Breaking
True Market Story
Author

admin

Browsing
5 Mins Read

The Best Five Sectors, #22

Sector Rotation: A Week of Stability Amidst Market Dynamics

Last week presented an intriguing scenario in our sector rotation portfolio.

For the first time in recent memory, we witnessed complete stability across all sector positions — no changes whatsoever in the rankings.

  1. (1) Industrials – (XLI)
  2. (2) Utilities – (XLU)
  3. (3) Consumer Staples – (XLP)
  4. (4) Communication Services – (XLC)
  5. (5) Financials – (XLF)
  6. (6) Technology – (XLK)
  7. (7) Real-Estate – (XLRE)
  8. (8) Materials – (XLB)
  9. (9) Consumer Discretionary – (XLY)
  10. (10) Healthcare – (XLV)
  11. (11) Energy – (XLE)

Weekly RRG: Steady as She Goes

The weekly Relative Rotation Graph (RRG) continues to paint a picture of gradual shifts. Utilities and Consumer Staples, while still occupying high RS ratio levels, are moving lower on the chart. Utilities clings to the leading quadrant, but Consumer Staples has just crossed into weakening territory.

Financials and Communication Services remain in the weakening quadrant, but their RS momentum levels have stabilized. Communication Services shows a slight uptick, while Financials maintains a negative heading — albeit well above the 100 mark.

Industrials, our current star performer, continues its reign in the leading quadrant. It’s gaining ground on the RS-ratio axis while experiencing a minor dip in RS momentum. All in all, the weekly picture remains essentially unchanged from last week.

Daily RRG

Shifting our focus to the daily RRG, we start to see more nuanced movements:

  • Staples and Utilities are rotating within the improving quadrant, losing ground on the RS momentum axis without gaining in RS ratio. This suggests further weakening on the weekly chart is likely.
  • Financials have made their way into the improving quadrant — a positive development that builds on last week’s progress.
  • Communication Services is practically aligned with the benchmark (SPY), showing little distinctive movement.
  • Industrials continues deeper into the weakening quadrant, but — and this is crucial — its RRG velocity (the distance between tail nodes) is very low. This keeps the door open for a potential curl back up before hitting the lagging quadrant, which would reinforce its strong position.

Industrials: Breaking New Ground

The price chart for Industrials is confirming its current strength with a break above overhead resistance. This breakthrough is likely to unlock more upside potential, keeping the sector firmly at the top of our list. The relative performance continues to reflect this positive momentum.

Utilities: Struggling at Resistance

Once again, Utilities tested its overhead resistance (between 83 and 84) but failed to break higher. Prices retreated into the range by week’s end. This setback is causing relative strength to drop back into its sideways trading range, with RRG lines rolling over. The sector needs a swift improvement in both price and relative strength to maintain its recent strong position.

Consumer Staples: Déjà Vu

Consumer Staples finds itself in a similar boat to Utilities. Another attempt to break overhead resistance around 83.5 was met with a pullback. This pattern has been repeating for weeks, and it’s taking its toll on the raw relative strength line.

While the RS ratio remains high — a legacy of strength since the year’s start — the rapid loss of relative momentum is causing the RS ratio to roll over. Like Utilities, consumer staples need a quick price improvement to maintain its top-five position.

Communication Services: Closing In

Communication Services had a strong week, closing near the range’s high end and approaching its previous peak just above 105. This improvement has kept the raw relative strength line against SPY within its rising channel. Continued strength, especially if XLC breaks above 105, should keep relative strength in an uptrend and likely cause the RRG lines to curl back up soon.

Financials: Battling Resistance

Financials continue to struggle with an old rising support line, now acting as resistance near the 52 area where the previous high is located. This price stagnation has caused the raw RS line to break its rising support, leading the RRG lines to roll over. The RS momentum line has already dropped below 100, and the RS ratio is starting to move lower.

We’ve seen the daily tail for XLF pick up slightly — this acceleration needs to continue in the coming weeks for XLF to maintain its top-five position.

Portfolio Performance

Due to the positions of Consumer Staples and Utilities, our top five remains defensively positioned. This has caused our underperformance versus SPY to widen slightly — we’re now just over 6% behind since the start of the year.

Is this ideal? Of course not. But here’s the thing — trend-following systems need time to play out. The worst thing you can do is abandon a strategy just because it’s going against you for a few months. (And let’s be honest, it’s only been since May — so two months.)

I will stay the course, maintain discipline, and continue to track this portfolio based on our established metrics. It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes for this strategy to come back on top and start outperforming SPY again. Patience is key in these situations.

#StayAlert and have a great week. –Julius

Keep Reading
By
5 Mins Read

A Few Charts Worth Watching This Week

There are a few very different setups unfolding this week that are worth a closer look: two software-related names that are struggling to reclaim their winning ways, plus one lovable and reliable stock wagging its tail in the spotlight. 

Let’s break it down.

Adobe (ADBE): Mind the Gaps

Adobe Systems, Inc. (ADBE) has been a heartbreaker for investors over the last several years. ADBE stock has traded lower after six of its last seven quarterly reports. That includes consecutive losses of nearly -14%. So what should investors be watching this time around?

Coming into Thursday’s release, shares are lower by 6.4% for the year and have just made back their losses from last quarter. Overall, shares remain -35% from all-time highs set back in January 2024.

Investors will be looking for progress on the AI monetization front. Is annual recurring revenue from Adobe’s Firefly and Acrobat products showing a strong growth projection? And, perhaps more importantly, what’s the guidance going to look like? Last quarter, Adobe issued conservative guidance, and shareholders were punished as a result. Will forward-looking guidance meet investor expectations?

Technically, ADBE shares are trying to find that bottom (see chart below). Progress has been made, as the stock is taking minor steps to climb back from the morass.

FIGURE 1. DAILY CHART OF ADBE STOCK. The stock is trading between the 100- and 200-day moving averages. The stock price could gain momentum and move higher or lower after earnings.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

On the chart, we’re seeing the following signs:

  • Shares have broken their intermediate downtrend.
  • Shares have recaptured the 50-day moving average.
  • Shares have almost filled the downward gap caused by last quarter’s results.
  • Shares have recaptured the 100-day moving average and held for now.

That said, there’s still work to be done, and knowing how this stock gaps in earnings means a move may be coming.

Let’s examine those last three gaps. Each one has been negative, and each time, price action continued in the trend’s direction for several weeks before making a bottom and rallying back. The same thing happened on the last gap up, as momentum in the direction of the gap continued for weeks. Point being, it’s a good idea to watch those gaps. 

ADBE is in a “no man’s land” between key moving averages. The longer-term trend remains down, and it may take a huge report to stay above the 200-day moving average on a rally. It’s one to avoid for now, but the short-term play after earnings may be to go with the momentum of any gap.

Chewy (CHWY): Any New Tricks in Store?

Chewy Inc. (CHWY), the online retailer of pet food and pet-related products, broke out to new highs just last week ahead of this week’s earnings. Shares have been on a roll since their April 7 low, gaining over 60% in that time (see chart below).

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF CHWY STOCK. The stock price has been in beast mode since early April, up more than 60%. With the stock in overbought territory, it could pull back to $44 or $40. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Technically, the stock broke out of a textbook rounded bottom base and zoomed to its anticipated upside target of $50. CHWY shares seem overextended as they have been overbought for weeks (Relative Strength Index > 80). The stock price could roll over even on good news, given its recent run. Long-term investors may want to stay in the name and sit on gains.

For those begging for a pullback, there are nice levels of support at $44 and ultimately at $40 if earnings bite investors. This should be a good opportunity to consider this name for your portfolio as the long-term technicals look great, and the company is known for its loyal user base.

Oracle (ORCL): Time to Flip the Script?

Oracle Corp. (ORCL) will report earnings on Wednesday, looking to snap a two-quarter losing streak. Shares of the software giant have rallied nicely off their lows, but are still -13% from their December peak. Investors would like to see its cloud revenue growth continue to expand thanks to agreements with OpenAI, Meta, and Nvidia.

The one concern is the continued capital spending necessary to power the data centers required to meet AI demand. Are the company’s recent capital expenditures putting pressure on margins and impacting ORCL stock’s bottom line? 

Technically, shares have been on a nice run, eclipsing key levels to get back on track. Longer-term, the stock price started the week above its downtrend line, with respect to annual highs.

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF ORCL STOCK. From a technical perspective, the stock price has broken above a long-term downtrend. Will upside momentum continue after earnings? Keep an eye on this stock.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The rally looks similar to many other technology names that are trying to get back to their old highs. The good news is that, given the change in trajectory, even weakness looks to have a soft landing spot and good entry point from a risk/reward perspective.

The stock reminds me of the S&P 500 ($SPX) a little bit — struggling to get to new highs and losing a bit of momentum. A pullback to its 200-day moving average around $163 would be a natural retracement — a flag if you will — and a good entry point on any drawdown after positive news.

If any signs of strength emerge, look for shares to run into the $190s before stalling again.

The Bottom Line

We have three different stories unfolding:

  • ADBE’s stock needs to clear earnings hurdles and reclaim trust.
  • CHWY’s stock is on fire, but might need to cool down.
  • ORCL’s stock is rebuilding momentum, and has potential upside if cloud numbers impress.

Keep Reading
By
10 Mins Read

Panthers rout Oilers, take Stanley Cup Final lead: Game 3 highlights

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final was about as tight as it could get through the first two games.

Two overtime games for the first time since the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Teams within a goal of each other for all but 77 seconds. Four lead changes for just the second time in the past 42 seasons.

The defending champion Florida Panthers made sure there would be no repeat as they pulled away for a 6-1 rout of the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3. That gives Florida a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. Game 4 is Thursday, June 12, in Sunrise, Florida.

Brad Marchand scored 56 seconds into the game and the Panthers never gave up the lead. Sam Reinhart scored in the second period to make it 3-1 just 80 seconds after the Oilers got their first goal of the game.

‘Especially what both teams had been through in the first two (games), there is no lead at that point (after the Oilers goal),’ Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. ‘Sam’s goal was very important for us.’

The Oilers pulled goalie Stuart Skinner in the third period after he gave up five goals on 23 shots.

The Panthers’ power play, which had struggling at home at 3.6%, scored three times as the undisciplined Oilers gave them 11 opportunities. Sam Bennett scored his second home playoff goal to go with his record 12 goals on the road. He had two big hits before scoring on a 2-on-0 breakaway to make it 4-1.

‘He’s capable of that, to be a physical player, incredible speed and the hands to finish,’ Maurice said.

Referees began handing out misconducts in the third period as the game got out of hand.

‘I don’t think our best has shown up all series long, but it’s coming,’ said Oilers captain Connor McDavid, whose seven-game point streak came to an end. ‘Shift the focus to finding a way to get a win in Game 4.’

Highlights from Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers:

Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Final Game 3 highlights

Final score: Panthers 6, Oilers 1

Florida leads the series 2-1 after a dominant game. The plastic rats start flying on the ice.

Score update: Panthers 6, Oilers 1

Evan Rodrigues gets the Panthers’ third power-play goal of the game.

More misconducts

Evander Kane is gone as is Kasperi Kapanen.

Panthers, Oilers square off

Trent Frederic starts it by breaking his stick while cross-checking Sam Bennett. Jonah Gadjovich and Darnell Nurse get involved into an extended fight. Panthers get a power play out of this, but the Oilers kill it.

Oilers power play

Brad Marchand is called for hooking.

Panthers power play

Mattias Janmark goes off roughing. Oilers kill it off.

Stuart Skinner pulled

Calvin Pickard comes into the game after Skinner gave up five goals on 23 shots.

Score update: Panthers 5, Oilers 1

Sam Reinhart makes a great behind-the-back pass to Aaron Ekblad, who has a wide-open net. That’s two power-play goals for Florida.

Panthers power play

Stuart Skinner called for delay of game after putting the puck over the glass.

Third period underway

Stuart Skinner still in the Edmonton net. Oilers kill off the remaining Panthers power play.

End second: Panthers 4, Oilers 1

The Panthers build on their lead with goals by Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett following the Oilers’ opening goal by Corey Perry. Florida was physical in that period with Bennett delivers back-to-back before his goals and Aaron Ekblad knocks down Connor McDavid. Florida will have a power play to start the third period.

Panthers power play

Darnell Nurse cross-checks Anton Lundell. There will be a 1:16 carryover into the third period.

Jake Walman sprays water bottle at Panthers player

Oilers defenseman Jake Walman was caught on camera spraying his water bottle at the Panthers bench. Why? Before that, Florida’s A.J. Greer had ripped off Walman’s glove and dropped it into the bench. Fines coming?

Connor McDavid goes to dressing room but returns

He left after an Aaron Ekblad hit but is now back.

Score update: Panthers 4, Oilers 1

Oilers turn over the puck and Panthers get a 2-on-0 breakaway. Sam Bennett scores his 14th playoff goal. It’s his fourth goal of the series and just his second one at home during the playoffs. He had two big hits before the breakaway. Bennett, a pending unrestricted free agent, is helping his cause this summer.

Score update: Panthers 3, Oilers 1

Sam Reinhart scores 80 seconds after the Edmonton goal. Aleksander Barkov starts the play by checking John Klingberg. Carter Verhaeghe picks up the loose puck and feeds Reinhart. No assist for Barkov, who’s still scoreless in the final.

Score update: Panthers 2, Oilers 1

Edmonton scores on the power play as Corey Perry converts a rebound of a Mattias Ekholm shot.

Second period underway

Oilers starting the period with a power play.

End first: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

The penalties and the power plays piled up in that period. Florida’s Brad Marchand opened the scoring on a delayed penalty. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told TNT that the constant trips to the penalty box was a ‘recipe for disaster.’ He was right as Carter Verhaeghe scored to give the Panthers just their second home power-play goal of the playoffs. Shots were 12-10 Edmonton, which also led 11-5 in hits.

Things get feisty

Evan Bouchard cross-checks Anton Lundell, who punches the Oilers defenseman. A scrum breaks out. Lundell will be in the penalty box for roughing when the second period begins.

Score update: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

Paul Maurice puts out the second power-play unit out to start. Panthers move the puck quickly and Carter Verhaeghe scores. This is just the second two-goal lead of the Stanley Cup Final.

Panthers power play

Viktor Arvidsson knocks Sergei Bobrovsky into the net and is called for goaltender interference.

Oilers power play

Sam Bennett is called for high-sticking. And this one is killed, too.

Panthers power play/Oilers power play

This time, it’s too many men on the ice (seven players, actually) for Edmonton. Panthers are getting plenty of opportunity to work on their struggling home power play. Again, it comes up short as Aaron Ekblad is called for tripping. There will be 4-on-4. During the ensuing Edmonton power, Sergei Bobrovsky makes a glove save on Evan Bouchard.

Panthers power play

Evander Kane takes another penalty, this time for high-sticking. Edmonton kills that off, too.

Panthers power play

Evander Kane in the box. Panthers’ power play is clicking at only 3.6% at home during the playoffs. Oilers kill it off.

Oilers power play

Anton Lundell called for tripping. Edmonton is dangerous but can’t score. One shot goes off Sergei Bobrovsky’s mask. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins misses the net on a rebound opportunity. Power play ends early when Evander Kane is called for cross-checking.

Score update: Panthers 1, Oilers 0

Brad Marchand stays hot, scoring 56 seconds into the game on a delayed penalty. He had two goals in Game 2, including the double-overtime winner.

Game underway

Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov line vs. the Oilers’ Connor McDavid line. Edmonton outshoots Florida 2-0 with those lines out there.

When is Stanley Cup Final Game 3? Panthers vs. Oilers game time

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off Monday at 8 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3 on?

TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting.

Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling

How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3

  • Date: Monday, June 9
  • Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT, truTV
  • Streaming: Max, Sling TV

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins injury update

Not only is he playing, he’s in the starting lineup. His line, centered by Connor McDavid, will go against the Aleksander Barkov line.

Oilers lines

Of note, the Oilers appear to be going with their Game 2 defense pairings. They had switched up the pairings during their June 8 practice.

Panthers lines

Oilers roster update

The early roster report lists Edmonton’s Jeff Skinner as a scratch, which would indicate that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is playing. Skinner would have been his replacement.

Warmups underway

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on the ice, as coach Kris Knoblauch said he would be. He’s a game-time decision.

Goaltending matchup

Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (13-6, 2.21 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) vs. Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (7-5, 2.61, .901).

Edmonton Oilers’ leading scorers

The Oilers have four of the top five scorers in the series: Connor McDavid has a league-best 31 points, followed by Leon Draisaitl (29). Evan Bouchard (21) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18). Draisaitl has a team-high nine goals.

McDavid has five assists in the final and has three goals and 11 assists during a seven-game point streak.

Florida Panthers’ leading scorers

The Panthers have 11 players with double-digit points, led by Sam Bennett (19) and Brad Marchand, Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk (17 each). Bennett is the playoffs’ leading goal scorer with 13.

High-scoring series

The 16 goals through two games are tied with 2023 for the most of a final over the past 42 seasons.

But Panthers coach Paul Maurice said despite the high number of goals, the defense and goaltending have been strong.

‘Everything is contested all over the ice,’ Maurice said. ‘So … it’s more intense. What a wonderful thing to see in the final instead of the first round. These men are going that hard. It’s awesome.’

Oilers change up defense pairings

The Oilers changed their defense pairings during practice on June 8. Per NHL.com, Darnell Nurse moved up with Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm was with John Klingberg and Jake Walman was with Brett Kulak. For Game 2, their pairings were Bouchard-Ekholm, Nurse-Kulak and Walman-Klingberg.

Coach Kris Knoblauch didn’t make a big deal about the change.

‘Throughout Games 1 and 2, we had some changes and throughout the rest of the series, there will be some more,’ Knoblauch said.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins injury update

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed practice June 8 with an undisclosed injury but did take part in the optional skate on the morning of June 9. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch says he will be a game-time decision. ‘He’ll take warmup and we’ll decide from there,’ he said.

Jeff Skinner would return to the lineup if Nugent-Hopkins can’t go. He has a goal and an assist in two playoff games.

‘He’s been a true professional and when we’ve needed him, he’s been ready to play,’ Knoblauch said.

A.J. Greer injury update

He’ll return to the Panthers’ lineup in Game 3 and Jesper Boqvist will come out. Greer, who plays on the fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich, missed Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, was limited in Game 5 and missed the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.

2025 Stanley Cup Finals schedule

All times Eastern; (x–if necessary)

  • Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT) | Story
  • Game 2: Panthers 5, Oilers 4 (2OT) | Story
  • Game 3: Monday, June 9, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
  • Game 4: Thursday, June 12, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
  • Game 5: Saturday, June 14, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
  • x-Game 6: Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
  • x-Game 7: Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV

Stanley Cup Final Game 3 odds: Panthers vs. Oilers betting lines

All odds via BetMGM (as of Monday, June 9, 4 p.m. ET

  • Spread: Panthers (-1.5)
  • Moneyline: Panthers (-140); Oilers (+120)
  • Over/Under: 6.5

Odds to win 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final

  • Oilers -105
  • Panthers -115
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
By
2 Mins Read

Coco Gauff surprised by adversary’s comments at French Open

American tennis star Coco Gauff, 21, is fresh off her first French Open win, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals on Saturday, June 7. Gauff’s victory marked the first time in a decade that an American had won the French Open. However, Gauff’s moment of celebration was short-lived after Sabalenka made some shocking comments to the media following her loss.

‘I think she won the match not because she played incredible,’ said Sabalenka. ‘Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls.’

Although Sabalenka later retracted some of her comments, praising Gauff for how she ‘played with poise and purpose.’

The original comments had already been aired out, and Gauff was certainly taken aback by her statements.

Coco Gauff ‘surprised’ by Sabalenka comments

In response to Sabalenka’s comments, Gauff told ‘Good Morning America’ on Monday, ‘I was a little bit surprised about the comments and everything but I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure it was an emotional day, emotional match.’ Gauff continued, ‘I know she was probably a bit emotional after that match and it was a tough loss.’

Gauff went on to call Sabalenka a ‘fighter’ and ‘a tough opponent,’ noting that the windy conditions during the finals were very tough on both of them. That is something that Sabalenka noted as well, citing that Gauff ‘handled the conditions much better.’

Have Gauff and Sabalenka played before?

Heading into the French Open finals, Gauff and Sabalenka had a career match record of 5-5 against one another. Gauff has now pulled ahead at 6-5. Gauff is 2-1 against Sabalenka at Grand Slam finals.

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

Keep Reading
By
4 Mins Read

How many 4 seeds have made CWS? Murray State baseball becomes latest

The Racers, who fell in Game 1 of the Durham Super Regional to Duke on Saturday, June 7, rallied to win Games 2 and 3 on June 8 and June 9 respectively, to advance to the College World Series, becoming the fourth No. 4 seed to ever punch a ticket to Omaha.

Murray State won the Oxford Regional over No. 10 Ole Miss before taking on Duke, which won the Athens Regional vs. No. 7 Georgia.

Murray State (44-15) won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to reach the NCAA tournament and is entering the CWS with plenty of confidence. It now shifts its focus to No. 15 UCLA, which the Racers face in the opening round on Saturday, June 14.

Here’s a look at the other No. 4 seeds to reach the College World Series, and how they fared in the tournament:

No. 4 seeds to reach CWS

Murray State became the fourth No. 4 seed to ever reach the College World Series on June 9. No. 4 seeds were added to the NCAA tournament when the field expanded to 64 teams in 1999.

The Racers join Oral Roberts (2023), Stony Brook (2012) and Fresno State (2008) as No. 4 seeds to reach Omaha, Nebraska. Fresno State is the lone No. 4 seed to ever win the national championship.

Here’s a look at how each No. 4 seed fared at the CWS:

No. 4 seed records at CWS

Oral Roberts

Oral Roberts went 52-14 in 2023, winning the Summit League tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. It defeated Oklahoma State in the Stillwater Regional and Oregon in the Eugene Super Regional to reach the CWS.

The Golden Eagles won their opening game of the CWS against TCU, advancing to the winner’s bracket. However, Oral Roberts then dropped its next two games, falling to Florida and then TCU in a loser’s bracket grudge match.

Stony Brook

Stony Brook had quite the run in 2012, defeating Miami in the Coral Gables Regional before upsetting No. 7 LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional to reach the College World Series. Like Murray State, Stony Brook dropped Game 1 of the super regional series before winning back-to-back games to take the series.

The Seawolves ran out of gas in Omaha, however, falling to UCLA 9-1 in the first round before losing again to Florida State 12-2 in an elimination game.

Fresno State

Fresno State started the season ranked No. 21 in the preseason polls, but quickly didn’t live up to expectations before winning the WAC tournament to earn an NCAA tournament bid.

The Bulldogs faced adversity in the Long Beach Regional, reaching the winner’s bracket before losing to San Diego 15-1 in Game 1 of the regional final. Fresno State then won the if-necessary game of the regional 5-1 to advance.

Fresno State lost Game 1 of the Tempe Super Regional to Arizona State, before winning back-to-back games against the Sun Devils on the road to reach the CWS. It later took Fresno State three games to win the national championship series, as well, as the Bulldogs faced elimination four times in the NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs beat Rice 17-5 and North Carolina 5-3 to reach the semifinals, where they lost to North Carolina 4-3 before winning 6-1 to make the national championship series. They then lost Game 1 of the series 7-6 before beating Georgia 19-10 and 6-1 in back-to-back games to win their first and only national title in program history.

Murray State enters the College World Series having played three games facing elimination, including back-to-back super regional games against Duke. The Racers will try to duplicate Fresno State’s historic 2008 run in their first CWS appearance this season.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
By
4 Mins Read

NASCAR in-season challenge: What to know about series’ new tournament

Hamlin won the first of three key summer races with his victory in Michigan. It precedes a monumental milestone this weekend for NASCAR: the first international points-paying race since 1958. The Cup Series grid travels to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City for the Viva Mexico 250 on June 15.

The Cup races in Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono Raceway are crucial to NASCAR’s inaugural in-season challenge.

There haven’t been many significant changes to the structure of the Cup Series calendar since the implementation of the playoffs starting in 2004. While NASCAR first introducted a postseason in 2004 with playoffs that have undergone a few changes over the past two decades, this marks the first in-season competition with a tournament held over five races culminating in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.

It’s rare to have a new in-season event in the Cup Series. There’s a lot to know about it and we’ve got you covered:

What is the NASCAR in-season challenge?

It is a single-elimination tournament across five races, beginning with the June 28 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, that includes the top 32 drivers in the Cup Series championship standings following the June 1 race at Nashville Superspeedway.

Those 32 drivers will be up in a bracket and seeded by their best results from the Cup races at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono. Tiebreakers are the next-best finish from those three seeding races. Drivers advance by finishing higher than their opponent in the bracket.

Each of the five races will cut the field in half, similar to March Madness in college basketball. There will be 32 drivers in contention in the first race, then 16 for the second, eight for the third, four for the fourth and two drivers facing off for the win in the fifth and final race.

NASCAR in-season challenge contestants

The 32-driver field is set. Here’s who will be contending in NASCAR’s first in-season challenge (car number in parentheses):

  • (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
  • (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
  • (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
  • (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
  • (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
  • (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
  • (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
  • (22) Joey Logano, Ford
  • (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
  • (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
  • (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
  • (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
  • (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
  • (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
  • (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
  • (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
  • (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
  • (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
  • (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
  • (21) Josh Berry, Ford
  • (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
  • (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
  • (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
  • (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
  • (38) Zane Smith, Ford
  • (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
  • (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
  • (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
  • (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
  • (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
  • (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
  • (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

NASCAR in-season challenge prize

The winner of the inaugural in-season challenge will take home $1 million.

NASCAR in-season challenge races, schedule

The five races of NASCAR in-season challenge are:

  • June 28: Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
  • July 6: Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course
  • July 13: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway
  • July 20: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway
  • July 27: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

How to watch the NASCAR in-season challenge

TNT will be broadcasting all five of the in-season challenge races with a secondary broadcast on truTV focused on the specific bracket matchups. Here’s how to watch all of them:

Stream NASCAR in-season challenge races on Sling

Quaker State 400

  • Date: June 28, 2025
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia
  • TV: TNT, truTV
  • Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Grant Park 165

  • Date: July 6, 2025
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET
  • Location: Chicago Street Course in Chicago
  • TV: TNT, truTV
  • Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Toyota/Save Mart 350

  • Date: July 13, 2025
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California
  • TV: TNT, truTV
  • Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400

  • Date: July 20, 2025
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET
  • Location: Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware
  • TV: TNT, truTV
  • Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Brickyard 400

  • Date: July 27, 2025
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET
  • Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
  • TV: TNT, truTV
  • Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Keep Reading
By
2 Mins Read

Watch: A’s outfielder scales wall to rob a home run

It’s only June and we might have the catch of the year already after Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke pulled off an incredible home run robbery.

The Athletics are in Anaheim playing the Los Angeles Angels, and in the bottom of the first inning of Monday’s contest, Nolan Schanuel took Grant Holman’s splitter deep to center field. It looked like it was going to go over the wall to give the Angels an early 1-0 lead.

Instead, Clarke scaled the wall, reached over and caught the ball in one of the best catches one could make. Clarke got so high he almost went over the wall, but he was hyped as he landed back in the field of play. Mostly everyone, especially Holman, in the stadium couldn’t believe what they saw.

It was an impressive catch for a ball that went 398 feet to center field.

Monday was just Clarke’s 16th game in the big leagues after he was called up in May. Taken in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Cal State Northridge, Clarke entered the night with a .224 batting average with one home run and three RBI, but he already has an all-time highlight play in his career.

It may just be something Clarke does as this isn’t the first time he’s robbed a homer. On May 30 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Clarke robbed Alejandro Kirk from a home run as he scaled the wall to catch the ball back in his home country.

The catch against the Angels come three days after he had another incredible snag against the Baltimore Orioles, as he turned on the jets and hauled in the ball before hitting the wall to steal a hit away from Jorge Mateo.

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

Keep Reading
By
4 Mins Read

China Eases Rare Earths Grip, Grants US, EU Auto Giants Fast Track Licenses

China has moved to ease its export chokehold on rare earths, with its Ministry of Commerce announcing over the weekend that it will establish a “green channel” to fast track rare earths export licenses to select EU firms.

The announcement follows high-level trade talks in Paris between Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commission Vice President and Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, CNBC reported.

A ministry spokesperson stated that China hopes the EU will take “reciprocal steps” to promote “compliant trade of high-tech products with China.” The diplomatic overture also extends to US firms.

According to Reuters, China has quietly granted export licenses to suppliers working with American auto giants General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F) and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) — manufacturer of Jeep, Dodge, Fiat and Peugeot.

The rare earth sreprieve could not come soon enough for the auto industry. Following China’s April imposition of export restrictions on several critical rare earth elements — used in everything from electric motors to fuel injectors — industry groups warned that stockpiles were dwindling rapidly, with risks of assembly line stoppages looming.

Jonathan O’Riordan, international trade director at the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), told CNBC on Monday (June 9), “We’re gradually coming into a very, very critical moment whereby those stocks are now being exhausted, and we are potentially going to see production stoppages.” The ACEA had expressed alarm over licensing delays, saying applications had been taking a “significant” amount of time to process since the April restrictions came into force.

The European Association of Automotive Suppliers echoed the same concerns last week, reporting that several plants had already shut down due to Beijing’s export controls, with more disruptions anticipated in the coming weeks.

A global leverage game

The backdrop to this rare earths standoff is China’s overwhelming dominance in the critical minerals supply chain.

The country produces roughly 60 percent of the world’s rare earth elements and accounts for about 70 percent of US rare earths imports. These minerals — used in smartphones, wind turbines, and even military fighter jets — are increasingly seen as geopolitical assets in the global transition to clean energy and high-tech manufacturing.

The leverage is already being felt in the numbers. According to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs, the value of rare earths exports in May plummeted 48.3 percent year-on-year to US$18.7 million.

Export volumes fell to 5,864.6 metric tons, down 5.67 percent compared to the same month last year.

That decline ended three consecutive months of year-on-year growth and showed the real-world effects of China’s tightening export controls, which have remained in place even after Beijing agreed during talks with Washington last month to “suspend or remove” non-tariff countermeasures imposed since April 2.

Still, total rare earths exports for the first five months of 2025 were up 2.3 percent compared to the same period last year, suggesting that while value has plummeted, some shipments are still getting through under stricter oversight.

The Ministry of Commerce reiterated that it has approved export applications for qualified entities and expressed willingness to “communicate over export controls with relevant countries to facilitate compliant trade,” hinting at a more conciliatory approach ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations.

Supply diversification still key

Despite the temporary relief, western automakers and their governments face a more fundamental challenge: diversifying away from China’s stranglehold on rare earths. Europe in particular has recognized the urgency. EU policymakers have pushed to accelerate domestic mining projects and build up strategic reserves.

But such efforts are years away from producing material results, leaving automakers vulnerable in the short term.

With that in mind, industry leaders are warning that without rapid progress on alternative supply chains, future geopolitical shocks could cause even greater disruption.

For now, China’s “green channel” offers a pause — but not a solution.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
By