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For the first time this season, LeBron James practiced in full with the Los Angeles Lakers, and for the first time this season, he was upgraded to questionable on the injury report.

And for the first time, James also didn’t report any setbacks from the sciatica nerve issue he has been dealing with on his right side that forced him to miss training camp and the first 14 games of the Lakers’ season.

“As expected,” James told reporters Monday, Nov. 17 after the practice session. “My lungs felt like a newborn baby. I gotta get my lungs back to a grown man and my voice is already gone. One day back and barking out calls and assignments and stuff – getting my voice working again. It will be a lot of tea and rest tonight. It feels good, feels good to be out here with the guys.”

James’ full participation in Monday’s practice points toward a return to the court soon, possibly as early as Los Angeles’ next game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, against the Utah Jazz.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said James was still “TBD” for that game, which will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, but the questionable designation is indication that his season debut could be iminent.

If James is unable to play then, the Lakers will then have an extended, five-day break, with their following game coming Sunday, Nov. 23 on the road, also against the Jazz. The final determination on his availability, seemingly, will come down to his response to Monday’s practice.

“We’ve been taking literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process,” James said. “We’ll see how I feel this afternoon, we’ll see how I feel tonight, when I wake up in the morning – we’ll probably have shootaround, so we’ve just got to see how the body responds over the next 24 hours-plus.”

Though this was the first Lakers practice with James, he did spend most of last week in the Los Angeles area training with the South Bay Lakers, the franchise’s G League affiliate. The Lakers had been on a five-game road trip that concluded Saturday, Nov. 15 in Milwaukee.

James called it “a blessing” that the South Bay Lakers were able to accommodate him in their practices, allowing him to run through full five-on-five action.

James described the monotony of his rehab, as he’s looking to set a new NBA record, becoming the first player in league history to play 23 seasons, breaking the tie he currently holds with Hall of Fame guard Vince Carter.

This season marked the first time in James’ career that he failed to play in a season opener for any reason at all.

“It sucked,” James said. “It definitely sucked. Never in my life since I’ve been playing the game of basketball have I ever not started a season. It has been a mind test, but I’m built for it. Putting in the work, both mentally and physically, and just trying to get myself ready to rejoin the team.”

The Lakers had done fairly well without James, going 10-4 and currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference. Luka Dončić has carried Los Angeles and leads the NBA in scoring with 34.4 points per game, but players like Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton have also stepped up.

Whenever James does make his return, the Lakers may need to adjust slightly to incorporate him into their offense. Still, he has been one of the premier play makers of his generation, and is a player who excels in creating opportunities for others.

The biggest hurdle may be that James does best with the ball in his hands – whether in transition or driving and kicking out to teammates – and Dončić is also a ball-dominant player.

“For me, it’s just about finding ways where I can fit in organically,” James said. “Right off the top, I know ways I can help this team right away when I am put back in the lineup.

“I’m a ball player. Best thing about me and the way I built my game my whole life, I’ve never had a position. (Heat coach Erik Spoelstra) used to say: ‘positionless basketball, be positionless.’ There’s not one team, one club in the world where I can’t fit in and play. I can do everything on the floor.”

James also revealed that this is not the first time he has dealt with a sciatica issue and added that he’s not fully pain free despite his participation in practice, but that he’s undertaking exercises to manage the issue.

“I had it two years ago,” he said. “If you’ve had it, then you know what the hell it’s about. If you ain’t ever had it and people making jokes about it, I pray you never get it. It is not fun.”

By time of publication, the Lakers had not submitted an injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Jazz, though they are required to do so by Monday evening.

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2 Mins Read

East Star and Endeavour Mining to Collaborate on Kazakhstan Gold Assets

East Star Resources (LSE:EST) and Endeavour Exploration announced they have entered into a binding earn-in and joint venture (JV) agreement to advance gold exploration in Kazakhstan.

Endeavour Exploration, a subsidiary of top gold producer Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV,TSX:EDV,OTCQX:EDVMF), will have the right to earn up to an 80 percent interest in a new JV company via staged investments.

Stage 1 includes a US$5 million payment within two years, equivalent to a 51 percent interest. If an additional US$20 million is given over three years, its interest will increase to 70 percent.

The last 10 percent will be given to Endeavour if it funds and completes a prefeasibility study.

During the initial phase, East Star will act as manager of the JV.

The area of interest for the partnership includes two proven, underexplored mineral belts.

‘This agreement with Endeavour is a transformational milestone for East Star that validates the quality of our exploration programme and provides a clear pathway to unlock the full potential of our gold exploration strategy,” said East Star Resources CEO Alex Walker in a November 13 press release.

While the JV will focus on gold, East Star is also pursuing copper in Kazakhstan.

Its assets include a volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit with a JORC-compliant resource estimate of 20.3 million metric tons at 1.16 percent copper, 1.54 percent zinc and 0.27 percent lead.

An investor webcast is scheduled for Tuesday (November 18) to discuss the terms of the JV.

Both parties will fund the JV company in proportion to their ownership share after the earn-in period.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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3 Mins Read

Living Plants Offer New Path to Rare Earths Supply, Study Shows

Researchers have documented the first known recovery of naturally formed nanoscale monazite from a living plant, potentially opening up new paths to recover in-demand rare earth materials.

The study, published this month in Environmental Science & Technology, identifies nanoscale monazite crystals inside Blechnum orientale, an evergreen fern known to accumulate rare earths at unusually high concentrations.

The work was carried out by researchers at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with a geoscientist at Virginia Tech in the US.

In the paper, the authors write that the discovery “opens new possibilities for the direct recovery of functional rare earth element (REE) materials,” adding, “To our knowledge, this is the earliest reported occurrence of rare earth elements crystallising into a mineral phase within a hyperaccumulator.”

The method, known as phytomining, relies on certain plants that naturally pull unusual amounts of metals from the ground. In this case, the fern absorbed rare earths so efficiently that tiny mineral crystals formed inside its tissues.

The mineral identified — monazite — is normally created deep underground under intense heat and pressure.

The team’s analysis shows that the fern somehow produced nanoscale versions of it under normal surface conditions, with the highest concentrations found in its leaflets and roots. In this state, the plant appears to lock the metals outside its cells as a way of protecting itself, with the process enabling the mineral to crystallize.

Monazite is prized for uses ranging from lasers to electronics to materials that withstand high heat and radiation, so finding it naturally produced inside a plant could open up a new, lower-impact source of rare earths.

REEs take priority in global supply race

REEs, a group of metals used in permanent magnets, lasers, consumer electronics and advanced defense systems, are receiving renewed international scrutiny as governments race to reduce dependence on concentrated supply chains.

Earlier this month, the US Department of the Interior published its final 2025 list of critical minerals, naming 60 minerals deemed vital to the American economy and exposed to supply risk.

The list emphasizes the importance of rare earths, which the US imports heavily, and highlights neodymium, scandium and dysprosium as metals where supply disruptions would impose the “highest cost” on the US economy.

Washington has moved in parallel to strengthen access to rare earths through domestic production, expanded mapping of US deposits and agreements with partners in Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.

In addition to these efforts, US officials continue to signal confidence that Beijing will adhere to commitments under a rare earths framework outlined last month.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a recent interview that a deal with China will “hopefully” be done by Thanksgiving, while also rejecting a report suggesting that Beijing is planning new restrictions on US companies.

Are plants a viable source of rare earths?

The use of ferns for mineral extraction remains at an early stage, and the researchers emphasize that phytomining is not a replacement for conventional production.

But finding mineralized rare earths in a living organism offers a proof of concept that could broaden how countries approach resource development at a time when REEs remain strategically critical for major economies.

As the US, China and other nations look for secure supply routes, the possibility that plants themselves may contribute to the pipeline adds a new dimension to a field dominated by mining companies.

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

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2 Mins Read

Graphite One Confirms Rare Earth Elements at Alaska Deposit

Graphite One (TSXV:GPH,OTCQX:GPHOF) announced on November 13 that it has identified rare earth elements (REEs) at its Graphite Creek deposit, located north of Nome, Alaska.

“The presence of two Defense Production Act Title III materials — graphite and REEs — in a single deposit further underscores Graphite Creek’s position as a truly generational deposit,” said President Anthony Houston.

“Given the robust economics of our planned complete graphite materials supply chain, the presence of Rare Earths at Graphite Creek suggests that recovery as a by-product to our graphite production will maximize the value.”

Geochemical analysis of drillcore samples reveals elevated levels of heavy rare earths and all five principal permanent magnet REEs: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and samarium.

Testwork is ongoing at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory, and at Activation Laboratories. Graphite One is also collaborating with a US Department of Energy national lab on REE extraction.

REEs are essential to modern technologies, from permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles, to high-performance fiber optics, lasers and defense systems.

China, which dominates global production of both magnet REEs and graphite, imposed export limits last year and has continued to expand these restrictions in 2025.

Graphite One is advancing a US-based graphite supply chain, including transport from Nome to an advanced graphite and battery materials plant in Warren, Ohio, with a co-located recycling facility to reclaim graphite and other materials.

Graphite Creek has received support through a US$37.5 million Defense Production Act Title III grant, as well as non-binding letters of interest totaling US$895 million from EXIM Bank.

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

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2 Mins Read

Rio Tinto and Calix to Partner on Zero Emissions Steel Technology Plant

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) said on Monday (November 17) that it has signed a joint development agreement with environmental technology company Calix (NYSE:CALX,ASX:CXL) to develop Calix’s Zero Emissions Steel Technology (Zesty) green iron demonstration plant in Western Australia.

If approved, the plant will be built at a site in Kwinana, south of Perth, that was previously earmarked for Rio Tinto’s BioIron research and development facility and associated pilot plant.

Under the deal with Calix, Rio Tinto will invest more than AU$35 million, pending project milestones. Funding from the mining giant will include both in-kind and financial contributions.

The plant received AU$44.9 million in Australian Renewable Energy Agency support in July.

Rio Tinto’s work will include helping Calix reach a final investment decision through technical support, engineering services and advocacy. Subject to a final investment decision and successful project construction, Rio Tinto will provide up to 10,000 tonnes of various Pilbara iron ores for plant commissioning and the initial testing phase.

The miner will also provide introductions to potential customers for downstream use of the Zesty product.

“The world needs low-emissions steel if it is going to decarbonise, and we continue to look at a range of ways Pilbara iron ores can help to do this as new technologies emerge,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Matthew Holcz.

He added that Rio Tinto will keep progressing BioIron with its partners, the University of Nottingham and Metso. However, the company has decided that the current furnace design requires additional development.

“Both projects are part of our work to reduce emissions and support the future of iron ore in Australia and the communities that depend on it,’ Holcz added, referring to Zesty and BioIron.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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4 Mins Read

Longtime Walmart CEO to step down in January

Walmart announced Friday that longtime CEO Doug McMillon will retire at the end of January — which came as a surprise to some given the company’s success in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

John Furner, Walmart’s U.S. CEO, will assume the role of overall CEO on Feb. 1, the company said. McMillon will continue to serve in an executive and advisory role through January 2027. Furner, 51, began his career at Walmart as an hourly associate.

McMillon, 59, has held the top job since 2014 and is only the fifth person to lead the storied company in its 63-year history.

McMillon has overseen a radical transformation of Walmart’s image in a little over a decade.

In 2014, Walmart had a reputation as a budget retail option and was accused of underpaying its associates. Today, it draws more well-to-do shoppers and has earned credit for adopting innovative personnel policies.

McMillon also built up Walmart’s e-commerce operation into the country’s second-largest, behind only Amazon. Over the course of McMillon’s tenure, the value of Walmart’s shares has increased some 300%.

“Serving as Walmart’s CEO has been a great honor and I’m thankful to our Board and the Walton family for the opportunity,” McMillon said in a statement. “I’ve worked with John for more than 20 years. … He’s uniquely capable of leading the company through this next AI-driven transformation.”

America’s retail landscape continues to rapidly evolve, as consumer spending habits increasingly bifurcate between wealthier households and everyone else.

However, Walmart’s quarterly results have held steady — and the company has been justly rewarded by investors. Just this year, Walmart shares have climbed around 13%. Over the course of McMillon’s tenure, the retailer’s stock price is up some 300%.

On Walmart’s most recent earnings call in August, McMillon indicated the company has been able to withstand the broader pressures facing consumers. Its shoppers’ “behavior has been generally consistent,” he said. “We aren’t seeing dramatic shifts.”

Other retailers have not been so fortunate.

Target’s shares have lost about one-third of their value this year, as the chain works to regain its footing in a more value-conscious environment. In August, longtime CEO Brian Cornell announced plans to step down.

Amazon, meanwhile, has fared slightly better as consumers continue to prioritize the convenience of online shopping. But it recently announced thousands of layoffs affecting corporate employees. Amazon’s share price has climbed about 8% this year.

McMillon has also steered Walmart through a volatile period in U.S. politics, during which elected officials have engaged directly with companies and consumers have proven willing to boycott corporate giants over social issues.

Walmart found itself in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs in May, after it signaled plans to increase some prices in response to his tariffs.

“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!”

While subsequent reports indicated that Walmart had indeed increased prices on some items, McMillon said in August that the changes were gradual enough that consumer habits shifted only modestly.

Six months after Trump singled Walmart out over tariffs, he did so again — but for a very different reason.

In recent weeks, the Trump White House has repeatedly touted Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving menu package — which costs less overall than the retailer’s similar menu did last year — as a sign that the president’s economic policies have helped drive down grocery prices for consumers.

But there is a flaw in that rationale. This year’s Walmart Thanksgiving menu contains fewer items than last year’s menu did.

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2 Mins Read

What happened to Aaron Rodgers? Latest injury update on Steelers QB

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to earn a resounding 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. They did so despite being without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the second half of Sunday’s game.

Rodgers suffered an apparent injury to his left wrist at the end of the half. The 41-year-old was seen flexing his non-throwing hand and cradling it after taking a hit from a Bengals defender, but he remained in the game.

Rodgers was seen warming up ahead of the second half. At that time, he had been deemed ‘questionable’ to return.

Mike Tomlin said the following when asked about the quarterback’s second-half availability.

‘We’re hopeful but we better get Mason Rudolph ready to go,’ Tomlin said.

Here’s what Tomlin said about Rodgers’ injury and when fans might know more about the veteran’s status moving forward.

What happened to Aaron Rodgers?

The good news? NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report the belief is the injury ‘is nothing long term’ despite in-stadium X-rays showing a small fracture.

The NFL insider reports come after Tomlin confirmed during his postgame news conference that Rodgers had suffered an injury to his left wrist. The 53-year-old coach did not provide an update on the severity of Rodgers’ injury.

‘He’ll be evaluated in the morning,’ Tomlin told reporters. ‘I’ll give you guys more information there.’

Tomlin was not asked during his availability what the team would do if Rodgers were out long-term. However, he praised backup quarterback Mason Rudolph for his performance in relief of Rodgers.

‘Mason’s proven in the past what he showed today,’ Tomlin said. ‘That’s why we value him as a member of this collective. Appreciative of his play.’

Rudolph completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. His numbers were similar to those of Rodgers, who completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and one score.

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3 Mins Read

LeBron expected to practice with Lakers on Monday as he nears season debut

LeBron James is expected to practice with the Los Angeles Lakers Monday, Nov. 17 after the team returns home from a five-game road trip, according to multiple reports.

The 40-year-old star did not travel with the team during the recent road trip.

James has yet to make his season debut due to sciatica, but when he returns for his first game, the four-time MVP will become the first player to play in 23 NBA seasons, breaking the tie he currently holds with Hall of Fame guard Vince Carter.

James’ official status is expected to be announced on Monday’s injury report after he practices with the team. It may also indicate if he is ready to play as early as Tuesday, Nov. 18 when the Lakers host the Utah Jazz.

The 21-time All-Star took a positive step forward over the weekend, working out with the Lakers’ G-League affiliate.The South Bay Lakers play against the Rip City Remix on Sunday, Nov. 16, but James is not expected to play. He began practicing with them on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and did not experience any residual effects from that workout when he returned for another workout on Thursday.

It was the first time James had participated in an NBA-organized 5-on-5 situation since the first round of the 2024-25 playoffs in April.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a pain caused by some level of irritation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The sciatic nerve is located in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg. It begins from the lower part of the spinal cord and extends through the buttocks, back of the thigh and down to the foot.

As a result, the area of pain can range anywhere along the back of the leg.

What does this sciatica injury mean for LeBron James?

James has been one of the more dependable and available players, despite his age.

Still, he will turn 41 in late December and will likely need to manage his usage and body as the season progresses. Known for being a player who is exacting and meticulous about his body and his health, James will likely ensure he is fully healthy before making his return to the court. The Lakers are willing to give him the time and space to make sure that happens.

James has maintained that he wants to compete for NBA championships, so the nerve issue should not be a significant concern, provided the rest and recovery heal the injury. Given the length of the NBA regular season and playoffs, some missed time is to be expected for a player James’ age.

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4 Mins Read

US speed skaters bring in medal haul at World Cup after Stolz sets tone

The men’s team pursuit set a new world record, while the women’s team pursuit won bronze on the final day of the World Cup speed skating event at the Utah Olympic Oval.
Mia Manganello won gold in the women’s mass start, and Erin Jackson took silver in the 500 meters.
Jordan Stolz won three gold medals earlier in the weekend but did not medal on the final day.

KEARNS, Utah — Jordan Stolz isn’t the only American speed skater who will be a medals threat at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Though Stolz was kept off the World Cup podium Sunday – missing a medal in the second 500 meters by a mere 0.01 seconds – his U.S. teammates collected plenty of hardware.

Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran won the men’s team pursuit with a world-record time. Brittany Bowe, Mia Manganello and Greta Myers won bronze in the women’s team pursuit. Manganello then won gold in the women’s mass start.

Erin Jackson won a second silver medal in the women’s 500 meters, and her time of 36.57 seconds Sunday was a personal best.

This after Stolz won the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters the first two days of the World Cup, flirting with world records in both the 1,000 and the 1,500.

“It’s a really good start,” Jackson said. “I think we still have a lot more to show as well. We have a lot of deep talent in our team, and I think it’s going to be a good season for us.”

Do not read anything into the fact Stolz missed the podium Sunday, finishing fourth in the 500 and 15th in the mass start, which he raced for the first time at a World Cup since 2021. Olympic gold medals are not won, or lost, at the first World Cup of the season.

Rather, this weekend was a good way to gauge where you are. Where your competition is. What’s working. What needs tweaking.

“I was a little tired today from the previous races, but I think I’m in a good spot right now,” Stolz said Sunday night. “And as I get stronger, it’s going to get even better.”

Stolz leaves with three wins, a personal best and a lot of data points that will help him be even better at the Milano Cortina Olympics in February.

He also put himself in good position to lock a spot on the U.S. team ahead of the Olympic trials, needing only a top-five finish in either the 500, 1,000 or 1,500 meters at one of the next three World Cups. The next World Cup is next weekend in Calgary, Alberta.

Though Stolz was fourth in the 500, he skated faster than he had in Saturday’s race, which he won.

“I felt like I skated a better race today. I just didn’t have the power in the legs after all the races,” Stolz said.

But that is not an indication of … anything, coming at the end of a weekend in which he raced five times and his top competitors all having the races of their lives. Stolz’s performances over the first two days reinforced his status as the favorite in all three of the distances.

“He skated really well, won three races, so we know we’re in the right place and can’t worry about anything else,” Bob Corby, Stolz’s coach, said. “Just got to go back training again and try to play the balance of training and resting from now until Olympic trials and the Games.

“When it came up No. 4 (in the 500), I was like, `Oh! OK. Well, it’s OK.’ If it was four yesterday and four today, it would’ve been a little concerning,” Corby added. “But it was OK.”

Stolz also got a refresher on the mass start, which he hopes to race in Milan. His 15th-place finish keeps him in the ‘A’ race and, more importantly, gives him valuable intel of the competition for the next time he races it.

“I didn’t really have a strategy because it was the first one and I wanted to see what everybody else was doing,” Stolz said. “I’ll have to keep working on it and figure out which each guy does in the race.”

It’s one World Cup, and there are still 2½ months until Milan. But Stolz and the Americans are off to a strong start.

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5 Mins Read

Skate America takeaways: US stars Alysa Liu, Chock and Bates win big

LAKE PLACID, NY — It was as if Alysa Liu couldn’t believe it.

As her free skate ended and the crowd rose to their feet, the 20-year-old figure skater threw her hands on her head. She needed a big day on Sunday, Nov. 16 to win first place at 2025 Skate America, and she felt like she didn’t perform as well as she could’ve.

‘In my opinion, I did not skate that good,’ Liu said. ‘That’s why I was just like ‘ah, silly mistake.”

Despite how she felt her program went, the day ended with the hardware around her neck matching the color of her dress: gold.

Liu delivered a powerful free skate to win Skate America for the first time in her career, and continue her stellar run as she heads toward returning to the Winter Olympics.

Liu delivered an emotional short program on Saturday, Nov. 16, letting the tears come down as the crowd serenaded her with a standing ovation. She considered herself “lucky to be able to cry over something,’ she said.

For as good as the performance was, Liu knew there were a couple of mistakes that likely left some points off her scoresheet. It showed with a second-place finish, less than a point behind Rinka Watanabe of Japan.

As the second-to-last skater inside the famed Herb Brooks Arena, Liu crushed her ‘MacArthur Park Suite” program, nailing her moves despite not feeling like performed her best. She earned a score of 140.54, a season-best for the one-time Olympian that set herself up for a chance at the top of the podium.

‘My body just moves with the music,’ Liu said of this free skate, which she brought back after using last season. ‘When I when I was like, oh, maybe I’ll go back to this program. I was like, no yeah, go back to this program. I love this program. It’s a great program.’

Watanabe was the final skater, and even though she had an early stumble, she was still strong with her triple axels. It looked like she had a good shot at first, but she received a 136.61, putting her total more than three points behind Liu.

It’s been quite the year for Liu. She won the world championship in March and finished second at the Cup of China less than a month ago. Now with the win at Skate America, she has her first Grand Prix win of her career, which will send her to the Grand Prix finals in December.

The strong year gives hope that Liu can be the American star should she qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. The United States haven’t had a woman win a medal in the single’s event since Sasha Cohen in 2006, the longest drought the Americans have gone without taking home a medal.

Now after a strong showing in Lake Placid, New York, Liu continues her triumphant march toward a promising showing for what could be her second Olympic appearance − and she vows to be better than Skate America, hinting that she will be using her Lady Gaga medley in the future.

‘One good thing about making so many mistakes in a program is that I’m so motivated to not make any more mistakes in my next program,’ she said. ‘I’m excited to be able to showcase more.’

Madison Chock, Evan Bates cruise toward tying history

It was practically decided before Sunday, but the decorated American duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates cemented another accolade with a dominant first-place finish in the ice dance, cementing a big day for the Americans.

The pair, now in their second season as a married duo, stormed out of the gates in the rhythm dance on Saturday, delivering a rocking Lenny Kravitz medley that was executed to a tee. They earned a 84.77, more than seven points than second place, a comfortable margin to be heading into the free dance with.

A clean skate would be more than enough to ensure another first place finish, and there were no mistakes when Chock and Bates performed their intense paso doble in the free dance to remind everyone why they are the class of the ice dance. Chock took on the spirit of a matador, using her skirt as a cape while Bates matched the energy.

It earned them a score of 127.81, the second straight day they registered the best score of the event. In the final standings, Chock and Bates had 212.58 points, more than 15 points than second place finishers Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha of Canada.

With the win, Chock and Bates have won Skate America for the fifth time, tying the ice dance record in the event set by Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto. It’s also their third time winning Skate America in the past four years.

It’s been a year full of winning for the duo, just having won the Cup of China three weeks ago. The first win of the 2025-26 season came after they won the world championship for the third-straight year. They now head to the Grand Prix finals, where they will try to win the event for another three-peat.

The Skate America champions are positioning themselves well for a return to the Olympics, which can be official at the U.S. championships in January, an event they have won for the past four years.

A trip to the 2026 Winter Games would be their fourth appearance, with the hope of winning a medal in ice dance for the first time in their career.

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