Author

admin

Browsing

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (June 11) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$108,710, a slight decrease of 0.8 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$108,574 and a high of US$110,269.

Bitcoin price performance, June 11, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin has surged over 10 percent since June 5, briefly reaching US$110,000 on Wednesday.

If Bitcoin breaks its US$112,000 all-time high, analysts believe it could make a rapid rise to US$114,000, with further gains predicted if momentum continues. Experts’ targets range from US$120,000 to US$150,000 in the short term, while long-term forecasts sit between US$1 million and US$2.4 million.

This week’s on-chain analysis from Glassnode shows a deviation from past bull markets, with long-term holders continuing to buy instead of selling. This points to growing institutional interest and a shift toward long-term thinking. Price swings are unusually low, suggesting a stable market, but moves could be sharp if demand shifts.

Ethereum (ETH) ended the day at US$2,810.96, a 1.6 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$2,796.60 and saw a daily high of US$2,870.74

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) closed at US$162.72, down 0.5 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$163.05 and reached a high of US$167.80 on Wednesday.
  • XRP was trading at US$2.29, down by 0.3 percent to its lowest valuation in 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a high of US$2.33 for the day.
  • Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.42, showing a decreaseof 0.7 percent over the past 24 hours and its lowest valuation of the day. It peaked at US$3.51.
  • Cardano (ADA) closed at its lowest price of the day at US$0.7041, down 0.5 percent over the past 24 hours. Its highest valuation was US$0.7285.

Today’s crypto news to know

Experts make ETF approval calls

Bloomberg exchange-traded fund (ETF) analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart are calling for a ‘potential Alt Coin ETF Summer,’ according to a note released on Wednesday.

“Get ready for a potential Alt Coin ETF Summer with Solana likely leading the way (as well as some basket products) via @JSeyff note this morning which includes fresh odds for all the spot ETFs,” an X post from Balchunas states.

They predict that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could approve exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking broad crypto indexes by July. The SEC could also “act early on spot Solana and staking ETF filings” after REX-Osprey filed for Solana and Ethereum ETFs with staking components using a C-Corp structure on May 30.

Seyffart and Balchunas now place the approval odds of SOL and Litecoin ETFs at 90 percent. Spot Solana ETF approval odds also jumped to 91 percent on Wednesday on Polymarket.

Stripe to acquire Privy

Stripe has announced plans to acquire Privy, a specialized cryptocurrency wallet infrastructure developer, for an undisclosed amount in a deal signaling Stripe’s deepening involvement in the digital asset space.

Under the terms of the purchase, Privy will operate as a subsidiary within Stripe, focusing on providing infrastructure for developers engaged in building solutions on cryptocurrency rails. According to Privy’s announcement, this transition to Stripe’s umbrella will empower the company with “more resources, flexibility, and firepower.”

Privy’s core expertise lies in offering comprehensive infrastructure for companies involved in the development and management of digital asset wallets. Its tech enables millions of secure crypto wallets on a global scale.

This acquisition aligns with the broader trend of established financial institutions and tech giants integrating blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies into their portfolios.

Ukraine considers adding crypto to national reserves

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, received a draft bill on Tuesday (June 10) that proposes modifications to banking laws. These changes would permit the National Bank of Ukraine to incorporate cryptocurrencies into its reserves, standing alongside gold and foreign currencies. According to Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of parliament who confirmed the introduction of the bill via Telegram, bill 13356 would allow crypto to be included, but the central bank would retain full discretion over how much of its reserves to allocate to crypto and would not be required to add it.

Zhelezniak clarified in a video interview with Kyrylo Khomiakov, Binance’s regional head for Central and Eastern European countries and Central Asia, that while the draft bill has been introduced, the Ukrainian government isn’t pushing for cryptocurrency, but wants to keep pace with its increasing global usage.

“This story has the right to life, and, as we see, many countries are implementing it,” he said.

Bullish confidentially files for US IPO amid pro-crypto climate

Crypto exchange Bullish has confidentially filed for a US initial public offering (IPO), signaling renewed optimism in digital assets as Donald Trump’s administration ushers in a more crypto-friendly regulatory landscape.

Backed by billionaire Peter Thiel and led by former NYSE President Tom Farley, Bullish’s IPO plans mark a major comeback after its failed SPAC merger in 2021. The company’s move follows Circle’s (NYSE:CRCL) blockbuster US$1.1 billion IPO and coincides with a wave of new filings, including Gemini’s confidential application last week.

Jefferies is slated to lead underwriting for Bullish, though the bank has declined to comment.

Ondo brings tokenized US treasuries to XRP ledger

Ondo Finance has launched its tokenized short-term US Treasury product, OUSG, on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), using Ripple’s new RLUSD stablecoin for settlement. This marks the first time tokenized Treasuries are accessible on XRPL, allowing institutional investors to mint and redeem around the clock with instant settlement.

OUSG provides exposure to low-risk, short-term Treasuries and is already live on Ethereum and Solana, with a combined US$670 million in assets across chains. With US$30 million in total value locked already on XRPL, this expansion could significantly scale institutional DeFi on public ledgers.

Strategy hit with lawsuit over alleged misleading Bitcoin strategy

Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that the Michael Saylor-led firm misled shareholders about the risks of its Bitcoin-heavy investment approach.

Law firm Levi & Korsinsky filed the suit on Tuesday, calling on investors who bought shares between April 2024 and April 2025 to join the case, with a lead plaintiff deadline set for July 15.

The complaint cites the company’s recent US$5.91 billion unrealized loss due to Bitcoin’s volatility and claims executives downplayed risk while hyping upside potential. On April 7, the company dropped nearly 9 percent after disclosing a Q1 loss; by May 1, Strategy had formally admitted to the nearly US$6 billion hit.

A second lawsuit, filed by Anas Hamza, is also underway for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act.

Saylor has defended the firm’s strategy, arguing that its capital structure is resilient even in the face of a 90 percent Bitcoin crash. Strategy has not issued an official comment on the lawsuits.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Nintendo sold more than 3.5 million units of its flagship Switch 2 gaming system in the four days following its launch, with online stores of major U.S. retailers putting up “out of stock” signs.

The record-breaking start for the company’s first new console in eight years, puts Nintendo on the path to realizing its aim of selling 15 million units of the Switch 2 console in the fiscal year ending March 2026.

However, analysts continue to believe that those expectations are modest, and forecast the strong initial demand to sustain.

“The market expected a record from Nintendo, and as it turns out, Nintendo delivered,” Serkan Toto, CEO and founder of gaming industry consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC.

“All signals prior to launch pointed to significant demand, and I believe we will see further records broken over the next weeks or months,” he added.

Toto has maintains that the Switch 2 will sell over 20 million units in its first 12 months. David Gibson, senior research analyst at MST Financial told CNBC that he expects 20 million sales for the year ending March 2026.

The Switch 2, which was released on June 5, has been met with much fanfare, with people lining up for hours ahead of midnight releases at Nintendo stores.

“Fans around the world are showing their enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go,” Nintendo of America President and Chief Operating Officer Doug Bowser said in a statement, adding the company was thankful for the response.

Tokyo-listed shares of Nintendo, which have gained nearly 30% so far this year, were down 3.5% on Wednesday, LSEG data showed. The company has seen its shares rise nearly fivefold since the original Switch debuted in early March 2017.

It remains to be seen if the Switch 2 can recapture the magic of its predecessor, which had set the bar with 15 million unit sales in its first year. It went on to sell more than 152 million units to become the second-highest selling Nintendo device ever, behind the Nintendo DS.

The record initial sales of the Switch are in line with the strong demand analysts had predicted. However, the rush has put into question Nintendo’s ability to meet demand.

Retailers including Walmart, GameStop, Target and Best Buy were out of stock of the consoles, their online stores showed Wednesday.

In April, Nintendo’s Bowser told CNBC that the company had been working with “retail partners to ensure there’s ample supply for not only the launch weekend, but well beyond.”

However, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa stated the same month that 2.2 million people in Japan had entered the lottery to purchase the Switch 2 on launch day, exceeding expectations and what the company had initially planned to deliver to stores.

Kantan Games’ Toto said shortages in Japan were expected to persist, but would be less impactful elsewhere.

“Except for Japan where demand for Switch 2 is extraordinarily high, it looks like fans who really want the console and invest time in trying to secure one actually can get one,” he said. “It might take a while, but as far as can be monitored, supply seems to be more robust than around the launch of the original Switch in 2017.”

President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” on most countries around the world also present headwinds for the Switch 2.

In April, the company announced that it would delay preorders of the Switch 2 in the U.S. while it considers the impact of tariffs.

The Switch 2 retails for $449 in the U.S., which makes it Nintendo’s priciest console to date.

Nintendo’s Bowser said in April the company was going to “monitor where tariffs are going” before making any further decisions on price hikes.

MST Financial’s Gibson said that a resolution to Trump’s tariffs and lower duty rates could see the Switch 2 prices drop in the U.S.

The Switch 2 builds on the success of the original Switch, featuring a larger screen and improved performance. The system also introduces the new GameChat2 feature, which allows players to voice or video chat with friends online and share game screens.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Nintendo sold more than 3.5 million units of its flagship Switch 2 gaming system in the four days following its launch, with online stores of major U.S. retailers putting up “out of stock” signs.

The record-breaking start for the company’s first new console in eight years, puts Nintendo on the path to realizing its aim of selling 15 million units of the Switch 2 console in the fiscal year ending March 2026.

However, analysts continue to believe that those expectations are modest, and forecast the strong initial demand to sustain.

“The market expected a record from Nintendo, and as it turns out, Nintendo delivered,” Serkan Toto, CEO and founder of gaming industry consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC.

“All signals prior to launch pointed to significant demand, and I believe we will see further records broken over the next weeks or months,” he added.

Toto has maintains that the Switch 2 will sell over 20 million units in its first 12 months. David Gibson, senior research analyst at MST Financial told CNBC that he expects 20 million sales for the year ending March 2026.

The Switch 2, which was released on June 5, has been met with much fanfare, with people lining up for hours ahead of midnight releases at Nintendo stores.

“Fans around the world are showing their enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go,” Nintendo of America President and Chief Operating Officer Doug Bowser said in a statement, adding the company was thankful for the response.

Tokyo-listed shares of Nintendo, which have gained nearly 30% so far this year, were down 3.5% on Wednesday, LSEG data showed. The company has seen its shares rise nearly fivefold since the original Switch debuted in early March 2017.

It remains to be seen if the Switch 2 can recapture the magic of its predecessor, which had set the bar with 15 million unit sales in its first year. It went on to sell more than 152 million units to become the second-highest selling Nintendo device ever, behind the Nintendo DS.

The record initial sales of the Switch are in line with the strong demand analysts had predicted. However, the rush has put into question Nintendo’s ability to meet demand.

Retailers including Walmart, GameStop, Target and Best Buy were out of stock of the consoles, their online stores showed Wednesday.

In April, Nintendo’s Bowser told CNBC that the company had been working with “retail partners to ensure there’s ample supply for not only the launch weekend, but well beyond.”

However, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa stated the same month that 2.2 million people in Japan had entered the lottery to purchase the Switch 2 on launch day, exceeding expectations and what the company had initially planned to deliver to stores.

Kantan Games’ Toto said shortages in Japan were expected to persist, but would be less impactful elsewhere.

“Except for Japan where demand for Switch 2 is extraordinarily high, it looks like fans who really want the console and invest time in trying to secure one actually can get one,” he said. “It might take a while, but as far as can be monitored, supply seems to be more robust than around the launch of the original Switch in 2017.”

President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” on most countries around the world also present headwinds for the Switch 2.

In April, the company announced that it would delay preorders of the Switch 2 in the U.S. while it considers the impact of tariffs.

The Switch 2 retails for $449 in the U.S., which makes it Nintendo’s priciest console to date.

Nintendo’s Bowser said in April the company was going to “monitor where tariffs are going” before making any further decisions on price hikes.

MST Financial’s Gibson said that a resolution to Trump’s tariffs and lower duty rates could see the Switch 2 prices drop in the U.S.

The Switch 2 builds on the success of the original Switch, featuring a larger screen and improved performance. The system also introduces the new GameChat2 feature, which allows players to voice or video chat with friends online and share game screens.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) appears poised for an explosive breakout, both technically and fundamentally. While it remains to be seen whether this materializes by its Q3 earnings report on June 25, the setup suggests a high-probability move is about to happen, and soon.

The fundamental case for a breakout is backed by MU’s deep involvement in the AI memory boom. Its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is powering Nvidia’s next-gen Blackwell chips, demand is outstripping supply, and prices are rising. With sold-out capacity for 2025 and earnings projected to surge 437% this year, MU’s Q3 report could be the next major catalyst.

In light of these forecasts, let’s put things into context and see where MU has stood over the past year in its comparative performance with VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH), our semiconductor industry proxy, Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK), for a sector comparison, and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), a stand-in for the Nasdaq 100 Index ($NDX).

MU vs. SMH, XLK, and QQQ: Tracking Relative Performance

Despite its recent rally, MU remains a relative laggard. Whether it breaks out will depend on how effectively it positions itself amid shifting industry dynamics.

FIGURE 1. PERFCHARTS OF MU RELATIVE TO ITS INDUSTRY, SECTOR, AND THE NASDAQ 100.  MU has been the big laggard over the past year. You need to take a closer and more detailed look to gain more insight into MU’s current upward momentum.

While analysts are optimistic about its role in the evolving AI-driven landscape, that thesis will be put to the test when the company reports earnings in the coming weeks.

A Shift in Momentum? What the MarketCarpets Are Revealing

While MU lags its industry peers, it might help you to get a more granular view of performance within the semiconductor industry. This is where the StockCharts MarketCarpets Semiconductors summary can be helpful.

FIGURE 2. MARKETCARPETS – SEMICONDUCTORS. In contrast to its peers, a 5-day view shows that MU is the strongest performer.

Though MU has trailed its industry peers over the past year, the 5-day MarketCarpets view reveals a shift in momentum. With a 13.32% gain over the past week, MU is rapidly narrowing the gap and beginning to outpace its peers.

Weekly Chart Levels: Resistance, Support, and Entry Zones

Typically, you’d drill down to a daily chart for more precision, but, with MU, the weekly chart alone highlights the key levels worth watching.

FIGURE 3. WEEKLY CHART OF MU. The weekly chart shows all key levels, from entry to profit targets and stop loss levels.

The weekly chart view clearly outlines support, resistance, and potential entry and exit points. Listed below are the key levels and scenarios to watch.

MU Price Scenarios: Breakout or Breakdown?

  • Watch the rectangle formation: MU is approaching a breakout above key resistance at $115, just ahead of its June 25 earnings report. A decisive move above the rectangle could trigger long entries from bullish traders.
  • Upside scenario: A beat on earnings and strong forward guidance could fuel continued upside—unless derailed by broader geopolitical risks.
  • Downside scenario: If the breakout fails, look for support near the bottom of the formation. The Volume-by-Price indicator shows a heavy concentration of trading at that level, reinforcing its significance as a support zone. However, a breakdown there may cast doubt on the current uptrend thesis.
  • Profit-taking zone: If MU continues its bullish trajectory, expect resistance and likely profit-taking between $127 and $137, an area marked by multiple highs and consolidation levels throughout 2024.

Why $127 to $137, when the weekly chart shows $130 to $135? Here’s where zooming in helps.

FIGURE 4. ZOOMING N TO A DAILY CHART OF MU. This shows, in much greater detail, the potential resistance levels above.

The top and bottom of this consolidation provide a clearer view of potential resistance, which may also serve as profit-taking levels for short-term traders, so keep an eye on this.

  • Last thing – watch the peak: A second round of resistance and potential profit-taking may occur near $155, a key level that previously marked the stock’s all-time high.

Momentum-wise—and note we’re looking at a longer-term time frame—the Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests there’s still plenty of room to run before MU enters overbought territory. Volume-wise, however, you will want to see the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) levels increase once the breakout occurs, confirming that buying pressure is supporting the move.

Quick Take: The Setup at a Glance

In a nutshell: Watch for a breakout above $115 ahead of MU’s June 25 earnings by setting an alert using the Technical Alert Workbench. Note that entering a position ahead of earnings is always a risky prospect. If you are planning to take any action at all, make sure it’s in alignment with your own personal trading strategy and criteria.

A beat on earnings and strong guidance could fuel further upside, but watch out! If Wall Street decides to “sell the news,” due to any detail that dampens investor or analyst sentiment, a sharp decline could follow. If MU moves strongly to the upside, look for confirmation via rising CMF levels, which would signal real buying pressure.

If the breakout fails, key support lies near the bottom of the current trading range. On the upside, expect potential resistance and profit-taking between $127–$137, with a secondary ceiling near $155. The RSI still shows room for further gains before MU becomes overbought.

Final Thoughts: Will MU Deliver on the AI Hype?

MU may be lagging now, but, as the MarketCarpets data shows, momentum is quietly shifting, and the shift may accelerate as MU approaches both a potential breakout level and its earnings date. With a critical breakout level in sight and earnings just days away, consider preparing for a potential surge in volatility, which could move the stock in either direction. If MU does break to the upside, whether it can maintain its momentum post-breakout will depend on volume, CMF strength, and how convincingly MU rides the AI memory wave.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

Unlock the power of divergence analysis! Join Dave as he breaks down what a bearish momentum divergence is and why it matters. Throughout this video, Dave illustrates how to confirm (or invalidate) the signal on the S&P500, Nasdaq100, equal‑weighted indexes, semiconductors, and even defensive names like AT&T (T).

This video originally premiered on June 10, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

Unlock the power of divergence analysis! Join Dave as he breaks down what a bearish momentum divergence is and why it matters. Throughout this video, Dave illustrates how to confirm (or invalidate) the signal on the S&P500, Nasdaq100, equal‑weighted indexes, semiconductors, and even defensive names like AT&T (T).

This video originally premiered on June 10, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

The U.S. stock market has been painting a subtle picture recently. While the broader indexes, such as the S&P 500 ($SPX), Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ), and Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU), are indeed grinding higher, the daily movements have been relatively subdued. This is a noticeable shift from the more dynamic action we observed in April.

Investors may be waiting for Wednesday’s May Consumer Price Index (CPI), the results of the U.S.-China trade talks, or the next market-moving news headline. What’s encouraging is the underlying strength in market breadth. We’re seeing a healthy number of one-month new highs across most broader indexes (with the exception of Dow Utilities), Bullish Percent Indexes signaling bullish tendencies, and investors gravitating toward offensive sectors vs. defensive ones.

On the surface, everything points to a continuation of the bullish trend. However, as astute investors, our primary objective is to protect our capital. This means we mus always consider the possibility of a downside correction and be prepared to adapt.

This is where the StockCharts Market Summary page becomes an indispensable tool for your market analysis.

Let’s dive into how the Market Summary page can help you gain a unique perspective on market dynamics.

Beyond the Headlines: Uncovering Global Trends

One of the powerful features of the Market Summary page is its ability to provide a global snapshot. If you navigate to the Global Snapshot tab in the Equities panel and sort the “+/- SMA(200)” column in descending order, you’ll notice something fascinating: the Eurozone occupies the top spot while the Total US sits at the bottom (see image below).

FIGURE 1. A GLOBAL SNAPSHOT. The Eurozone is trading well above its 200-day simple moving average (SMA) while the Total US is only 4.37% above its 200-day SMA.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

This insightful view suggests that global markets have been trending well above their 200-day simple moving average than the US market. This insight is worth a deeper dive.

Consider the daily charts of the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) which serve as proxies for these regions.

Since April 8, EZU has been on a steep ascent, demonstrating upward momentum. This price action is similar to the S&P 500, but if you consider the relative performance of the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) vs. EZU, SPY is underperforming EZU (see bottom panel in the chart below).

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF EZU. The ETF is exhibiting a steep ascent and is outperforming SPY. Will the trend become less steep or continue its steep uptrend? Be sure to monitor the RSI.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is showing lackluster momentum. Generally, a steep trend loses its mojo after a while and reverts to a more normal trend.

Meanwhile, though VTI has also moved higher, its percentage rise was slightly less than EZU. Also, as EZU hit an all-time high, VTI is still trying to reach that milestone (see chart below).

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF VTI. The ETF is also exhibiting a steep ascent but is trying hard to reach its all-time high.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The RSI is showing lackluster momentum, similar to that of EZU, which could mean the steep ascent may be losing its steam.

Identifying Global Opportunities

It will be interesting to see how the global financial market evolves from here. Who will be the first to revert to a more normal sloping trend? Will EZU continue its outperformance, or will VTI take the lead?

And let’s not forget the global ETFs positioned in the middle of the pack. Regions like Asia (ex Japan), Latin America, or Emerging Markets could take the lead. For example, the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) has exhibited a more classic uptrend. Over the past year, it has outperformed SPY by around 127% (see chart below). The RSI is also showing greater momentum than the other charts we analyzed.

FIGURE 4. DAILY CHART OF VWO. This ETF is exhibiting a more normal uptrend and, over the last year, has outperformed SPY by a whopping 127%. RSI is also rising, suggesting there could be momentum here.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Empowering Your Stock Market Analysis

To stay ahead of market trends and uncover hidden gems, investors and traders should regularly monitor the charts in the Market Summary ChartLists. If you haven’t already, download the StockCharts Market Summary ChartPack (it’s free for subscribers).

Scrolling through the pre-built ChartLists will help you to:

  • Stay on top of the market’s price action across sectors, industries, and global regions.
  • Identify market internals, such as breadth and sentiment.
  • Uncover some hidden gems that could translate into favorable investment opportunities.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

This week, with the approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement, college sports officially split into two. The power conference schools are going to pay their athletes, make their own rules and take the responsibility of enforcement and punishment from an NCAA that was never very good at it in the first place. 

Is there fear and resentment across the rest of the college sports landscape about where this is all headed? Of course there is. Schools at the lower end of Division I see a power grab led by the Big Ten and SEC and wonder if the clock is ticking on their conference’s automatic access to NCAA championships and perhaps even a full divorce. To many folks in the smaller conferences, it feels like they’re paying the price for a problem they didn’t cause. 

But in a world where it increasingly feels like the new financial realities of the Big Ten and SEC are driving a land grab for postseason bids, starting with the College Football Playoff but undoubtedly trickling down to every sport in the future, this year’s College World Series shows why some traditions are worth preserving. 

The eight teams that advanced to Omaha over the last few days represent seven different conferences:

  • The SEC (LSU and Arkansas)
  • The Big 12 (Arizona)
  • The ACC (Louisville)
  • The Big Ten (UCLA)
  • The Sun Belt (Coastal Carolina)
  • The Missouri Valley (Murray State)
  • The Pac-12 (Kind of. Oregon State played as an independent this season but was crucial in the effort to resurrect a new Pac-12, which will begin play in the 2026-27 academic year.)

Is such a huge conference spread a bit of an anomaly? Absolutely. In recent renditions of the CWS, you’ll see a whole lot of SEC and ACC representation, some strong Big 12 and Pac-12 programs (before it imploded) and your occasional interloper from outside the power conferences. 

But this year’s field underscores a very simple point that the SEC and Big Ten would be wise to remember as they go about the business of remaking college sports: At the end of the day, competition is what this is all about. And even if that means you come up on the short end some years, it’s nothing to be afraid of. That’s just sports.

Though we can find a thousand things the NCAA has done wrong on its journey toward the professionalization of college sports, it did one thing that was really genius. In constructing its format for national championship tournaments, it ensured that all Division I conferences would be represented by an automatic qualifier. 

This means that when the men’s basketball players at SIU-Edwardsville began last season, they could dream of playing in March Madness. Was there a realistic chance to win a national championship? Of course not. Were they even likely to win a game? Heck no. Were they better than dozens of basketball teams who missed the tournament? According to the computers, they weren’t even in the top 200. 

But they won their conference, earned their moment on the big stage and got blown off the court by Houston. That’s what usually happens. But every now and then, you get an upset everyone remembers. Either way, the possibility of that moment keeps those programs viable and those communities invested in college basketball. Overall, it’s a pretty great system.

Folks at those lower levels have good reason to wonder if they’ll keep those automatic bids going forward, not just in basketball but a variety of sports. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, in particular, has made public comments that could be considered threatening to the notion of equal access regardless of conference size or strength. 

Meanwhile, there was talk a few weeks back that the SEC and Big Ten could be interested in a 16-team CFP format where they get four automatic bids each, with the ACC and Big 12 getting two apiece and one going to the top-ranked Group of Five champion. 

It seems as if that idea has subsequently died down. Even though the ACC and Big 12 locking in two bids each might have been tempting on the surface, formalizing an existence as second-class citizens would not have gone over well with those fan bases. 

If you were to construct the CWS on the same kinds of principles that the Big Ten and SEC have been flirting with this year in their CFP expansion discussions, you’d never have seven conferences involved like this year. And the reason it’s such a timely development for college sports is that it should remind people in the industry why they do this in the first place. 

Everyone understands that a true level playing field is impossible, but competition is about more than revenue on a spreadsheet. And when it comes to the structure of Division I, giving an automatic bid to every conference underlines that they are partners in an enterprise whose mission is to deliver a good product – even if a lot of those partners can’t stack up competitively to the mighty SEC.

You can’t deliver as good of a product for the sport – the entire sport – by stacking the deck and using historical performance to engineer future outcomes in your favor. 

You can only do it by making the postseason possibility available to everyone and letting the chips fall where they may. Even in a more complicated and professionalized world, you don’t need to apologize for the outcome when you just let sports do its thing.   

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The U.S. men’s national team had one of its worst performances in recent memory, coughing up four goals in a hapless, helpless first half en route to a 4-0 loss to Switzerland on Tuesday, June 10.

In what is the final tune-up match for Mauricio Pochettino’s side before the start of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, things went as badly as it sounds. Dan Ndoye’s 13th-minute goal required some slick play from the Swiss, but from there the USMNT cratered. Michel Aebischer, Breel Embolo, and Johan Manzambi scored three times in a 13-minute span as the U.S. couldn’t find the effort level required for international soccer.

The loss comes on the heels of a merely adequate performance on June 7 that ended with a 2-1 loss to Turkey, and saw Pochettino switch to a back five while trying to find any sort of solution without Tyler Adams (who missed out with a foot injury. 

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter — the son of the USMNT’s previous head coach, Gregg Berhalter — and 1.FC Köln forward Damion Downs made their senior-team debuts on a night that was otherwise a miserable one for the U.S. heading into its final major tournament before the 2026 World Cup.

USMNT vs. Switzerland highlights

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

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton used to have the video staff assemble clips of his made shots and assists.

Then, Rick Carlisle became his coach with the Indiana Pacers.

“He’s really helped me learn how to watch film, which I think is important,” Haliburton said. “I think that’s something that’s not talked about enough. … If you’re just watching and trying to find your highlights, that’s much different than really trying to dissect things.’

Carlisle and Haliburton are spending time dissecting video of Oklahoma City’s defense on Haliburton and the Pacers through the first two games of the NBA Finals.

While the series is tied at 1-1, the Thunder have led for all but one minute and 53.3 seconds of the 96 minutes over two games.

Headed into Game 3 Wednesday, June 11 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), attention is on Haliburton and his ability to break down Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense.

“We’ve gone through these situations many times, not only during the playoffs but during the regular season, not just this season but prior seasons,” Carlilse said. “We’re going to have to adjust and create better situations. We’re going to have to be better.”

In the Thunder’s 123-107 victory in Game 2 on Sunday, June 8, Haliburton scored 17 points and had six assists, but 12 points came in the fourth quarter when the Thunder had established control.

It doesn’t mean the Pacers can’t learn from those points and help Haliburton create better offensive opportunities.

Carlisle and Haliburton acknowledged that it is difficult playing against the Thunder’s top-ranked defense.

“Oklahoma City has more people to throw at a great player – really at both of our All-Stars,” Carlisle said. “They can throw bigger, smaller, medium guys at Tyrese and at Pascal (Siakam). It’s one of their strengths.”

The Thunder made a change to their lineup at the start of the Finals, inserting Cason Wallace into the starting lineup and putting Isaiah Hartenstein on the bench. That gives the Thunder more versatility with a smaller but still strong lineup. That decision takes away some of Indiana’s ability to find favorable matchups.

According to nba.com player-tracking data, Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort, a first-team All-Defensive selection this season, Jalen Williams, a second-team All-Defensive selection this season, Alex Caruso, an All-Defensive choice in 2023 and 2024, and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are guarding Haliburton the most. They are using their size, strength and speed to help defend Haliburton.

“They got more guys than most teams in the NBA that are high level at the point of attack,” Haliburton said. “They’re really connected on the defensive end. I feel like they mix up coverages. I think (Thunder) coach (Mark) Daigneault isn’t afraid to do things on the fly. He doesn’t do everything that’s like very traditional.”

Haliburton hinted at a couple of solutions. Getting into the offense quicker in the shotclock and curtailing pick-and-roll sets.

“That starts with me just getting us in better positions, playing out of different spots, all those things,” Haliburton said. “Definitely got to mix it up against these guys.”

During the regular season, 37.7% of Indiana’s shots were taken with 15 or more seconds remaining on the 24-second shot clock. In the Finals, just 30.5% of the Pacers’ shot attempts came with 15 or more seconds on the shot clock.

“I feel like I probably got caught in too many high pick-and-rolls where they can really pack it in and end up getting shots late against the clock, especially the first half of both games,” Haliburton said.

In the fourth quarter of Game 2, the Pacers found success getting Haliburton the basketball on the go, using multiple screens to give him space in the paint and at the 3-point line.

None of that is easy, especially with the Thunder using their physicality, and Haliburton is a banged up with what he termed a “lower (right) leg thing” but he says he is fine and will be ready for Game 3.

“Keep watching film, see where I can get better,” Haliburton said. “The answers always lie in the film.”

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

This post appeared first on USA TODAY