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Major League Baseball attempted to make history and shatter an attendance record in the first regular season game played in Tennessee, taking place at Bristol Motor Speedway between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

But Saturday’s game faced a two-hour delay due to rain then underwent a second delay that led to action being suspended.

Play is set to resume at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

The famed racetrack has been converted to host baseball for the showcase. Over 85,000 fans were expected on hand for the first-of-its-kind event. MLB’s previous attendance record was 84,587 fans at a 1954 game in Cleveland featuring the New York Yankees.

‘We’re locked and loaded,” Reds pitcher Brent Suter said. ”I tell you who’s locked in is the wives. We’ve got all these kids who are gonna be in like pit crew outfits. And wives with NASCAR boots and stuff.

“It’s awesome,” Suter added. “Their buy-in is off the charts.”

The abbreviated evening still featured stunning visuals from the racetrack that opened in 1961 and can seat nearly 150,000 for motorsports:

MLB Speedway Classic suspended

The MLB Speedway Classic game between the Reds and the Braves was suspended after facing a second rain delay. The game will resume Sunday.

David Ortiz visits bar with MLB Speedway Classic delayed

Former MLB All-Star David Ortiz was tasked as a member of the Fox broadcast team to help stall for time while the MLB Speedway Classic was delayed.

Oritz was seated next to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Kevin Burkhardt throughout part of the show before getting out of his seat and visiting a bar at the venue.

Ortiz interacted with the crowd while talking to his broadcast team and joked about Jeter and Rodriguez picking up the bill for everyone sharing a beverage.

MLB Speedway Classic fans wait out rain

Fans in Tennessee waited out the rain while waiting for the start of the game. Some fans wore team-themed ponchos and remained seated.

Rain or shine, some fans are still having a good time.

MLB Speedway Classic: Braves vs. Reds delayed

The MLB Speedway Classic was delayed nearly two hours due to rain in the area. The tarp that covered the field was removed and final preparation is happening before the game can begin.

Not only did the weather delay impact the game’s start time, but also who would play on Saturday night.

Spencer Strider, who was originally slated as a starter, will not pitch for the Atlanta Braves.

MLB Speedway Classic: Pregame flyover

MLB’s official X account provided a video of the pregame flyover from the roof of Bristol Motor Speedway.

MLB Speedway Classic: Reds, Braves starting lineups announced

A NASCAR pit crew helped introduce the starting lineups for both the Reds and Braves.

Braves vs. Reds jerseys: MLB Speedway Classic

Watch Bristol Motor Speedway add a baseball field

Bristol Motor Speedway provided a time-lapse video of the transformation.

MLB played in different states

The MLB has brought its product to the state of Tennessee for the first time in the league’s history. Tennessee joins the list of states that have recently hosted an MLB game.

Since 2016, five different states welcomed the MLB for the first time.

  • North Carolina (2016)
  • Nebraska (2019)
  • Iowa (2021)
  • Alabama (2022)
  • Tennessee (2025)

MLB Speedway Classic trophy

Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones unveiled the trophy that will go to the winning team.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi may have suffered an injury, but Inter Miami’s stars were able to salvage their chance to advance in the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament.

New Inter Miami signee Rodrigo De Paul delivered two assists in his second game, including an equalizing header by left back Jordi Alba in added time (90’+2’) and Luis Suarez kicked the game-winning penalty kick in the shootout to secure the victory on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Inter Miami earns two points in the Leagues Cup MLS standings after the 2-2 (5-4 on penalty kicks) win. They have five points atop the table, but that standing could be short-lived with six matches to be played on Aug. 3, and another round of matches in the group stage Aug. 5-7.

De Paul, Benjamin Cremaschi, Alba, Federico Redondo and Suarez scored the penalty kicks, while Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo blocked a kick by Tomás Badaloni in the third round of the shootout to help them win without Messi.

Messi sustained an upper, right-leg injury in the opening minutes, leaving the match at Chase Stadium in the 11th minute, following an offensive charge to the penalty area that saw him trip and fall before his right thigh was evaluated by trainers near the Inter Miami bench.

Badaloni (33’) and Ricardo Monreal (81’) scored for Necaxa, while Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia scored in the 12th minute, shortly after Messi’s injury exit.

Both clubs finished the match playing with 10 men due to red card ejections.

Watch Leagues Cup matches on Apple TV

Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-Necaxa match, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports: 

Inter Miami vs. Necaxa highlights

Inter Miami wins penalty shootout vs. Necaxa 5-4, results

Here are the results:

  • Necaxa: Agustín Palavecino scores, 1-0
  • Inter Miami: Rodrigo De Paul scores, 1-1.
  • Necaxa: Johan Rojas scores, 2-1.
  • Inter Miami: Benjamin Cremaschi scores, 2-2.
  • Necaxa: Tomás Badaloni blocked by Rocco Ríos Novo. 2-2.
  • Inter Miami: Jordi Alba scores, 3-2.
  • Necaxa: Ricardo Monreal scores, 3-3.
  • Inter Miami: Federico Redondo scores, 4-3.
  • Necaxa: Ezequiel Unsain scores, 4-4.
  • Inter Miami: Luis Suarez score, wins 5-4.

Inter Miami 2, Necaxa 2: Jordi Alba scores equalizer with header

Inter Miami 1, Necaxa 0: Telasco Segovia scores goal

Shortly after Messi’s substitution, Telasco Segovia scored to give Inter Miami an early lead. The score also marks the first assist for Rodrigo De Paul in his second match with Inter Miami.

Messi leaves Inter Miami match with injury

Is Messi playing tonight? Inter Miami vs. Necaxa starting lineups

Yes, Messi is playing and in the starting lineup, announced before the match. 

What time is Inter Miami vs. Necaxa Leagues Cup match? 

The match begins at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. in Argentina). 

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Necaxa in Leagues Cup?

The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Necaxa coach knows Messi, Inter Miami well

Necaxa, which beat Atlanta United 3-1 in its Leagues Cup opener July 30, is led by new coach Fernando Gago. 

Gago was a starter alongside Messi and Mascherano in Argentina’s 1-0 win in the Olympic men’s soccer final in 2008, and came off the bench in their loss to Germany in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup final.

“It’s always special to face people you know, people you’ve shared so many good times with,” Mascherano said of Gago. “And in the end, when the ball starts rolling, I’ll try to do everything I can to compete in the best way possible and win so we can still hope to qualify.”

Inter Miami vs. Necaxa prediction 

Inter Miami 4, Necaxa 1: Messi finds the back of the net again for two goals, Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende score as Inter Miami cruises to a victory at home. — Safid Deen

Inter Miami vs. Necaxa betting odds

Here are the betting odds, according to BetMGM.

  • Inter Miami: -220
  • Draw: +340
  • Necaxa: +400
  • Over/under: 3.5

Inter Miami upcoming schedule

  • Aug. 6: Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
  • Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
  • Aug. 19 or 20: Leagues Cup quarterfinals (if applicable) 
  • Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
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The stock market’s momentum from earlier this week, which saw the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) and the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) reach new record highs, came to a halt on Friday (August 1).

Investors were reacting to a series of mixed tech earnings reports. Many were accompanied by cautious forward-looking guidance despite strong top-line numbers. This sentiment was further soured by fresh economic data out of the US showing that while employment remains strong, there are signs inflation is reaccelerating.

The most significant blow, however, came from geopolitical developments that reignited global trade tensions, prompting new fears of retaliatory tariffs and the potential for a renewed surge in inflation.

1. Samsung and Tesla strike deal

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk announced a US$16.5 billion deal with Samsung Electronics (HKEX:2814) that would see the electronics conglomerate produce AI6 semiconductors for the carmaker until 2033.

Production will take place at Samsung’s new fab in Taylor, Texas. The news led to a 6.8 percent rise in Samsung’s shares on Monday (July 28), as well as a 1 percent increase for Tesla. Last week, the carmaker saw its share price decline after reporting a 12 percent drop in revenue, marking its biggest quarterly decline in over 10 years.

Musk called the deal’s strategic importance “hard to overstate’ in a post on X. “Samsung agreed to allow Tesla to assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency. This is a critical point, as I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress. And the fab is conveniently located not far from my house,” Musk added in another post.

“The $16.5B number is just the bare minimum,” he also said. “Actual output is likely to be several times higher.”

2. Bell Canada and Cohere partner on sovereign AI

BCE (TSX:BCE,NYSE:BCE) and Canadian artificial intelligence (AI) company Cohere announced a partnership on Monday that will see them work together to provide AI services to Canadian companies and government agencies.

The deal is focused on sovereign AI, meaning all data will stay within Canada.

“At a critical time for Canada, we’re proud to partner with Cohere to create a sovereign, full-stack AI solution, custom-built to support the Canadian government and business. Working together, we will both transform Canadian businesses through cutting-edge AI capabilities, while ensuring that the data remains secure and within Canada,” said Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of BCE, previously known as Bell Canada Enterprises.

“Our partnership with Bell Canada will provide the Canadian government and enterprises with world-class options for sovereign, security-first AI,’ added Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of privately owned Cohere.

This has the potential to be truly transformative for organizations looking to massively increase their productivity and efficiency without any compromise on data security and privacy.’

Under the terms of the deal, Bell will provide the physical infrastructure, including its national network and data centers. Meanwhile, Cohere will provide its powerful AI models to offer a secure, all-in-one AI solution. This helps Canadian organizations adopt new technology. It also ensures their sensitive information is kept safe at home.

3. Palo Alto Networks to acquire CyberArk

On Wednesday (July 30), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) announced plans to acquire Israeli AI cybersecurity firm CyberArk Software. The Wall Street Journal had reported on Tuesday (July 29) that they were in talks.

Under the terms of the agreement, CyberArk shareholders will receive US$45 cash and 2.2005 shares of Palo Alto per share of CyberArk. Palo Alto expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to its revenue growth and gross margin, and accretive to free cash flow per share in fiscal year 2028.

In a press release announcing the acquisition, Nikesh Arora, chairman and CEO of Palo Alto, said:

“Our market entry strategy has always been to enter categories at their inflection point, and we believe that moment for Identity Security is now. This strategy has guided our evolution from a next-gen firewall company into a multi-platform cybersecurity leader. Today, the rise of AI and the explosion of machine identities have made it clear that the future of security must be built on the vision that every identity requires the right level of privilege controls, not the ‘IAM fallacy’. CyberArk is the definitive leader in Identity Security with durable, foundational technology that is essential for securing the AI era. Together, we will define the next chapter of cybersecurity.”

Udi Mokady, founder and executive chairman of CyberArk, called the news a ‘profound moment in CyberArk’s journey,’ saying that they combination will accelerate the mission it began more than two decades ago.

Palo Alto Networks performance, July 29 to August 1, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of Palo Alto’s 2026 fiscal year, subject to regulatory and CyberArk shareholder approval. Although Palo Alto hit a high of US$210.39 on Tuesday, shares of the company declined by 5 percent following the announcement and closed 17.83 percent below Tuesday’s high.

4. Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Apple report quarterly results

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) ended its fourth fiscal quarter of 2025 with record revenue, driven by strong AI and cloud service growth. Microsoft Cloud revenue exceeded US$168 billion, a 23 percent increase, and Intelligent Cloud, including Azure, grew 26 percent to US$29.9 billion, with Azure up 39 percent. Although significant AI investments (over 100 million monthly Copilot users) caused a slight gross margin dip, the firm’s operating income rose 23 percent.

CEO Satya Nadella expressed confidence in long-term growth. For her part, CFO Amy Hood noted that commercial bookings surpassed US$100 billion; she anticipates double-digit revenue and operating income growth in the 2026 fiscal year, though data center capacity may remain constrained through the first half of the period.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) also had a positive Q2, with revenue up 22 percent to US$47.52 billion and net income up 36 percent to US$18.34 billion. Earnings per share rose 38 percent to US$7.14.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the company’s focus on “personal superintelligence.”

The Family of Apps saw daily active people increase 6 percent to 3.48 billion, and advertising revenue grew with impressions up 11 percent and average price per ad up 9 percent.

Q3 revenue is projected to be US$47.5 billion to US$50.5 billion. However, regulatory challenges in the EU could impact European revenue. Meta is also heavily investing in AI and infrastructure, with 2025 capital expenditures narrowed to US$66 billion to US$72 billion, and similar growth expected in 2026.

Microsoft, Apple, Meta Platforms and Amazon performance, July 29 to August 1, 2025. 

Chart via Google Finance.

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) delivered a strong second quarter, with overall net sales growing 13 percent year-on-year to $167.7 billion. The company’s net income also saw a significant increase, rising 35 percent year-on-year to $18.16 billion.

The growth was fueled by strong performance across all three of its major segments. The North America segment, which accounted for 60 percent of total net sales, saw a revenue increase of 11 percent year-on-year to $100.07 billion.

The International segment saw its net sales grow by 16 percent year-on-year to $36.76 billion, with a particularly notable 448 percent increase in operating income. Amazon Web Services continued its steady performance, with net sales reaching $30.87 billion, up 17 percent year-on-year. Despite its strong revenue growth, the company’s trailing 12 month free cashflow declined by 66 percent year-on-year to $18.18 billion.

Finally, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) posted strong results for its third fiscal quarter of 2025, with total net sales increasing to US$94.04 billion, up from US$85.78 billion in the same quarter last year.

The company’s net income rose to US$23.43 billion, an increase from US$21.45 billion year-on-year. This performance translated to earnings per share of US$1.57, up from US$1.40 in the prior year. The growth was primarily driven by its products and services, with the iPhone and Mac categories seeing notable increases in net sales. Apple’s services segment also continued its expansion, with sales rising to US$27.42 billion from US$24.21 billion a year ago.

5. Figma makes public debut

Figma’s highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) generated significant buzz this week, with its share price and valuation surging dramatically on its first day of trading.

On Monday, Figma increased its IPO price range to US$30 to US$32 a share, up from US$25 to US$28. This new pricing valued the company at up to a US$18.7 billion market cap and a US$17.2 billion enterprise value. According to Bloomberg, people familiar with the matter indicated that the IPO was approaching 40 times oversubscribed.

The company had its first day of trading on the NYSE on Thursday (July 31).

Figma’s shares surged by 250 percent from US$33 to US$115 following a blockbuster IPO, with the company raising US$1.22 billion. Its market cap reached US$67 billion by the end of the market’s close. On Friday, Figma opened at US$134.82 before pulling back alongside other major tech stocks and risk assets to finish the week at US$122. Its debut surge and end-of-day valuation made it one of the largest and most successful tech IPOs in recent memory.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

A gender discrimination lawsuit against Stephen F. Austin State University could have national implications after U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale ordered SFA to reinstate three women’s sports teams Friday, Aug. 1.

Six Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) athletes from the women’s bowling and beach volleyball teams filed a class action lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas against their school this summer claiming Title IX discrimination after the university announced in May it would be cutting those two programs and men’s and women’s golf effective the end of the 2024-25 academic year. “The decision was based on sustained departmental budget deficits and the anticipated financial impact of upcoming revenue-sharing requirements with Division I athletes” SFA athletics said in a press release. 

The plaintiffs sought to keep the school from axing these programs.

SFA argued that the plaintiffs’ case is based ‘exclusively on a three-part test contained in guidance and interpretation documents,” rather than the Title IX statute itself. Defendant lawyers urged the court to disregard the policy interpretation handed down by the U.S. Department of Education 46 years ago, citing the 2024 Supreme Court ruling Loper-Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. If the court declined, however, defendant lawyers claimed SFA still complies with Title IX under the 1979 guidance.

After two days in court, spanning 17 hours and 14 witnesses, Judge Truncale issued a written ruling in favor of the plaintiffs. SFA has been ordered to reinstate all three women’s teams. Truncale affirmed that the Loper-Bright case cannot be applied to Title IX in what plaintiff attorney John Clune called an ‘incredibly important’ win for gender equity in sports.

‘If a court were to find that Loper-Bright meant that the Department of Education was not allowed to rely on policy interpretations of their own regulations, the entire framework for compliance with gender equity in sports would be thrown out the window,’ Clune told USA TODAY. ‘You’d still be required to have gender equity in sports, but what that means and how you decided would no longer exist.

‘… Really happy about the ruling, but we’re not surprised by the ruling. If you follow the law, this is what the outcome should be.’

SFA will appeal the ruling, university spokesperson Korbin Pate told USA TODAY. In an official statement on the decision, SFA said “We remain confident in the legality and rationale behind our decision to reduce the number of sports we sponsor. … Since there was no evidence that the difficult decision to cut these four teams was based on sex, we maintain that our actions are fully compliant with Title IX requirements.” 

What is the three-part test?

Under the Department of Education’s three-part test, a school can be in compliance with the participation aspects of Title IX in any one of the following ways:

  • The number of male and female athletes is substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments; or
  • The institution has a history and continuing practice of expanding participation opportunities responsive to the developing interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex; or
  • The institution is fully and effectively accommodating the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex.

The plaintiffs in this case argued that SFA violated all three prongs. The plaintiffs filed a report by former chief executive officer of the Women’s Sports Foundation, expert witness Donna Lopiano, Ph.D., to prove such. Using EADA data and annual NCAA participation reports, Lopiano wrote that women made up 62.8% of SFA’s enrollment during the 2023-24 academic year but less than 35% of SFA’s varsity athletes.

SFA cited the 2024 Supreme Court ruling Loper-Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo in an effort to have the three-part test thrown out. The Supreme Court’s decision made in favor of Loper-Bright overturned a 40-year precedent known as “the Chevron doctrine” directing courts to defer to government agency interpretations of ‘ambiguous’ laws. But Judge Truncale wrote in his decision that Loper-Bright is about an agency’s interpretation of a statute, not an agency’s interpretation of its own regulation. He also wrote that Loper-Bright does not overturn any case law that previously interpreted policy. Thus, it does not apply to Title IX’s 1979 policy interpretation.

Breaking down the Title IX lawsuit against Stephen F. Austin State University

Sophia Myers, Kara Kay, Ryann Allison, Elaina Amador, Berklee Andrews and Meagan Ledbetter filed a class action lawsuit on June 30 against Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) after it announced the elimination of women’s beach volleyball, women’s bowling and men’s and women’s golf on May 22. The six plaintiffs, represented by renowned Title IX attorneys Clune and Arthur Bryant, are current athletes on the women’s beach volleyball and bowling teams.

They argued that the university violated Title IX by depriving them of equal opportunity in intercollegiate athletics and sought an emergency preliminary injunction to preserve the three women’s programs “and all other women’s teams at SFA, until this case is resolved.”

‘Title IX mandates that schools provide equal participation opportunities for men and women to compete in intercollegiate sports,’ the initial complaint read. ‘Nonetheless, SFA has a long history of depriving female athletes of an equal opportunity to participate. Consistent with that history, SFA opted to further discriminate against women in violation of Title IX by eliminating three successful women’s teams: beach volleyball, bowling, and golf. SFA’s decision undercuts Plaintiffs’ civil rights and, if permitted to move forward, will irreparably harm their academic and athletic careers.’

SFA, represented by Marlayna Marie Ellis and Sheaffer Kristine Fennessey of the attorney general’s office, argued that the plaintiff’s case is based ‘exclusively on a three-part test contained in guidance and interpretation documents, rather than the statute or 1975 implementing regulation.” Defendant lawyers urged the court to disregard the three-part test but affirmed that SFA is Title IX compliant regardless, citing the test’s first and third prongs.

The first prong requires “the number of male and female athletes is substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments.” The third requires “the institution is fully and effectively accommodating the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex.” Defendant lawyers claimed there is “no strict rule” defining ‘substantially proportionate,” and that SFA “effectively accommodates the interest and abilities of women, despite the discontinuation of the women’s beach volleyball, bowling, and golf teams.” 

Financial pressure from House settlement not valid defense for cutting women’s sports

SFA opted into the House settlement, where schools are able to pay athletes directly starting this athletic year with a $20.5 million cap per institution. These new financial pressures are why athletic director Michael McBroom said the decision to cut teams was made.

The athletic department reported a $1 million surplus during the 2024 fiscal year, with about $24 million in institutional support out of $28.8 million in total operating revenue. In FY2023, SFA reported a $61,000 deficit, with $19.4 million in institutional support. And in FY2022, SFA reported a $275,000 deficit, with $17.7 million institutional support.

Plaintiffs argued, successfully, that ‘budgetary constraints are not a legitimate defense to Title IX.’

‘The funding of those revenue-sharing payments for football players and men’s basketball absolutely cannot come at the expense of women’s sports,’ Clune said. ‘So this is a huge message to schools across the country. Whatever you have to do to figure out how you’re going to fund your revenue-sharing payments, it’s not going to come at the expense of women’s opportunities to participate in sports. That’s a big deal.’

Reach USA TODAY Network sports reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.

This story has been updated with new information.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Jhoan Duran made his Philadelphia Phillies debut Friday night, and it didn’t disappoint.

Duran made his way out of the bullpen wearing No. 59 to a loud roar from the crowd at Citizens Bank Park, just two days after he was traded to Philadelphia by the Minnesota Twins for a pair of Top 100 prospects: Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait.

Who is Jhoan Duran?

Duran is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander from the Dominican Republic. 

He entered Friday with a 6-4 record, a 2.01 ERA and 16 saves in 49 games with the Twins this year.

Jhoan Duran records save in debut

Duran secured the victory with just four pitches as the Phillies completed the comeback against the Detroit Tigers to win 5-4 on Friday night.

Jhoan Duran wears No. 59 for Phillies

The Phillies are doing their best to welcome Duran with open arms.

Duran wore the No. 59 throughout the first four years of his major league career with the Twins. The number was already in use in Philadelphia, by manager Rob Thomson.

Usually, when a player is inquiring about a jersey number, there is some level of bargaining that takes place to complete the swap. That wasn’t needed — Thomson willingly gave up the number to Duran. 

‘The number really doesn’t mean much to me,’ Thomson said. ‘But if it makes you feel better, I’m all-in. He said, ‘Yeah.’ Then it’s all yours.’

Thomson will wear the No. 49 in honor of former New York Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry.

Watch Jhoan Duran entrance

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In one of the biggest media deals this century, ESPN and the National Football League agreed to a deal that will send popular entities such as RedZone over to the network, according to The Athletic.

The deal, according to the report, could be worth billions and is expected to be formally announced next week.

ESPN is gearing to start its direct-to-consumer service within weeks, which consumers are expected to pay nearly $30 a month, allowing buyers to cut cable subscriptions even further as people have more choices than ever in how they consume content featuring the nation’s most popular and attended spectator sport.

The network is expected to absorb the aforementioned RedZone, NFL Network, headquartered in Inglewood, California, and to take on its slate of games this season as well as the league’s popular fantasy football franchises. It is not expected that NFL Films is part of the deal, but the league is likely to take a 10% stake in the majority Disney-owned ESPN. The league is currently in an 11-year, $111 billion media rights deal with Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC, which is set to expire in 2033.

The deal still needs to be approved by government regulators, but is expected to be done in plenty of time for the network to gear up for its Super Bowl 61 coverage. The game is set for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The game is to be aired by ABC, another Disney-owned property.

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Katie Ledecky has dominated the women’s 800-meter freestyle for more than a decade, winning gold in the event in four consecutive Olympic Games and six consecutive World Championships. But Canadian teen sensation Summer McIntosh is on her tail, setting up a massive showdown at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

Both Ledecky and McIntosh come into Saturday’s event in top form. Ledecky broke her own 800m world record in May at the 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale with a time of 8:04.12. A month later, McIntosh set a national record in the 800m with a time of 8:05.07 at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials in June, where she also broke three world records in the 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley.

Will Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history, continue her reign in the event? Or will McIntosh, the up-and-coming generational talent, dethrone the American veteran? We’ll find out Saturday when Ledecky, 28, and McIntosh, 18, face off in the 800m final on Saturday at the Singapore Sports Hub.

McIntosh won the first head-to-head with Ledecky at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships earlier this week. McIntosh raced to gold in the 400-meter freestyle (3:56.26), finishing over two seconds faster than bronze medalist Ledecky (3:58.49). McIntosh also won gold in the 200m butterfly and 200m medley, while Ledecky won gold in the 1500m freestyle and silver in the 4 × 200m freestyle relay.

Five other finals will be held on Saturday, including the 200m backstroke final, featuring the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist, Australian Kaylee McKeown, and silver medalist, American Regan Smith.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on Saturday:

How to watch the 2025 World Swimming Championships

The 2025 World Swimming Championships in Singapore run through Aug. 3 and can be streamed live on Peacock. Events start at 7 a.m. ET each day.

2025 World Swimming Championships schedule for Saturday

Six finals will be held on Saturday, including the highly anticipated women’s 800m free. Here’s the schedule:

  • Women’s 50m butterfly final (7:02 a.m. ET)
  • Men’s 50m freestyle final (7:09 a.m. ET)
  • Women’s 200m backstroke final (7:17 a.m. ET)
  • Men’s 100m butterfly final (7:43 a.m. ET)
  • Women’s 800m freestyle final (8:21 a.m. ET)
  • Mixed 4x100m freestyle relay final (8:42 a.m. ET)

How to watch women’s 800m free final: Time, channel, lane assignments

Date: Saturday, Aug. 2

Time: 8:21 a.m. ET

Streaming: Peacock

  • Lane 1: China’s Li Bingjie
  • Lane 2: Italy’s Simona Quadarella
  • Lane 3: Canada’s Summer McIntosh
  • Lane 4: American Katie Ledecky
  • Lane 5: Australia’s Lani Pallister
  • Lane 6: Germany’s Isabel Gose
  • Lane 7: New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather
  • Lane 8: Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto

Stream World Aquatics Championships on Peacock

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The Indiana Fever have been without superstar Caitlin Clark for more than half of the season due to injury, but that hasn’t stopped the team from putting together its longest winning streak of the year. 

The Fever defeated the Dallas Wings 88-78 on Friday, Aug. 1 at the American Airlines Center, extending Indiana’s winning streak to four games in a collective team effort. Four of five Indiana starters scored in double digits.

‘This is the second half of the season. We know the margin of error is very small,’ said guard Aari McDonald, who finished with 15 points, while hitting four of six 3-pointers. ‘When four people are in double figures and they are all offensive threats, I think that opens up the floor for us.’

Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points and three assists. Aliyah Boston recorded her fifth consecutive double-double and is up to 13 double-doubles on the season, second only to to the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (17). Natasha Howard also finished with a double-double, tallying 11 points and 16 rebounds, which tied her career-high for rebounds.

The Fever improved to 16-2 on the season and 8-7 without Clark in the lineup.

The Fever dominated from beyond the arc, knocking down 12-of-28 3-pointers. The Wings were limited to two 3-pointers and were out-rebounded 44-30, including 14 offensive rebounds for Indiana compared to four for Dallas.

The Fever now lead the regular-season series vs. the Wings, 3-0. Indiana won the first matchup of the season 94-86 without Clark, who was sidelined at the time with a left groin injury. Fans got the highly-anticipated matchup between Clark and Bueckers on July 13 in Indianapolis, which the Fever won 102-83. Clark had 14 points, 13 assists and five steals in that victory, while Bueckers had 21 points and two steals in the loss.

USA TODAY sports had full coverage of Friday night’s game. Scroll below for highlights and a recap by quarter.

Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings: Full highlights

Paige Bueckers returns after hard fall

Bueckers checked back into the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter after suffering a hard fall in the third quarter. Bueckers got right back to business and is up to a game-high 22 points, cutting the Wings’ deficit to six points with 5:33 remaining in the game.

End of Q3: Fever 68, Wings 57

The Fever have a 13-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, led by 18 points and three rebounds from Kelsey Mitchell. Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard are both closing in on double-doubles. Boston added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Howard is up to nine points and 13 rebounds.

Paige Bueckers appeared to be shaken up in the third quarter after fighting through a screen set by the Fever’s Boston with 4:03 remaining. Bueckers went down hard and appeared to grab her right thigh area as she writhed in pain on the ground. She was able to get up under her own power before limping over to the bench. Buckers had a team-high 18 points, three rebounds and two assists before being subbed out.

No other Wings player has reached double-digits in scoring and they have yet to knock down a 3-pointer (0-of-8) so far. Myisha Hines-Allen has nine points off the bench, while Arike Ogunbowale added eight points and five assists.

Halftime: Fever 48, Wings 42

The Fever led by as many as eight points in the second quarter and take a six point lead into halftime. The Fever are 13-4 this season when leading at halftime, while the Wings are 1-17 when trailing at the half.

Natasha Howard is up to nine points and eight rebounds, while Kelsey Mitchell also scored nine points. The Fever have lived in the paint, scoring 24 of their 48 points from close range, but the addition of Chloe Bibby has helped Indiana stretch the floor. She’s up to six points off the bench, shooting a perfect 2-of-2 from the 3-point line.

Paige Bueckers has a game-high 15 points, three assists, two rebounds and no turnovers. Bueckers has reached double-digit points in all 23 games she’s played in her rookie season. Arike Ogunbowale has six points, and Myisha Hines-Allen added seven points off the bench. Haley Jones was limited in the second quarter with four fouls after picking up two fouls in a matter of 13 seconds.

The Wings are 0-of-5 from three, but they’ve knocked down 12-of-13 free throws to remain close. The Fever are 5-of-15 from beyond the arc and 7-of-9 from the free throw line.

End of Q1: Fever 22, Wings 22

Things are all tied up after a back-and-forth first quarter that featured four ties and one lead change.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has a game-high seven points, while forward Natasha Howard is closing in on her seventh double-double of the season with six points and seven rebounds after the first quarter.

Indiana is out-rebounding Dallas 13-9, including five offensive rebounds, but the Wings have managed to get to the free throw line more. Dallas had nine free throw attempts in the first, compared to one for Indiana.

Paige Bueckers leads the Wings with five points, while Myisha Hines-Allen added five points off the bench.

Caitlin Clark injury update: Fever guard ruled out

The Fever All-Star guard will not be available for Friday’s matchup against the Wings due to a right groin injury that has kept her sidelined for six consecutive games. Clark suffered the injury in the final minute of the Fever’s win over Connecticut on July 15, another setback in Clark’s injury-riddled sophomore season.

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings?

The Dallas Wings will host the Indiana Fever at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 1 at the American Airlines Center, home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. The game will be broadcast on ION.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings: TV, stream

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
  • TV channel:  ION
  • Streaming: WNBA League Pass

Indiana Fever starting lineup

With Clark sidelined with an injury, the Fever’s starting lineup is made up of Aari McDonald, Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston. This lineup has made five starts this season and is 3-2.

Fever signs Chloe Bibby for the rest of the season

On Friday, the Fever announced that the team signed Australian forward Chloe Bibby for the rest of the year. Fever initially signed Bibby to a seven-day contract on July 25 and she went on to appear in two games, averaging 9.0 points while shooting 44.4% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

Dallas Wings starting lineup

The Wings are sending Paige Bueckers, Luisa Geiselsoder, Haley Jones, Arike Ogunbowale and JJ Quinerly. This lineup has made two starts together and gone 1-1.

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Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), one of the world’s largest lithium producers, is cutting costs and narrowing its capital investment plans as it adjusts to ongoing weakness in lithium prices, even as demand from electric vehicle and energy storage sectors holds up better than expected.

The Charlotte-based company reported a second-quarter profit of US$22.9 million, a significant turnaround from the US$188.2 million loss it posted a year ago.

While total revenue fell 7 percent to US$1.33 billion, the figure still came in ahead of Wall Street’s US$1.22 billion estimate, buoyed by stronger-than-expected results in its specialties division and disciplined cost management.

“Our job is just to keep working on the things that are in our control, because we don’t really have a clear line of sight to where pricing is going,” Chief Financial Officer Neal Sheorey told investors Thursday.

Sheorey said Albemarle has reached its US $400 million annualized cost-savings and productivity target, citing measures such as supply chain restructuring and improved operations at lithium conversion and mining sites.

The company now expects to spend between US$650 million and US$700 million in capital expenditures for the full year, narrowing its previous guidance of US$700 million to US$800 million.

With lower spending and continued operational execution, Albemarle said it expects to achieve positive free cash flow for 2025—so long as current lithium prices, which have hovered around US$9 per kilogram, persist.

Lithium prices down, but demand remains resilient

Lithium prices have come off their historic highs of 2021–2022, when a global EV boom and constrained supply sent costs soaring above US$70 per kilogram.

But that surge spurred rapid supply growth, and by late 2022, the market entered a surplus. Prices have since declined sharply and now sit near levels that are not considered economically viable for many new or greenfield projects.

Despite the pricing downturn, Sheorey emphasized that demand for lithium has not collapsed. During the company’s earnings call, he maintained that demand has held up better than expected this year, pointing to robust growth in China and Europe that is offsetting a more subdued US market.

“The outlook in North America is less certain, particularly in the United States due to the potential impact of tariffs and the removal of the 30D tax credit in September,” Sheorey said, adding that the US accounts for only about 10 percent of global electric vehicle sales.

In contrast, EV sales in China rose 41 percent year-to-date, including a 44 percent jump in battery electric vehicles spurred by recent subsidies, while Europe also showed double-digit growth.

Still, Sheorey cautioned that pricing remains under pressure. “We continue to expect the full-year EBITDA margin [for energy storage] to average in the mid-20 percent range assuming our $9 per kilogram price scenario,”

According to Albemarle’s internal analysis, the market could return to balance as early as next year if current price levels persist. “New project development has begun to slow, while demand continues to be robust,” the company said. It estimates that demand growth could outstrip supply growth by up to 10 percent per year between 2024 and 2030.

Much of the company’s current optimism stems from performance at its integrated production and processing facilities, particularly due to strong volumes from Albemarle’s Wodgina mine and the Salar yield improvement project.

With lithium demand expected to more than double by 2030, Albemarle is betting that its investments in operational excellence and global reach will pay off once the market stabilizes.

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

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(TheNewswire)

 

   

   
     

 

TORONTO, ON, August 1, 2025 TheNewswire – Silver Crown Royalties Inc. ( Cboe: SCRI,OTC:SLCRF; OTCQX: SLCRF; FRA: QS0) ( ‘Silver Crown’ ‘SCRi’ or the ‘Company’ ) announces that it has become aware that Gold Mountain Mining Corp. (‘ Gold Mountain ‘) and its two subsidiaries, Bayshore Minerals Incorporated and Elk Gold Mining Corporation (‘ Elk Gold ‘) have been placed under receivership proceedings.

 

  The Company holds the Elk Gold royalty pursuant to the royalty agreement with Elk Gold (the ‘   Elk Gold Royalty   ‘) (for more information see the Company’s continuous disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ available at sedarplus.ca). The Company is currently closely monitoring this situation and will update its shareholders and the market of any material developments.  

 

  Peter Bures, CEO of the Company, stated: ‘Silver Crown’s prudent approach to royalty agreements and diversification was designed to offer a buffer against these types of events. This strategy will allow us to maintain our forward momentum in terms of additional growth in revenues’.  

 

  ABOUT Silver Crown Royalties INC.  

 

  Founded by industry veterans, Silver Crown Royalties (   Cboe:   SCRI |   OTCQX:   SLCRF |   BF:   QS0   ) is a publicly traded, silver royalty company. Silver Crown (SCRi) currently has four silver royalties of which three are revenue-generating. Its business model presents investors with precious metals exposure that allows for a natural hedge against currency devaluation while minimizing the negative impact of cost inflation associated with production. SCRi endeavors to minimize the economic impact on mining projects while maximizing returns for shareholders.   For further information, please contact:  

 

  Silver Crown Royalties Inc.  

 

  Peter Bures, Chairman and CEO  

 

  Telephone: (416) 481-1744  

 

  Email:   pbures@silvercrownroyalties.com  

 

  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  

 

  This release contains certain ‘forward looking statements’ and certain ‘forward-looking information’ as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘estimate’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘continue’, ‘plans’ or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, SCRi anticipates that Elk Gold will pay this residual amount owing on or before March 31, 2025. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual actions, events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which SCRi will purchase gold and other metals or from which it will receive royalty payments and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, delays in mine construction and operations, actual results of mining and current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions in operations; SCRi’s ability to enter into definitive agreements and close proposed royalty transactions; the inherent uncertainties related to the valuations ascribed by SCRi to its royalty interests; problems inherent to the marketability of gold and other metals; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; industry conditions, including fluctuations in the price of the primary commodities mined at such operations, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates; government entities interpreting existing tax legislation or enacting new tax legislation in a way which adversely affects SCRi; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; liability, competition, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises on SCRi’s business, operations and financial condition, loss of key employees. SCRi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. SCRi undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available.  

 

  This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions   from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  

 

  CBOE CANADA DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.  

 

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

 

 

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