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Ha-Seong Kim and the Atlanta Braves each got what they wanted: Kim received an extra $4 million after turning down his 2026 player option, and the Braves get Kim back to play shortstop.

Kim and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $20 million contract Dec. 16, reuniting after Kim played well enough in a one-month audition in Atlanta that he felt confident enough to opt out of a $16 million guarantee.

The Braves clearly wanted to retain him, even if they got just a 24-game glance at Kim in September, a period in which he hit five home runs and offered the promise of production at shortstop that’s been missing since Dansby Swanson signed with the Chicago Cubs after the 2022 season.

Kim, 30, was a versatile and valuable infielder for the Padres, notching a career high in home runs (17), WAR (5.3) and on-base percentage (.351) in 2023. But a shoulder injury dampened his outlook for free agency a year ago and the Tampa Bay Rays signed him to a one-year deal with a player option.

But Kim managed to play in just 24 games for the Rays and after they placed him on waivers — wary of being on the hook for the $16 million 2026 option — the Braves pounced.

His reacquisition continues a busy winter for the Braves, who signed All-Star reliever Robert Suarez and re-upped closer Raisel Iglesias, and added outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million deal.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

2 Mins Read

Rare Earths Oxide Produced from Halleck Creek Ore-Major Technical Breakthrough

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (“ARR” or the “Company”) has successfully completed another critical stage in its mineral processing program by producing a mixed rare earths oxide (“MREO”) using the updated preliminary PFS mineral processing flowsheet.

Highlights

Rare earth oxides were produced from Halleck Creek ore using the updated preliminary Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”) mineral processing flowsheet¹
A Mixed Rare Earth Oxalate and Mixed Rare Earth Oxide was created from purified leachate solution using the material from the impurity removal testing²
This is the most significant technical milestone achieved for the Project to date

MREO from Halleck Creek (“the Project”) was produced using the material – a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”) – from the impurity removal testing campaign³. This was achieved through precipitating a mixed rare earth oxalate and then creating MREO powder (see Figure 1). This major technical milestone confirms that rare earths can be extracted into metallic oxides from Halleck Creek ore using the updated preliminary PFS mineral processing flowsheet currently being finalized for the upcoming PFS. Solvent extraction computer simulation is now underway, using the results of these tests.

SGS in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada created the MREO from the Halleck Creek PLS through a two- step process. The first step consists of precipitating the metals in solution using oxalic acid to create a mixed rare earth oxalate. Oxalic acid is highly selective in precipitating rare earth elements (“REE”) from PLS while other elements stay in solution. SGS performed three precipitation tests using variable oxalic acid addition rates. The second step, called calcining, involved SGS heating the combined mixed rare earth oxalates to 1,000oC to oxidize the material into a MREO. A beneficial effect of calcining is that it oxidizes the cerium, converting it from Ce³+ to Ce⁴+. Ce⁴+ is not soluble in the reagent which will be used to dissolve REEs from the MREO for solvent extraction.

Click here for the full ASX Release

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8 Mins Read

LaFleur Minerals Announces LIFE and Flow-Through Unit Offerings

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) (‘LaFleur Minerals’ or the ‘Company’ or ‘Issuer’) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 units of the Company (the ‘Units’) at a price of $0.50 per Unit gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the ‘LIFE Offering’). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a ‘Common Share’) and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a ‘Warrant’) granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional Common Share of the Company (a ‘Warrant Share’) at a price of $0.75 at any time on or before 24 months from the Closing Date (defined below). The Warrants will be subject to an accelerated expiry upon thirty (30) business days’ notice from the Company in the event the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE’) is equal to or above a price of $0.90 for fourteen (14) consecutive trading days any time after closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds from the LIFE Offering will be used for the commissioning and restart of gold production operations at the Company’s wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mine and Mill, as well as work at the Company’s Swanson Gold Project in Quebec and for and general working capital purposes.

The Units will be offered for sale pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, to purchasers resident in Canada, excluding Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions.

The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document (the ‘Offering Document‘) related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Issuer’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company’s website at www.lafleurminerals.com. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision.

Flow-Through (FT) Offering

The Company also intends to offer up to 2,500,000 flow-through units of the Company (the ‘FT Units‘) at a price of $0.60 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the ‘FT Offering‘). Each FT Unit will consist of one (1) Common Share to be issued as a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Québec) (each, a ‘FT Share‘) and one (1) Warrant which shall have the same terms as the Warrants included in the Units to be issued in the LIFE Offering.

The gross proceeds from the issuance and sale of the FT Units will be used on the Company’s Swanson Gold Project to incur ‘Canadian Exploration Expenses’ as such term is defined under subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as ‘flow-through mining expenditures’ as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or would so qualify if the references to ‘before 2026’ in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘flow-through mining expenditure’ in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act were read as ‘before 2027’ and the references in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that definition to ‘before April 2025’ were read as ‘before April 2026’). The qualifying expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2026, and will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares.

All securities issued in connection with the FT Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company has also agreed to pay qualified finders and brokers a cash commission of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the LIFE Offering and FT Offering and such number of broker warrants (the ‘Broker Warrants‘) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of Units sold under the LIFE Offering and FT Offering. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

The closing of the LIFE Offering and FT Offering is expected to occur on or about December 31, 2025 (the ‘Closing Date‘), or such other earlier or later date as the Company may determine.

The Company continues to progress in the closing of its previously announced brokered private placement of gold-linked convertible notes, as announced on November 5, 2025, a financing that aims to raise up to C$7 million to fund the restart of the company’s Beacon Gold Mill in Val d’Or, Quebec.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. ‘United States’ and ‘U.S. person’ are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km²) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Mineral’s fully refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF LaFleur Minerals INC.

Paul Ténière, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer
E: info@lafleurminerals.com

LaFleur Minerals Inc.
1500-1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4N7

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the closing of the LIFE Offering and the FT Offering, and the anticipated use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the FT Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278189

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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7 Mins Read

Silver Price Forecast: Top Trends for Silver in 2026

The silver price reached heights not seen in more than 40 years in 2025, posting new all-time highs in the fourth quarter amid a supply deficit, expanding industrial use and rising safe-haven demand.

The white metal reached its highest point for the year in mid-December, breaking through US$64 per ounce following an interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve. With investors looking for non-interest bearing assets in which to store and grow their wealth, the world’s metals exchanges are having a hard time keeping their silver inventories stocked.

What will 2026 hold for silver? As the new year approaches, investors are closely watching how changes in monetary policy and global uncertainty could impact the precious metal, along with supply and demand trends in the space.

Here’s what experts see coming for silver in 2026.

Silver’s persistent structural supply deficit

In its ‘2025/2026 Precious Metals Investment’ report, Metal Focus forecasts a fifth straight year of a silver supply deficit for 2025, coming in at 63.4 million ounces. And while that figure is expected to retract to 30.5 million ounces in 2026, the firm is confident that the deficit will continue to be a factor for silver this coming year.

Essentially, silver is in an entrenched structural deficit tied to a multi-year mine supply shortfall that can’t keep up with both rising industrial use and strong investment demand. Aboveground silver stocks are running dry, with silver mine production has decreased over the past decade, especially in the silver-mining hubs of Central and South America.

Even with silver at never-seen-before prices, it could be years before any sort of balance returns to the market.

“If the silver that you produce is a small portion of your stream of revenues, you’re not that motivated to try to produce more silver,” he explained. In fact, Krauth said a higher silver price could result in less silver coming to market as miners switch to processing lower-grade material that was once uneconomical and might even contain less silver.

On the exploration side, it takes 10 to 15 years to bring a silver deposit through discovery and into production.

“The reaction time to higher prices is actually really, really slow. I think we’re going to see these shortages and tightness persist,” Krauth added.

Industrial demand for silver from cleantech and AI

Industrial demand was another major catalyst for higher silver prices in 2025, and is expected to remain a strong tailwind for the silver market next year and beyond.

In a December report titled ‘Silver, the Next Generation Metal,’ the Silver Institute explains that heavy demand for silver through 2030 is coming from the cleantech sector — mainly from the solar and electric vehicle (EV) segments — and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. Silver’s critical role in these economically important industries led the US government to include silver on its list of critical minerals this year.

A staunch believer in solar as a major pillar of the silver market, Krauth advised that it is “dangerous to underestimate” the level of demand yet to come from the industry. This is especially true if investors consider the projected growth of AI data centers in the US alone, and the amount of energy needed to power their operations.

“I think about 80 percent of data centers are located in the US, and their demand for electricity is expected to grow by 22 percent over the next decade. AI alone, on top of data center demand for electricity, is expected to grow by 31 percent over the next decade,” he said, adding that over the past year data centers in the US have chosen solar energy five times more than nuclear options for powering their operations.

Safe-haven investment demand magnifying silver scarcity

As a precious metal, silver tracks gold. Lower interest rates, a return to quantitative easing by the Fed, a weaker US dollar, rising inflation, increased geopolitical uncertainty — all of these factors that benefit its sister metal are also highly supportive of the silver price. And as an affordable alternative to gold, silver is attracting significant retail and institutional investment, including massive exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows.

Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, posted to X on December 10:

‘Meanwhile, inflows into silver-backed ETFs have reached around 130 million ounces this year, lifting total holdings to roughly 844 million ounces—an 18% increase.’

Safe-haven investment appeal for silver is expected to grow further in 2026. Concerns over the Fed’s independence and the very real likelihood that Chair Jerome Powell will be replaced in May with someone more amenable to the Trump White House’s low interest rate demands are big factors boosting demand for silver as a portfolio hedge.

Substantial demand for silver as a safe-haven investment has already led to mint shortages in silver bars and coins and tight inventories in futures markets, primarily in London, New York and Shanghai.

For example, Bloomberg reported in late November that silver inventories at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had hit their lowest level since 2015. These shortages are resulting in rising lease rates and borrowing costs, which points to genuine challenges with delivery of physical metal rather than mere speculative positioning.

In India, where gold jewelry is traditionally a form of wealth preservation, there’s strong demand for silver jewelry as buyers look for a more affordable option with the gold price now over US$4,300 per ounce.

Demand for silver bars and silver ETFs is also on the rise in India, already the world’s largest consumer of the white metal. The nation imports 80 percent of its silver demand.

Silver price forecast for 2026

Silver’s notoriety as a highly volatile metal — it’s not called ‘the devil’s metal’ for nothing — and its recent jaw-dropping rally, has many precious metals analysts hesitating to define a clear price target for 2026.

Although the case for much higher silver prices is a strong one, there are risks that could jeopardize the metal’s upward momentum. For example, Mind Money’s Khandoshko suggested that a global economic slowdown or sudden liquidity corrections could apply downward pressure on the silver price.

“For 2026, I’d be watching industrial demand trends, Indian imports, ETF flows and any widening price gaps between trading hubs,” she advised. “I’d also pay close attention to sentiment around large unhedged short positions. If trust in paper contracts weakens again, we could see another structural shift in pricing.”

Krauth also cautioned investors to remember that silver is “famously volatile” and while “it’s been fun because the volatility has been to the upside … don’t be surprised if you get some kind of rapid drawdowns.” He views US$50 as the new floor for silver, and gave what he deems a “conservative” forecast of silver in the US$70 range for 2026.

This is in line with Citigroup’s (NYSE:C) prediction that silver will continue to outperform gold and reach upwards of US$70 for 2026, especially if its industrial side fundamentals remain in place.

Chambers referred to silver as the “fast horse” of the precious metals. While industrial demand is important, he believes retail investment demand is the real “juggernaut” for the silver price in the coming year.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

4 Mins Read

Trump Weighs Executive Order to Loosen Federal Cannabis Restrictions

US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a major shift in federal drug policy that would relax decades-old restrictions on cannabis, potentially injecting new life into the industry.

Six people familiar with the discussions told the Washington Post that Trump is preparing an executive order directing federal agencies to pursue the reclassification of cannabis from a Schedule I substance to Schedule III.

The effort, still under internal review, was the focus of a December 10 phone call between Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, several of the sources said. Joining the call were cannabis industry executives, Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly.

Johnson reportedly expressed skepticism and laid out several studies and data points opposing rescheduling, but by the end of the call, Trump appeared inclined to proceed. However, the sources emphasized that no final decision has been made and that he could still change course; this was later confirmed by another White House official.

Reclassification would shift cannabis from Schedule I status — reserved for substances deemed to have high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use — to Schedule III, which includes Tylenol with codeine and certain steroids.

The shift would not legalize recreational use under federal law, but would remove some of the most onerous constraints faced by medical researchers and by companies operating legally in dozens of states.

“This would be the biggest reform in federal cannabis policy since marijuana was made a Schedule I drug in the 1970s,” said Shane Pennington, a DC attorney who represents companies involved in rescheduling litigation.

He noted that while Trump cannot unilaterally change the drug schedule, he can instruct the Department of Justice to bypass a pending administrative hearing and finalize the rule.

The political backdrop has shifted sharply in recent years. Cannabis is legal for medical use in most states and for recreational use in 24, and has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed interest in rescheduling even as broader legalization remains deeply contested at the federal level.

For cannabis businesses, reclassification would be economically transformative.

Current tax rules prohibit companies that sell Schedule I substances from deducting ordinary business expenses, a barrier that industry representatives have long described as crushing.

“This monumental change will have a massive, positive effect on thousands of state-legal cannabis businesses around the country,” said Brian Vicente, founding partner at Vicente. “Rescheduling releases cannabis businesses from the crippling tax burden they have been shackled with and allows these businesses to grow and prosper.”

Policy advocates say the move would eliminate a central pillar of the federal government’s 50 year prohibition regime, while also highlighting how much work remains.

“This is the beginning of a new era of public health policy,” said Shawn Hauser, also a partner at Vicente.

She called the directive “a long-overdue acknowledgment of marijuana’s medical value and safety,” while warning that rescheduling alone will not resolve broader regulatory inconsistencies or criminal justice disparities.

Trump, who said in August that he was “looking at reclassification,” inherited a stalled proposal originally launched by then-President Joe Biden that recommended moving cannabis to Schedule III.

Rescheduling’s origins trace back to October 2022, when Biden instructed the Department of Health and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to review whether the current classification for cannabis is scientifically justified.

Health officials concluded in 2023 that it is not, prompting the DEA to propose shifting cannabis to Schedule III in early 2024. The proposed rule has been frozen since March 2025.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

10 Mins Read

NCAA volleyball Final Four set as Texas A&M and Wisconsin advance

And then there were four.

No. 1 seeds Pitt and Kentucky and No. 3 seeds Texas A&M and Wisconsin advanced to the NCAA women’s volleyball Final Four which will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Pitt will play Texas A&M in the national semifinals after its five-set upset of Nebraska on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky will play Wisconsin, which shocked Texas on Sunday night.

Texas A&M (27-4) dominated at the net and outblocked the Nebraska 30-16. Kyndal Stowers has 25 kills and 16 digs, Logan Lednicky 24 kills and Emily Hellmuth 13 kills. Ifenna Cos-okpalla had three solo blocks and five block assists.

Nebraska was the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and suffered its first defeat of the season.

The Badgers avenged an earlier loss to the Longhorns, who swept them on Aug. 31, to advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.

The Final Four semifinal matches will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21 on ABC.

SCORE: Wisconsin 3, Texas 1

Set 4 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 19

The Badgers advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.

Texas, a one seed, was ranked No. 3 in the nation and sees its season end.

Set 4: Wisconsin first to 15

Can the Badgers close this out and punch their ticket to the Final Four? They have been to Final Four six times and won their lone national title in 2021.

Wisconsin is hitting .318 in the fourth set.

Set 3 final: Texas 25, Wisconsin 19

Cari Spears now leads Texas with nine kills. The Longhorns are using a balanced attack and hit .400 in the third set to get back in the match.

Set 3: Texas first to 15

Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears have eight kills each as the Longhorns are fighting back. Texas is hitting .429 in the third set.

Set 2 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 21

The Badgers hitting percentage is .315 compared to .246 by the Longhorns. Mimi Colyer got her 10th kill to seal the set. Charlie Fuerbringer has 32 assists in leading the Wisconsin offense.

Set 2: Wisconsin first 15

Wisconsin is enjoying a balanced offensive attack. Mimi Colyer has nine kills, Carter Booth seven and Grace Egan and Una Vajagic six apiece.

Torrey Stafford has six kills, three blocks and two digs to lead Texas.

Set 1 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 22

The Badgers went on a 7-0 run before the Longhorns fought back with a 5-0 run on their own. It wasn’t enough as Wisconsin prevailed led by six kills from Mimi Colyer.

Matthew McConaughey cheering for the Longhorn women

We are underway in Austin

The Badgers and Longhorns are set to faceoff for a Final Four bid.

Wisconsin volleyball lineup

Texas volleyball lineup

SCORE: Texas A&M 3, Nebraska 2

Set 5 final: Texas A&M 15, Nebraska 13

The Aggies have pulled off the biggest upset of the season, knocking the No. 1 overall seeded Huskers out of the NCAA tournament. Kyndal Stowers had 24 kills for Texas A&M. The Aggies had 30 blocks to 16 by the Huskers.

Set 5: Texas A&M first to eight points

The teams are switching sides. The Aggies are up 8-6.

Set 4 final: Nebraska 37, Texas A&M 35

It took 10 set points but the Huskers have forced a fifth set. Harper Murray has career high in kills with 24 as the Huskers have forced a fifth set. There were 22 ties in the match.

Set 4: Texas A&M first to 15

The Aggies are 10 points from the biggest upset of the season. Texas A&M has 20 blocks compared to six from Nebraska.

Set 3: Nebraska 25, Texas A&M 20

The Huskers stayed alive and found some momentum by winning the third set. Harper Murray has 16 kills and Rebekah Allick seven kills. Nebraska hit .462 as a team in the set.

Set 3: Nebraska first to 15

The Huskers are being carried by Harper Murray, who has 14 kills.

Set 2 final: Texas A&M 25, Nebraska 22

Nebraska is struggling and could be eliminated after going 33-0 to start the season. The Huskers hit .211 in the second set.

The Aggies middle blockers are dominating. Kyndal Stowers has 10 kills and is hitting .474 and Emily Hellmuth eight kills for the Aggies.

Set 2: Texas A&M first to 15

The Aggies are smelling the biggest upset of the volleyball season. They have Nebraska back on their heels. Texas A&M is hitting .333 for the set and Nebraska .222.

Set 1 final: Texas A&M 25, Nebraska 22

Nebraska dropped its eighth set of the season and first since Nov. 14 against UCLA. Kyndal Stowers has six kills and Emily Hellmuth five kills for the Aggies.

Set 1: Nebraska first to 15

Nebraska was the first to 15 but the Aggies have fought back with a 10-0 run.

We are underway in Lincoln

Nebraska is looking for its 18th bid to the Final Four and first under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. Texas A&M is looking for its first.

Nebraska starting lineup

Texas A&M arrivals

How to watch NCAA volleyball tournament

Streaming: ESPN+ ∣ Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament will air across the ESPN and ABC family of networks. Games can be streamed on ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

NCAA volleyball Final Four

All times eastern

Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18
- No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m.
- No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 9 p.m.
National championship: 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 | ABC

NCAA volleyball regional final: Times, TV

All times Eastern

Saturday, Dec. 13

No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 3 Creighton 0
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 3 Purdue 1

Sunday, Dec. 14

No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 1 Nebraska 2
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 1 Texas 1

When is the NCAA volleyball Final Four in 2025?

Dates: Thursday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 21
The two semifinal matches in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21 on ABC.

Round of 16 volleyball results

Thursday, Dec. 11

No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 2 Arizona State 1
No. 1 Kentucky 3, Cal Poly 0
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 4 Minnesota 0
No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 2 SMU 1

Friday, Dec. 12

No. 1 Texas 3, No. 4 Indiana 0
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 2 Stanford 1
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 2 Louisville 2
No. 1 Nebraska 3, No. 4 Kansas 0

NCAA volleyball second-round results

Lexington bracket

No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 8 UCLA 1 (30-28, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17)
No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 6 Northern Iowa 1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21)
No. 2 Arizona State 3, Utah State 1 (25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15)
Cal Poly 3, No. 4 USC 2 (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7)

Austin bracket

No. 4 Indiana 3, No. 5 Colorado 0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23)
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, North Carolina 0 (25-14, 25-21, 27-25)
No. 1 Texas 1, No. 8 Penn State 0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19)
No. 2 Stanford 3, Arizona 1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20)

Pittsburgh bracket

No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 6 Baylor 1 (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20)
No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, Michigan 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18)
No. 2 SMU 3, Florida 0 (25-11, 25-21, 26-24)
No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Iowa State 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14)

Lincoln bracket

No. 4 Kansas 3, No. 5 Miami 1 (25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25)
No. 2 Louisville 3, Marquette 2 (21-25, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12)
No. 1 Nebraska 3, Kansas State 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-16)
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 6 TCU 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 29-27)

NCAA volleyball first-round results

Lexington bracket

No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-12)
No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2 (24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18, 15-10)
Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2 (25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10)
No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0, (25-19, 25-12, 25-13)
No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2 (12-25, 25-23,25-23,17-25, 8-15)
No. 6 Northern Iowa 3, Utah 2 (15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10)
Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2 (25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 15-11)
No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-12)

Austin bracket

No. 1 Texas 3, Florida A&M 0 (25-11, 25- 8, 25-14)
No. 8 Penn State 3, South Florida 1 (25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19)
No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-16)
No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-17)
No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0 (25-11, 25-6, 25-19)
North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1 (24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21)
Arizona 3, No. 7 South Dakota State 1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15)
No. 2 Stanford 3, Utah Valley 1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14)

Pittsburgh bracket

No. 1 Pitt 3, UMBC 0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13)
Michigan 3, No. 8 Xavier 0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-23)
No. 5 Iowa State 3, St. Thomas-Minnesota 2 (21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8)
No. 4 Minnesota 3, Fairfield 0 (25-12, 25-7, 25-13)
No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-19)
No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2 (23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10)
Florida 3, No. 7 Rice 0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-19)
No. 2 SMU 3, Central Arkansas 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-13)

Lincoln bracket

No. 1 Nebraska 3, Long Island 0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-17)
Kansas State 3, San Diego 2 (21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12)
No. 5 Miami 3, Tulsa 1 (25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20)
No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18)
No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Campbell 0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-13)
No. 6 TCU 3, Stephen F. Austin 0 (25-8, 26-24, 25-20)
Marquette 3, Western Kentucky 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-16)
No. 2 Louisville 3, Loyola (Illinois) 0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-12)

NCAA volleyball tournament champions

Penn State is the reigning NCAA volleyball champion, having defeated Louisville in four sets last year in the national title game. It was the Nittany Lions’ eighth volleyball championship since 1999.

Here’s a look at the past 10 NCAA volleyball champions:

2024: Penn State
2023: Texas
2022: Texas
2021: Wisconsin
2020: Kentucky
2019: Stanford
2018: Stanford
2017: Nebraska
2016: Stanford
2015: Nebraska

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2 Mins Read

Davante Adams injures hamstring in win over Lions

INGLEWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Rams’ pass offense has been clicking this season. But their big-time red zone threat went down with an injury Sunday.

Star wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions.

Adams was injured as he attempted to track a deep pass thrown by Matthew Stafford on third-and-3 with 12:42 on the clock in the fourth quarter. Adams stayed down on the turf for a few moments before he was helped off the field by the Rams’ medical staff. He was able to walk off the field and into the locker room under his own power.

The Rams deemed Adams questionable to return, but he never checked back into the game.

Adams produced four catches for 71 yards at the time of his injury. The veteran wideout leads the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns this season. He was questionable going into Week 15 due to a nagging hamstring injury.

The 12-year receiver entered Week 15 with 56 catches, 718 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.

Will Davante Adams play Week 16?

The Rams travel to Seattle on Thursday night for an NFC West showdown versus the Seattle Seahawks. Rams coach Sean McVay gave a pessimistic outlook for Adams’ availability against Seattle.

‘He was optimistic. He knows his body really well,’ McVay said of Adams. ‘We’ll see what that means. I can’t imagine that’s good for Thursday with just the short amount of time, but I certainly wouldn’t rule him out quite yet. But it didn’t look good.’

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

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4 Mins Read

Texas A&M volleyball shows no fear, shocks world by upsetting Nebraska

The No. 1-ranked Nebraska volleyball team had not been tested in months. Until Sunday.

No. 3-seeded Texas A&M did what 33 other teams could not ― defeat a proverbial giant. The Aggies did it in the biggest match of their program’s history, the NCAA tournament regional final, and punched a ticket to their first Final Four. The Aggies beat the top-seed Cornhuskers 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

‘I’m not scared of them,’ Aggies head coach Jamie Morrison said before the match. ‘They’re a really good volleyball team, but we’ve talked the entire season and made an identity of making people uncomfortable, leaning in and imparting our will on the people that we’re playing.’

Imposing their will is putting it lightly. The Aggies had an answer for everything the Cornhuskers threw at them.

The Aggies went up 2-0 before Nebraska showed some fight, tying the match 2-2 behind huge pushes from Harper Murray and Rebekah Allick. Middle blocker Andi Jackson, who typically unravels opposing teams, was neutralized for most of the day with six kills and .045 hitting percentage.

After fighting through 10 fourth-set points, Nebraska forced a fifth set. Still, it was no match for the Aggies, who went on to win behind three players with double-digit kills. Kyndal Stowers led the Aggies with 25 kills and 16 digs plus two blocks. Logan Lednicky had 24 kills and six blocks.

‘We’re the grittiest team in the country by far,’ Lednicky said after the win.

‘I mean a lot of us are seniors. We’ve been doing this for a really long time,’ Lednicky added. ‘And I think all the newbies, too, they came in, ready to work, ready to grind, and we’re just such a special group of girls … It’s just amazing.’

Lednicky is one of nine seniors on Texas A&M’s roster. From the top down, Morrison’s team is loaded with talent that helped contribute to the Aggies’ massive upset. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, one of the best middle blockers in the country, started a 10-0 run in the first set to help the Aggies capture the frame and the momentum for the match. She also had six kills on .600 hitting, two aces, six digs and eight blocks. Morgan Perkins, in tandem with Cos-Okpolla, added five kills on .333 hitting and nine blocks. Outside hitter Emily Hellmuth was also critical down the stretch with 13 kills, two aces and four blocks.

After the Aggies’ historic win against Nebraska, Morrison shared that he’s been building up the program for the last three seasons and the victory Sunday is a testament to the players and staff.

‘I’m so proud of these driven human beings,’ Morrison said. ‘This whole group of human beings that we have as a part of our game.’

The Aggies head coach also shared that his group of seniors meant ‘everything to him and that Texas A&M ‘was building something that’s gonna last.’

The last time the Cornhuskers dropped a set was September, and the last time they had been down two sets was Aug. 31 against Kentucky, which has already punched its ticket to the Final Four. The Huskers won 3-2 back then, but could not pull off the reverse sweep on Sunday.

Murray, who had a career high 25 kills on .255 hitting plus three aces and nine digs, didn’t have enough to get the Huskers out of trouble, even with help from Allick. The middle blocker, who was explosive in the fourth set, added 15 kills on .480 hitting plus four blocks.

After the match, Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly somberly reflected on the Cornhuskers’ undefeated season coming to an end.

‘We played with a ton of joy. I think we maxed out,’ Busboom Kelly said. ‘We didn’t make the Final Four. We’re not winning a national championship.’

Busboom Kelly, who is in her first season as head coach, was still proud of her team and its 33-1 record. They left it all on the floor.

‘We can look back and have no regrets,’ she said.

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3 Mins Read

Wisconsin volleyball upsets Texas to advance to the Final Four