lenses and disseminated zones.

The Butembo deposit holds a strategically advantageous location, benefiting from proximity to regional infrastructure, which includes electrical power being available within reach of the project boundary. The site is located close to the Ugandan border, offering access to the East African transport corridor. This includes road and rail connections through Uganda to the port of Mombasa, Kenya—providing a viable export route for future development.

The combination of surface high-grade mineralization, artisanal activity, infrastructure access, and strategic location positions the Butembo Copper Project as a high-potential target for early-stage exploration and resource delineation.

Source

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (September 29) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ether price update

After opening on Monday at its lowest valuation of the day, US$112,168, Bitcoin (BTC) reached a high of US$114,336, a 3.6 percent increase in 24 hours. The cryptocurrency dipped below US$110,000 last week, but its Sunday (September 28) night rebound liquidated roughly US$250 million in short positions.

Bitcoin price performance, September 29, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Despite the rally, some market participants aren’t convinced the bull market is back in full force. Crypto investor and entrepreneur Ted Pillows noted that Bitcoin’s pump is “mostly due to short positions getting closed.”

Meanwhile, bulls argue that Bitcoin usually follows gold’s price moves with a three to four month delay, suggesting a strong rally could come in October or November.

Targets mentioned range from US$150,000 to as high as US$300,000 over the next few months.

Ether (ETH) is also performing well, up 3.8 percent over 24 hours to US$4,190.47. Like Bitcoin, Ether opened at its lowest daily valuation, US$4,112.40, before peaking at US$4,202.65.

Supply reduction, increased DEX activity and seasonal bullish trends could set the stage for an Ether price pump in October, with predictions pointing toward US$4,300 or higher.

A looming US government shutdown could increase short-term volatility in the cryptocurrency market this week due to delayed economic data and regulatory uncertainties.

Decisions on 16 crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) — including those tied to Solana, XRP, Litecoin and Dogecoin — are expected from the US Securities and Exchange Commission throughout October.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$212.91, an increase of 3.3 percent over the last 24 hours and its highest valuation of the day. SOL opened at US$206.31, its lowest valuation of the day, and trended upward.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.90, up by 2.5 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.85, while its highest was US$2.91.

ETF data and derivatives trends

The Fear & Greed Index currently reads 39, indicating fear amongst market participants.

Bitcoin dominance in the crypto market is at 56.66 percent, showing a slight fall week-over-week.

Last week, the cumulative net flow for spot Bitcoin ETFs was predominantly negative, with several days of outflows. According to data from the week of September 22 to September 26, spot Bitcoin ETFs had outflows on four days, with September 24 being the only day of inflows at US$241 million. The inflows were led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:IBIT) and the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (BATS:ARKB).

Overall, the weekly trend showed significant withdrawal pressures despite the one day inflow exception. Cumulative total inflows for spot Bitcoin ETFs stood at US$56.78 billion as of September 26.

On the derivatives side, CoinGlass data shows Bitcoin futures open interest at US$82.89 billion, an increase of 6.73 percent over 24 hours and a rise of 0.32 percent over four hours. Open interest for Ether futures is at US$56.04 billion, up 2.71 percent over 24 hours and a 0.06 percent boost over four hours.

Bitcoin leveraged positions have resulted in liquidations totaling US$5.61 million in four hours. Ether saw significantly greater liquidations, amounting to US$9.53 million. Bitcoin’s max pain price is US$114,000.

The Ether funding rate is positive, signaling bullish sentiment and more demand for long positions, while the Bitcoin funding rate is in the red, signaling bearish sentiment.

Today’s crypto news to know

SWIFT to debut blockchain to facilitate cross-border payments

According to a Monday announcement, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is developing a blockchain in collaboration with over 30 financial institutions and Consensys.

The initial focus is on developing infrastructure for “real-time 24/7 cross-border payments.” SWIFT CEO Javier Pérez-Tass made the announcement at SWIFT’s annual Sibos conference, held in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday:

“We provide powerful and effective rails today and are moving at a rapid pace with our community to create the infrastructure stack of the future. Through this initial ledger concept we are paving the way for financial institutions to take the payments experience to the next level with Swift’s proven and trusted platform at the centre of the industry’s digital transformation.’

SWIFT will consider feedback on its design from financial institutions from 16 countries.

Polkadot users show support for potential stablecoin

Bryan Chen, co-founder of Polkadot and chief technology officer of its Acala blockchain, introduced a proposal on Sunday to develop a native stablecoin for the Polkadot network.

The stablecoin (pUSD) would be algorithmic and backed by Polkadot tokens, and would use the pUSD ticker. It would also include an optional savings module, allowing holders to lock their stablecoins and earn interest from stability fees. It will utilize the Honzon protocol on the Acala network. The aim is to reduce reliance on USDt and USDC.

The proposal is gathering support among users. The ballot will close in 24 days.

Qatar financial group adopts Kinexys

One of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East, Qatar’s QNB Group, has switched to JPMorgan Chase’s (NYSE:JPM) blockchain platform for US dollar corporate payments processing.

By adopting JPMorgan’s Kinexys Digital Payments system, QNB can now process US dollar-based payments for its business clients in Qatar in minutes and 24/7, the companies said in a statement.

Kazakhstan debuts crypto fund

Kazakhstan, in partnership with Binance, has launched a state-backed crypto reserve called the Alem Crypto Fund, according to an announcement on the country’s government website.

The fund, established by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group, aims for long-term digital asset investments and strategic reserves. Its initial asset is BNB, Binance’s utility token. The announcement does not specify the amount of BNB purchased or future investments.

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

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The owners of nearly 200,000 BMWs should park their vehicles outside because they risk catching fire while parked or being driven, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Friday.

The vehicle models affected include 2019-22 Z4; 2019-21 330I; 2020-22 X3; 2020-22 X4; 2020-22 530I; 2021-22 430I standard and convertible; 2022 230I; and roughly 1,500 20-2022 Toyota Supra vehicles manufactured by BMW, NHTSA said in a news release.

The federal agency said the vehicles’ engine starter relay may corrode, “causing the relay to overheat and short circuit, which may cause a fire.”

“Owners should park outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until they either confirm their vehicle is not subject to the recall or have their vehicle remedied,” NHTSA said.

BMW did not immediately return a request for comment.

NHTSA said the German automaker will be conducting a phased recall due to parts availability. Interim notification letters to owners are scheduled to be mailed on Nov. 14, with a second notice to be sent as remedy parts are available, the agency added.

Vehicle identification numbers for affected vehicles will be searchable on NHTSA.gov starting Nov. 14, the agency said.

Beginning on that date, car owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter their license plate number or 17-digit VIN to see if their vehicle is under recall. They can also call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

NHTSA also advised owners of the BMWs to call the company with any questions.

The German automaker recalled more than 1 million cars and SUVs in 2017 over similar issues. The recall was expanded to another 185,000 vehicles in 2019.

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