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Silver Price Surges Above US$48, Approaches All-time High

Investing 2 Mins Read

The silver price kept surging on Friday (October 3), breaking US$48 per ounce.

The white metal last reached this level in 2011, the same year it nearly hit US$50 for only the second time in history. Silver’s first run to the US$50 level came in 1980, when the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market.

Silver price chart, December 31, 2024, to October 3, 2025.

Known for lagging behind gold before outperforming, silver is now ahead of its sister metal in terms of percentage gains — it’s up close to 60 percent year-to-date, while gold has risen around 47 percent.

Still, silver remains below its all-time high, while gold continues to set new records — it’s been closing in on US$3,900 per ounce this week, buoyed by the US government shutdown.

Gold is also seeing underlying support from strong central bank buying, global geopolitical uncertainty, concerns about the US dollar and other fiat currencies and expectations of lower interest rates.

Silver acts as both a precious and industrial metal, meaning that it’s driven by many of the same factors as gold, but also has additional sources of demand. According to the Silver Institute, industrial demand for silver reached a record 680.5 million ounces in 2024, driven by usage in grid infrastructure, vehicle electrification and photovoltaics.

Total silver demand was down 3 percent year-on-year in 2024, but still exceeded supply for the fourth year in a row, resulting in a deficit of 148.9 million ounces for the year.

Watch five experts share their thoughts on the outlook for silver.

As silver gets closer to surpassing its all-time high, investors are wondering about its long-term prospects.

While many experts have lofty expectations for silver, including triple-digit price predictions, there’s a broad consensus that the white metal may correct before continuing on upward.

However, there’s also recognition that silver’s situation today is different than it was previously.

‘If you have something happen with the supply, and then on top of that at some point you’re running into issues with debt loads and currencies, that would certainly leave us probably into a much different environment for silver than either 1980 or 2011,’ said Chris Marcus, founder of Arcadia Economics.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Apollo Silver Announces Upsize of Private Placement Offering

Investing 7 Mins Read

Apollo Silver Corp. (‘ Apollo Silver ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) (TSX.V:APGO, OTCQB:APGOF, Frankfurt:6ZF0) is pleased to announce that due to strong investor demand from current shareholders, the Company has elected to increase the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering and will now offer up to 7,437,680 (the ‘ Units ‘) of the Company at a price of $3.60 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $26,775,648 (the ‘ Upsized Offering ‘).

Each Unit issued pursuant to the Upsized Offering will consist of one common share (a ‘ Share ‘) in the capital of the Company and one common Share purchase warrant (a ‘ Warrant ‘). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $5.50 for 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. The Warrants will be subject to an acceleration provision, such that if at any time after the date that is four months and one day after the closing, the Company’s Shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (the ‘ TSXV ‘) at a closing price of $7.50 or greater per Share for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Company may accelerate the expiry of the Warrants by giving notice to the holders thereof and, in such case, the Warrant will expire on the thirtieth (30th) day after the date of such notice (the ‘ Acceleration Provision ‘)

All securities issued in connection with the Upsized Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. Finder’s fees may be payable on some or all of the funds raised, in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. The Company intends on using the net proceeds from the Upsized Offering to continue advancing the Calico Silver Project in San Bernardino, California; to support community relations initiatives at Cinco de Mayo Silver Project in Chihuahua, Mexico; to cover ongoing property maintenance costs at both projects; and for general corporate purposes.

Closing of the Upsized Offering is subject to final regulatory approval including that of the TSXV.

Insider Participation

The Upsized Offering will include participation by certain insiders of the Company, which constitutes a ‘related party transaction’ under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘MI 61-101’). The issuance of securities to insiders will be exempt from the formal valuation requirement pursuant to section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, as the Company’s shares are not listed on a specified market, and from the minority shareholder approval requirement pursuant to section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the securities issued to related parties does not exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

The Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘ U.S. Securities Act ‘), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Apollo Silver Corp.

Apollo is advancing one of the largest undeveloped primary silver projects in the US. The Calico project hosts a large, bulk minable silver deposit with significant barite credits – a critical mineral essential to the US energy and medical sectors. The Company also holds an option on the Cinco de Mayo Project in Chihuahua, Mexico, which is host to a major carbonate replacement (CRD) deposit that is both high-grade and large tonnage. Led by an experienced and award-winning management team, Apollo is well positioned to advance the assets and deliver value through exploration and development.

Please visit www.apollosilver.com for further information.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ross McElroy
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Email: info@apollosilver.com

Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes ‘forward-looking statements’ and ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the expected timing for completion of the Upsized Offering; and the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘potential’, ‘target’, ‘budget’ and ‘intend’ and statements that an event or result ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘might’ occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of the management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may have caused actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Company’s projections and estimates; realization of mineral resource estimates, interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; and changes in Project parameters as plans continue to be refined. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the price of silver, gold and barite; the demand for silver, gold and barite; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective matter; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected financial and operational performance and the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws .

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Tech Weekly: Tech Stocks Brush Off US Government Shutdown, Nasdaq Hits Intraday Records

Investing 4 Mins Read

Global equities climbed this week as investors weighed looming risks from the US government shutdown, which delayed the release of essential jobs data on Friday (October 3).

Macro headlines emphasized the possible economic impact. However, despite uncertainty, both the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) and Wall Street advanced this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) and Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) touching multiple record intraday highs.

The strength of the technology sector was a key driver behind these gains.

Chipmakers, tech infrastructure companies and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks led the rally, with gains to NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and other semiconductor stocks underpinning broader market optimism.

The Nasdaq rose about 1.36 percent over the week’s five sessions.

Nasdaq Composite performance, September 29 to October 3, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

3 tech stocks that moved markets this week

1. CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV)

CoreWeave landed up to US$14.2 billion in new business from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) on the heels of a US$6.5 billion deal with OpenAI. Investors view this as affirmation of CoreWeave’s rising importance in the rapidly growing AI hardware market. CoreWeave climbed 11.6 percent, from US$120.71 to US$134.79, this week.

2. Shopify (NYSE:SHOP)

This Canadian e-commerce company’s shares soared after it received a price target upgrade this week.

TD Securities reinstated its ‘hold’ rating for Shopify and raised its price target from US$130 to US$156, citing strong revenue growth prospects and a strategic partnership with OpenAI to enable merchants to sell products directly through ChatGPT. Shopify’s share price climbed 13.68 percent this week, rising from US$141.75 to US$161.14.

3. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

Reports of a major chip-manufacturing agreement between Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) surfaced on Friday. The deal reportedly involves Intel producing AMD-designed chips at its foundries.

The report was well received by investors, contributing to Intel’s strong share price performance and reflecting positive momentum for Intel’s manufacturing capabilities and growth strategy. AMD’s official response was a brief acknowledgment of the ongoing speculation, with no explicit denial. Shares of Intel saw a 6.69 percent increase this week, climbing from US$34.52 to US$36.83. AMD advanced by 2.84 percent.

Shopify, CoreWeave and Intel performance, September 29 to October 3, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

ETF performance

This week, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) gained 3.68 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) increased by approximately 3.39 percent.

For its part, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) advanced about 3.06 percent.

These gains reflect ongoing investor optimism for AI innovation and infrastructure buildup.

Other tech market news

            Tech news to watch next week

            Despite political wrangling and macro uncertainty, the technology sector has entered the fourth quarter showing positive momentum. AI hardware remains a pivotal theme, while landmark deals and investment rounds underscore bullish sentiment among both corporate insiders and institutional investors.

            Careful navigation of evolving US policy, global supply chain challenges and shifting capital flows will be critical for tech sector leadership as the final quarter of 2025 progresses.

            Next week, investors will await commentary following a planned meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump in Washington on October 6 to negotiate a deal to reduce US tariffs.

            Their meeting precedes a scheduled review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

            US Federal Reserve discussions and related market updates will continue shaping investor sentiment as markets await more clarity on monetary policy and inflation dynamics. The likelihood of delays in key economic data releases remains high due to the ongoing US government shutdown.

            Q3 earnings from Applied Digital (NASDAQ:APLD), set for release on October 9, will provide insights into the company’s progress on its AI-focused data center expansions. The report could be a key indicator of trends and demand in the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market, potentially influencing broader industry sentiment.

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

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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            Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Prospector Metals Gains 356 Percent

            Investing 9 Mins Read

            The big news impacting markets this week is the shutdown of the US government.

            While lawmakers were trying to find a funding solution, Democratic and Republican lawmakers were at loggerheads over maintaining funding for Medicaid programs. It marks the first time in seven years that the government has been shut down — the last time came during negotiations over the disputed US-Mexico border wall in December 2018.

            President Donald Trump has resolved to use the closure to push through the firing of thousands of federal government employees and cut funding to projects promised by Democrats.

            Additionally, the jobs report, scheduled for release on Friday (October 3), was delayed, causing greater uncertainty for analysts and investors who were trying to gauge the strength of the economy in September.

            Despite the lack of official government data, payroll processor ADP reported a loss of 32,000 jobs in September. The decline represents a significant difference from the 45,000 jobs analysts had expected to be added.

            Lawmakers aren’t scheduled to return to the negotiating tables until early next week.

            For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

            Markets and commodities react

            Canadian equity markets were in positive territory this week by the end of trading Friday.

            The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) continued its record breaking performance this week, gaining 2.33 percent on the week to close Friday at 30,471.68.

            The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) performed even better, ending the week up 4.38 percent to 964.04. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) was up 3.3 percent on to close out the week at 180.03.

            The gold price continued to climb this week, setting another new record, as it achieved an intraday high of US$3,893.82 per ounce on Thursday (October 2). It was still up 3.63 percent on the week at US$3,884.19 by Friday’s close.

            The silver price saw more significant gains, rising 6.31 percent to set a year-to-date high of US$48.30 per ounce during trading on Friday before settling at US$47.95 per ounce by 4:00 p.m. EDT.

            The silver price is trading at 14 year highs and has been closing in on records set in April of that year.

            Copper had sizable gains this week as the fallout from the closure of Freeport’s Grasberg mine continued to ripple through the market. The copper price was up 7.13 percent this week to US$5.11 per pound.

            The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) fell 2.12 percent to end Friday at 546.27.

            Top Canadian mining stocks this week

            How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

            Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

            Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

            1. Prospector Metals (TSXV:PPP)

            Weekly gain: 355.56 percent
            Market cap: C$128.18 million
            Share price: C$1.23

            Prospector Metals is a gold explorer working to advance its flagship ML project in the Yukon, Canada.

            The 10,869 hectare property, situated near Dawson City, is located within the Tintina Gold Belt, which is home to significant historic mining operations and current exploration and development projects.

            Exploration at the site has led to the discovery of more than two dozen high-grade gold surface occurrences, including the Bueno target, which has delivered samples with grades of up to 156 grams per metric ton (g/t).

            Shares of Prospector surged following the release of assay results on Wednesday (October 1). In its announcement, the company reported significant near-surface, high-grade assays, with one highlighted sample returning grades of 13.79 g/t gold over 44 meters, and another showing 21.93 g/t gold over 24.65 meters, including 288 g/t gold over 1 meter.

            2. Sokoman Minerals (TSXV:SIC)

            Weekly gain: 200 percent
            Market cap: C$45.92 million
            Share price: C$0.165

            Sokoman Minerals bills itself as a discovery-oriented company with a portfolio of gold projects and one of the largest land positions in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It also owns a 40 percent stake in the Killick lithium project, a 40/40/20 joint venture with Benton Resources (TSXV:BEX) and Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL).

            Its primary focus is its flagship Moosehead gold project, located in Central Newfoundland. The project consists of 98 claims covering 2,450 hectares and hosts an orogenic Fosterville-style gold system, according to Sokoman. The company has defined seven zones with high-grade mineralization through over 130,000 meters of drilling.

            Sokomon reported on September 12 that it planned to start diamond drilling at the site with a focus on testing the Eastern and Western Trend zones for depth extensions, as well as undiscovered parallel zones. Additionally, the company said on September 2 that it had expanded its land position at the Crippleback Lake gold-copper property to 13,000 hectares and planned to mobilize for induced-polarization surveys, sampling and mapping of the site.

            The most recent news from the company came on Monday (September 29), when it announced that Denis Laviolette was appointed to the roles of director, executive chair and CEO. Laviolette joins the company with over two decades of experience in the mining industry, including roles in geology and production, and as an industry analyst.

            The company also announced that Timothy Froude will be transitioning to the role of company president, having previously held both the president and CEO roles. Additionally, Gary Nassif, former senior vice president of Lode Gold Resources (TSXV:LOD,OTCQB:LODFF), was appointed as a director, and Greg Matheson, former COO of New Found Gold (TSXV:NFG,NYSEAMERICAN:NFGC), was named vice president of exploration.

            3. Kesselrun Resources (TSXV:KES)

            Weekly gain: 118.18 percent
            Market cap: C$10.82 million
            Share price: C$0.12

            Kesselrun Resources is an explorer working to advance the Huronian gold project in Ontario, Canada.

            The project is located in a region with significant exploration and mining assets, including Agnico Eagle Mines’ (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM) Hammond Reef project and New Gold’s (NYSE:NGD,TSX:NGD) Rainy River mine. Historic indicated resources at Huronian are 45,000 ounces of gold, with inferred quantities of 501,000 ounces or gold.

            Shares of Kesselrun surged this week after Gold X2 Mining (TSXV:AUXX,OTCQB:GSHRF) announced on Wednesday that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kesselrun. Gold X2 said the transaction will give it a 100 percent interest in the Huronian project, which is located adjacent to its own Moss gold project.

            4. Royal Road Minerals (TSXV:RYR)

            Weekly gain: 104.35 percent
            Market cap: C$55.80 million
            Share price: C$0.235

            Royal Road is an exploration company working to advance its Güintar and Margaritas projects and the El Aleman mining concession in Colombia. The company acquired the adjacent Güintar and Margaritas properties, located near Medellin, from major miner AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU,JSE:ANG) in 2019. Since that time, Royal Road has drilled a total of 13,700 meters across 45 drill holes at Güintar, while Margaritas remains untested.

            Assays have produced a highlighted intersection of 1 g/t gold equivalent over 303.7 meters, which includes 2.1 g/t gold, 12.4 parts per million silver and 0.6 percent copper over 62 meters.

            Shares of Royal Road gained this week alongside a pair of news releases. On Monday, the company announced that Rio2 (TSXV:RIO,OTCQX:RIOFF) has acquired approximately 15 percent of Royal Road’s issued and outstanding shares as part of a block trade; they were previously held by a single investor.

            The other release came on Tuesday (September 30), when Royal Road reported that it has engaged with state and local authorities, as well as the local community, to restart work at Güintar and Margaritas.

            5. StrikePoint Gold (TSXV:SKP)

            Weekly gain: 103.85 percent
            Market cap: C$12.06 million
            Share price: C$0.265

            StrikePoint Gold is an explorer with a focus on its Hercules gold project in Nevada, US.

            The 100 square kilometer site, located within the Walker Lane Trend, hosts five drill-tested targets, with over 300 holes. The company acquired the property in August 2024 from Elevation Gold Mining for a total consideration of C$250,000, along with a 3 percent royalty on certain claims. On April 28, the company released results from its spring drilling program, with one highlighted assay returning values of 0.54 g/t gold and 4.62 g/t silver from 32.04 meters below surface; that includes an interval of 1.14 g/t gold and 10.53 g/t silver over 4.57 meters.

            The most recent news from the project was announced on September 23, when StrikePoint said it had received drill permits for the Pony Meadows target. The company noted that it is permitted to mobilize up to three rigs, and will focus on a 2.6 kilometer structure that was revealed during surface exploration.

            StrikePoint said it has two additional permits for the Sirens and Como Comet targets.

            FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

            What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

            The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

            How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

            As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

            Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

            How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

            There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

            The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

            These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

            How do you trade on the TSXV?

            Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

            Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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            Editor’s Picks: Gold Price Sets Sights on US$3,900, Silver Breaks US$48

            Investing 5 Mins Read

            The gold price continued to move this week, approaching the US$3,900 per ounce level and setting a fresh all-time high on the back of a US government shutdown.

            The closure came after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill ahead of the new American fiscal year, which began on Wednesday (October 1).

            Democrats and Republicans are at odds as Democrats push for changes to the bill, including an extension to billions of dollars in Obamacare subsidies; meanwhile, President Donald Trump has threatened thousands of permanent layoffs, not just temporary furloughs.

            This shutdown is the 15th since 1981, and according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, it could continue on until next week as the two sides negotiate. The longest government shutdown happened between 2018 and 2019, during Trump’s first presidency, and lasted for 35 days.

            Part of the reason market watchers see this shutdown as significant is that it will delay the release of the latest nonfarm payrolls report, which was set to come out on Friday (October 3).

            Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, September consumer price index data, which is scheduled for publication on October 15, may also not be on time.

            The US Federal Reserve is due to meet later this month, from October 28 to 29, and normally would use this and other data to help make its decision on interest rates. The central bank cut rates by 25 basis points at its September meeting, and CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool currently shows strong expectations for another 25 basis point reduction at the next gathering.

            Although gold took a breather after nearing US$3,900, it remains historically high, with many market watchers suggesting US$4,000 is in the cards in the near term.

            In the longer term, some experts have even loftier expectations — for example, Adam Rozencwajg of Goehring & Rozenwajg sees a path to a five-figure gold price.

            ‘It’s not going to happen under normal circumstances — it’s not going to happen when everything’s going great. But by the end of this cycle, will we get there? I think we probably will,’ he said.

            It’s also worth touching on silver, which pushed past the US$48 per ounce mark this week. Unlike gold, silver has not yet broken its all-time high during this bull run — it’s pushing up against uncharted territory, raising questions about how high it can go this time.

            On that note, David Morgan of the Morgan Report shared several factors that would tell him the market is reaching a top. Here’s what he said:

            ‘You want to look at exchange-traded fund flows like the GDX, GDXJ, SIL and SILJ. At the same time, more important than almost anything is trading volume at the stock level. When mid-tier and smaller producers suddenly trade three, four or five times their normal daily volume, and prices are rising, that isn’t random. That’s retail money coming back into the market, and fund buying and probably institutions.

            ‘One more layer of confirmation is relative to performance. When the mining sector starts to outperform the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX), which it has, and the Nasdaq (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC), which it has, it’s a telltale sign that the generalist money, not just the hard money crowd, is beginning to rotate in.’

            Bullet briefing — CEO shakeup at Barrick, Newmont

            Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) and Newmont (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) both announced major executive changes this week, with the CEOs of both companies departing.

            Barrick’s Mark Bristow unexpectedly stepped down from his position on Monday (September 29) after nearly seven years at the helm of the firn. His exit, which was effective immediately, comes after big changes at the firm, including a shift toward copper and an asset divestment program designed to hone the company’s focus on tier-one assets.

            It also follows persistent issues in Mali, where Barrick lost control of its gold-mining complex and had 3 metric tons of the yellow metal seized by the government.

            According to Reuters, Bristow’s handling of that ongoing situation was the final straw that prompted the company’s board to push for a change in leadership.

            Newmont announced the retirement of Tom Palmer the same day. He had held the position since 2019, and will be succeeded by the company’s president and COO. Analysts note that Newmont had been signaling that a succession plan was in the works.

            Similar to Barrick, the company has been in the midst of an extensive program geared at streamlining its portfolio. Newmont acquired Newcrest Mining in 2023, and in February 2024 announced a program to sell non-core assets. It completed the program in April of this year, but has continued to make portfolio adjustments, and to pursue other cost-saving measures.

            Market watchers note that despite efforts to boost efficiency, Barrick and Newmont have both failed to match the performance of their peers during today’s bull market.

            Year-on-year share price performance of major gold miners.

            Chart via Google Finance.

            With gold-mining companies conscious of not repeating missteps made during the precious metal’s last runup, investors will no doubt be keen to see how they perform under new management.

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

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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            BYU vs. West Virginia score: Cougars knock off Mountaineers

            Sport 7 Mins Read

            The No. 23 BYU Cougars improved to 5-0 to start the season after beating the West Virginia Mountaineers 38-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Friday night.

            It’s the ninth 5-0 start in BYU’s history and the fourth with coach Kalani Sitake at the helm.

            Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 18 of 25 passes for a career-high 351 yards in the Cougars’ win. He threw for a touchdown and had an interception. Bachmeier also rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

            Running back LJ Martin finished with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Receiver Parker Kingston added to the offense with 112 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns.

            It was BYU’s first victory over West Virginia, which won the first two games in the all-time series back in 2016 and 2023.

            USA TODAY Sports provided updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out:

            BYU vs West Virginia: Score, schedule and result

            BYU vs. West Virginia highlights

            Final: BYU 38, West Virginia 24

            West Virginia quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. completed a pass to Cam Vaughn for a 29-yard touchdown with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter. Kade Hensley made the PAT. The touchdown was not enough as BYU improved to 5-0 on the season.

            BYU defense stops West Virginia

            The BYU defense came up big with a stop on fourth-and-goal for West Virginia. Diore Hubbard was handed the ball out of the backfield but was unable to gain the one yard needed to score. The Mountaineers have nothing to show for a 12-play, 74-yard drive.

            LJ Martin scores again

            Running back LJ Martin scores his second touchdown of the night with a 1-yard score with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter.

            3Q: BYU 31, West Virginia 17

            Following a fumble recovery by the West Virginia defense, quarterback Khalil Wilkins ran for 6 yards to score with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. The run capped off a five-play, 22-yard drive.

            BYU, West Virginia exchange turnovers

            BYU safety Tanner Wall caught an interception off a pass thrown by quarterback Khalil Wilkins, after the ball bounced out of the hands of a West Virginia receiver.

            Khalil Wilkins helps West Virginia close the gap

            West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins had a 6-yard run for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. Kicker Kade Hensley made the PAT. It was a five-play, 22-yard drive.

            BYU adds to its lead

            BYU kicker Will Ferrin made a 37-yard field goal to increase the lead to 31-10 with 6:53 left in the third quarter. Ferrin missed his first field goal attempt in the first half.

            Halftime: BYU 28, West Virginia 10

            Quarterback Bear Bachmeier scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the final moments before halftime. The touchdown capped off a nine-play, 73-yard drive.

            Bachmeier completed 10 of 14 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the first half. He also rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

            Receiver Chase Roberts had 140 yards on three catches for the Cougars. Receiver Parker Kingston scored a rushing and receiving touchdown in the first half.

            West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins completed just four of 10 passes for 20 yards and had an interception. He has 60 rushing yards on 13 carries in the first half. Running back Diore Hubbard had 20 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

            West Virginia answers back

            The Mountaineers continue to show some fight, converting a turnover into some late points in the first half. Fred Perry swatted BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s shovel pass attempt, resulting in a 12-yard loss and a fumble. Perry did manage to recover the ball and provided the West Virginia offense with good field position.

            Diore Hubbard scored on a 3-yard run on the very next play for West Virginia with 1:58 left in the second half. It’s 21-10.

            BYU is pulling away in first half

            LJ Martin capped off a two-play, 89-yard drive for the Cougars. Martin scored a 4-yard touchdown to increase BYU’s lead to 21-3 with 5:17 left in the second quarter. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.

            Quarterback Bear Bachmeier started the drive, connecting with Chase Roberts for an 85-yard gain.

            Kade Hensley scores for West Virginia

            Kade Hensley put the Mountaineers on the scoreboard with a 45-yard field goal with 14:15 left in the second quarter.

            1Q: BYU 14, West Virginia 0

            Parker Kingston scored his second touchdown of the first quarter after being on the receiving end of a short pass by quarterback Bear Bachmeier with 3:41 left in the opening period. The short pass resulted in a 54-yard gain and the touchdown. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.

            BYU takes advantage of mistakes, scores first

            BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give BYU the early lead over West Virginia with 9:09 left in the first quarter. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.

            West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins threw an interception to defensive back Therrian Alexander III. Alexander returned the ball 47 yards to put his team in good field position. He nearly scored a touchdown before he was tackled by Wilkins, who was called for a penalty because of a horse collar tackle in the process.

            BYU misses chance at early lead

            BYU kicker Will Ferrin missed a 48-yard field goal attempt. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier helped lead the Cougars within field goal range on a seven-play, 57-yard drive.

            What time does BYU vs. West Virginia start?  

            • Date: Friday, Oct. 3
            • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
            • Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

            What TV channel is BYU vs. West Virginia on today?  

            • TV: ESPN
            • Streaming: FUBO (offers free trial)
            • How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here’s how to stream it live)

            BYU vs. West Virginia game odds

            All college football odds via BetMGM

            • Spread: BYU -18.5 (-115), West Virginia +18.5 (-105)
            • Money Line: BYU -1200, West Virginia +725
            • Over-Under: Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)

            BYU vs. West Virginia predictions

            • Riley Donald,College Sports Wire: BYU is a focused team taking on a West Virginia team traveling across multiple time zones without an answer on offense. Cougars, big.
            • Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: The Cougars won their first close game of the season in Week 5 against Colorado. Can they move to 2-0 in the conference? We think so. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has moxie.

            West Virginia schedule 2025

            Here is West Virginia’s schedule and results.

            • Game 1: Win vs. Robert Morris Colonials, 45-3
            • Game 2: Loss vs. Ohio, 17-10
            • Game 3: Win vs. Pittsburgh, 31-24
            • Game 4: Loss to Kansas, 41-10
            • Game 5: Loss to Utah, 48-14
            • Game 6: at BYU (tonight)
            • Game 7: at UCF (Oct. 18)
            • Game 8:  vs. TCU (Oct. 25)
            • Game 9: at Houston (Nov. 1)
            • Game 10: vs. Colorado (Nov. 8)
            • Game 11: at Arizona State (Nov. 15)
            • Game 12: vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 29)

            BYU schedule 2025

            Here is BYU’s schedule and results.

            • Game 1: Win vs. Portland State, 69-0
            • Game 2: Win vs. Stanford, 27-3
            • Game 3: Win at East Carolina, 34-13
            • Game 4: Win at Colorado, 24-21
            • Game 5: vs. West Virginia (tonight)
            • Game 6: at Arizona (Oct. 11)
            • Game 7: vs. Utah (Oct. 18)
            • Game 8: at Iowa State (Oct. 25)
            • Game 9: at Texas Tech (Nov. 8)
            • Game 10: vs. TCU (Nov. 15)
            • Game 11: at Cincinnati (Nov. 22)
            • Game 12: vs. UCF (Nov. 29)
            This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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            Browns bring battle against absenteeism to England

            Sport 5 Mins Read

            • The Browns visited a primary school in England as part of their initiative to combat chronic absenteeism.
            • A teacher at the school, a lifelong Browns fan, was surprised with a new jersey and tickets to the team’s London game.
            • The ‘Stay in the Game’ program aims to keep students engaged in school through enriching activities.

            Kevin Smith thought he would be a nervous wreck. He just wanted everything to go right for his students, especially since his favorite NFL team was visiting his school about two hours outside of London.

            It turns out he was a part of the surprise visit as well.

            Members of the Cleveland Browns visited Trapston Primary School in Northamptonshire, U.K. on Thursday, Oct. 2 to have an assembly and play an outdoor flag football game with students before their Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 5 in London

            The visit is part of the Browns’ Stay in the Game! effort, which aims to combat chronic absenteeism, encouraging students to participate in enriching activities to influence attendance that can lead to graduation.

            “When the email came through, saying ‘Would you like the Browns to visit your school on October 2nd? ‘I’m just like, Are you serious? Do I want my favorite football team to come to my school on my birthday? Yes. Wow. Fantastic,” said Smith, who turned 57 this week. “It was a great, great thing to happen.”

            The Browns connected with Smith, a diehard Cleveland sports fan who was born in Findlay, Ohio, while his father was working with Marathon Oil. His family moved back to London a few weeks after he was born. When NFL games began broadcasting in Europe in the 80s, Smith knew there was only one team for him to support.

            “On my birth certificate, it’s got district of Cleveland,” Smith said. “I follow basically all of the Cleveland team, so I’m big brands fan, big Guardian fan. So that’s how that came about.”

            Smith teaches all subjects at his school, and runs the school’s physical education program, setting up soccer matches and recently starting a flag football team.

            “We try and get all the children involved,” Smith said. “We split it along two lines: We have the line where we’re thinking we want to be successful and win, but we also have the line where we think we want to get as many children, representing the school and taking part in the tournaments because it gets them to buy into the school and they feel a pride in their school.”

            Everyone in the school knows Smith is a big Browns fan, but he did not know he was also going to be surprised with a new jersey, a VIP invite to a team practice Friday and tickets for the London game. School principal Pauline Turner also received jerseys and tickets to the game, while one student, who will attend with her parents, will be get to pick up the kickoff tee during the game.

            Former Browns tight end Gary Barnidge, who is co-founder of American Football Without Borders, attended the school assembly held for about 400 students, while 40 kids got to participate in a flag football game where they were cheered on by team mascot Chomps.

            “I’ve taught for 25 years now, and every now and again, you have a win. This is a massive win. And it just makes me really proud to support that team that takes the effort to actually come over to our school,” Smith said. “They’re not just here to play a football game. They’re dealing with a global problem that needs to be dealt with, and they’re doing it in my community.”

            After conversations with school superintendents in Ohio, Browns owner Dee Haslam discovered kids are 3.9 times more likely to read on grade level if they attend regularly, and three times more likely to graduate. Their findings inspired them to build a playbook to teach teachers and administrators what they can do to help keep the kids in school.

            “Education is something that I care deeply about,” Haslam told USA TODAY Sports. “We recognize that any engagement from music, to theater, to science club or whatever – however you can keep kids engaged so they want to be in school. They can’t do those clubs or extracurricular things if they’re not there. So, every single day counts.”

            Stay in the Game! is in at least 215 districts in Ohio, available to support 580,000 students across the state. The program says it has decreased chronic absenteeism by 10.3% since it began in 2019.

            The Browns have partnered with MLS teams Columbus Crew (which the Haslams own) and FC Cincinnati to help schools around Ohio. Haslam hopes other sports teams in the U.S. will join their initiative in their respective areas.

            Haslam also plans to meet Smith before the Browns take on the Vikings, to thank him for being a huge Cleveland sports fan and for doing his part to keep his students in school.

            “We’re having an impact far beyond the districts we’re involved. And we believe that Kevin will have that same impact. There’s no telling how far this can go internationally, but this is encouraging, exciting, and so incredibly helpful for families,” Dee Haslam said.

            This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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            Dana Evans helps Aces hold off Mercury in Game 1 of WNBA Finals

            Sport 7 Mins Read

            LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Aces took care of home court.

            The No. 2 seed Aces defeated the No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury 89-86 in Game 1 of WNBA Finals on Friday at Michelob ULTRA Arena, taking a 1-0 lead in the first best-of-seven championship series in league history.

            Aces guard Dana Evans was the unlikely hero of Game 1, finishing with 21 points in 26 minutes off the bench, shooting 8-of-13 from the field including 5-of-6 from the 3-point line. She added four steals, three assists and two rebounds.

            ‘I feel like I feed off my defense,’ Evans said of her performance. ‘I feel like I got some early steals, early on, I got to the basket. I saw the ball going in and I just kept being aggressive.’

            The Mercury had a chance to take the lead with 24.6 seconds left, but forward Alyssa Thomas missed both of her free throw attempts. Aces guard Jackie Young knocked down both of her free throws to extend the Aces’ lead to three points with 13.5 seconds remaining.

            Mercury forward Satou Sabally had a final look at an equalizer, but she missed a 3-point attempt with 2.4 seconds remaining. Jackie Young got the rebound and dribbled the ball out for the win.

            ‘We ran a play to get Kahleah (Cooper) a look,’ Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said of the final possession. ‘They did a good job of switching out. We had one more option … I probably should have ran out and called a TO with six seconds to go.’ 

            Aces center A’ja Wilson finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Young finished with 10 points and five assists. Jewell Loyd had 18 points and four rebounds off the bench.

            The Mercury were outscored 22-15 in the final quarter. Phoenix had five players in double figures lead by Copper with 21 points. Thomas was an assist short of a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

            ‘It’s a game of runs,’ Copper said. ‘I think we did a pretty good job of understanding and handling the runs but down the stretch, they made the plays and we didn’t. this is something to learn from.’ 

            The WNBA Finals continue with Game 2 on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC) at Michelob Ultra Arena.

            Follow along as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates, highlights and recaps Game 1 of the WNBA Finals:

            Satou Sabally in foul trouble

            Sabally picked up her fifth personal foul with 8:23 remaining in the game. To add insult to injury, she was also called for a technical foul for slamming the ball down in the direction of the official after the call. Sabally went to the bench, exiting with 19 points, four rebounds and three assists.

            End of 3Q: Mercury 71, Aces 67

            Kahleah Copper has 21 points, Alyssa Thomas is closing in on a double-double with 10 points and nine assists. Satou Sabally has 16 points, three assists and three rebounds.

            A’ja Wilson is the only Aces starter to reach double digits with 15 point, six rebounds and four assists, one steal and one block. Jewell Loyd added 15 off the bench, while Dana Evans is up to 12 points.

            Sami Whitcomb returns to bench

            Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb was helped to the locker room by two staffers after appearing to injure her lower body with 1:58 remaining in third quarter. She sprinted out the tunnel to start the fourth quarter.

            Chelsea Gray exits with ankle injury after flagrant foul 

            Mercury guard Kahleah Copper was called for a personal foul on a reckless closeout on Aces guard Chelsea Gray, who landed on Copper’s foot and tweaked her right ankle on a 3-point attempt with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter. The foul on Copper was upgraded to a flagrant 1. Gray remained down on the court in visible pain. Eventually, the veteran got to her feet and knocked down all three free throws before running back for the locker room. She exited with three points and five assists in 21 minutes. Gray got her ankle taped and returned with 3:04 remaining in the third quarter.

            Halftime: Mercury 50, Aces 45

            Game 1 of the WNBA Finals has been as close as it gets so far with the Mercury holding a five-point advantage after a first half that featured seven lead changes and six ties. 

            Mercury guard Kahleah Copper was red-hot in the first half, recording a game-high 19 points shooting 6-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 from the 3-point line. Alyssa Thomas has 10 points, six assists and two rebounds, while Satou Sabally added nine points and three assists. The Mercury are shooting an impressive 52.9% from the field and 8-of-17 from the 3-point line, but Phoenix has turned the ball over seven times. The Aces have scored 15 points off Mercury turnovers. 

            The Aces bench has scored 25 points, led by 13 points from Jewell Loyd in 18 minutes of action and 10 points from Dana Evans in 10 minutes of play. A’ja Wilson has nine points and six rebounds, while Jackie Young has eight points. 

            End of Q1: Mercury 21, Aces 21

            Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said it was critical for his team to have a great start against the Aces in Game 1. The Mercury did just that, jumping out to a 10-2 lead, but Las Vegas responded and closed the first quarter on a 19-11 run to tie it up. 

            Kahleah Copper leads the Mercury with seven points, while Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally have six points apiece. 

            Jewell Loyd leads the Aces with eight points in seven minutes off the bench. A’ja Wilson added six points, four rebounds and two assists. 

            Mercury jump out to early 10-2 lead

            Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is underway at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The Mercury jumped out to a 10-2 lead with 6:39 remaining in the first quarter, led by six points by Mercury forward Satou Sabally. The Aces are struggling to find their offensive rhythm so far and opened the contest shooting 1-of-8 from the field and 0-of-2 from the 3-point line. A’ja Wilson has the only two points for the Aces.

            Cathy Engelbert speaks about Napheesa Collier’s remarks

            WNBA commissioner answered questions about Napheesa Collier’s callout at Minnesota Lynx exit interviews. Collier openly criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the ‘tone-deaf and dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take’ in governing the league.

            Las Vegas Aces active roster

            Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

            Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

            • 0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
            • 2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
            • 4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
            • 8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
            • 25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

            Phoenix Mercury injury report

            Las Vegas Aces starting lineup

            Head coach: Becky Hammon

            • 0 Jackie Young | G 6′ 0′ – Notre Dame
            • 1 Kierstan Bell | F 6′ 1′ – Florida Gulf Coast
            • 3 NaLyssa Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Baylor
            • 12 Chelsea Gray | G 5′ 11′ – Duke
            • 22 A’ja Wilson | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina

            What time is Mercury vs. Aces Game 1?

            Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

            How to watch Mercury vs. Aces in WNBA Finals: TV, streaming for Game 1

            • Date: Friday, Oct. 3
            • Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
            • Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
            • TV: ESPN
            • Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

            Stream Mercury-Aces series on Fubo (free trial)

            USA TODAY at the WNBA Finals

            Phoenix Mercury arrivals

            Alyssa Thomas leads the way.

            Satou Sabally with a cute little bag.

            Las Vegas Aces arrivals

            A’ja Wilson ready for the moment.

            Cheyenne Parker-Tyus dressed to the nines.

            Dane Evans with the heels.

            This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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            WNBA commish Cathy Engelbert denies Clark comments, not resigning

            Sport 7 Mins Read

            LAS VEGAS — WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has denied commenting on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

            ‘Obviously, I did not make those comments,’ Engelbert said on Friday ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, three days after Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier publicly criticized Engelbert in a scathing statement.

            In Collier’s exit interview on Tuesday, she disclosed a private conversation she had with Engelbert, alleging the commissioner said Clark ‘should be grateful to make $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything’ when asked about increasing player’s salaries.

            Engelbert said she was ‘disheartened by how Napheesa (Collier) characterized our conversation’ in a statement released on social media on Tuesday, but didn’t directly deny making the comments about Clark. Until Friday.

            ‘Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She’s been a great representative of the game. She’s brought in 10 of millions of new fans to the game,’ Engelbert said when pushed to clarify what exactly she said. ‘I’m not going to get into every point (and) counterpoint. It’s not productive here. … But yeah, as I said, there’s a lot of inaccuracies reported out there and I certainly did not say that.’

            However, Engelbert stopped short of denying saying ‘players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them,’ as Collier said in her statement.

            ‘I think obviously a lot of reporting and a lot of inaccuracy about what I said or what I didn’t say,’ Engelbert said when asked to clarify. ‘I have been in touch with Napheesa (Collier), we’ve exchanged texts. We’re talking next week. … I highly respect the players. There’s a lot of emotion and passion going on right now because we’re in collective bargaining, we’re in the WNBA Finals and so I’ll leave it there.’

            The criticism of Engelbert highlights the growing divide between players and league leadership amid ongoing contract negotiations as the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which was signed into effect in January 2020, shortly after Engelbert took over as commissioner in 2019, is set to expire on October 31, 2025 after the WNBPA opted out. Engelbert was asked if she believed she was the right person to lead the negotiations.

            ‘I’ve never been a quitter, never shied away from tough situations,’ Engelbert said. ‘I think leadership, the cream always rises to the top and I’ve always been someone who believes in the fact that we have, if there’s things we need to fix, we’re going to fix ’em. If there’s things the players have a perspective on that they don’t like that we’re doing or I’m doing, we’ll fix’

            Many WNBA superstar players and coaches backed Collier’s sentiments. Clark said Collier ‘said it all,’ while the Las Vegas Aces four-time MVP A’ja Wilson said she was ‘honestly disgusted by the comments that Cathy made.’

            If both sides don’t reach an agreement before the CBA expires, the league could experience a work stoppage and temporarily shut down until a contract is signed. A lockout could result in the 2026 season being delayed or canceled, a growing possibly and concern for the players.

            ‘We continue to meet and have important conversations with the players association,’ Engelbert said on Friday. ‘I want to reiterate that we want much of the same things that the players want. We want to significantly and I mean significantly increase their salary and benefits while also supporting the long term growth and viability of the WNBA… We’ll continue to negotiate in good faith until we get a transformative deal done.’

            ‘I hope we got a league,’ Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell said on Wed, Oct. 1 in her exit interview. ‘I hope that when it’s all said and done … we can have a season, period.’

            Engelbert said she’s ‘confident that we can get a deal done, but if not, I think we could do an extension’ and said she remains the right person to lead the league through the next CBA.

            The WNBA has never experienced a lockout in its 28-year history, although the 2003 WNBA draft and preseason were postponed before a new CBA was reached in 2003. It’s worth noting that the WNBA expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are tentatively set for December and could be affected by a stoppage.

            ‘Whether it’s a lockout or strike, there’s deadlines and there’s extensions that could be done,’ Engelbert said. ‘You want to make sure you’re capitalizing on all this momentum that we’ve built up over the last five years or so and that are really driving viewership into our game and fandom… this is all the important stuff of why we need to get this transformational CBA done as soon as we can because that’s where you see the potential for the future of this game.’

            During the 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend in July, Engelbert said she had ‘confidence we can get something done by October,’ although she wouldn’t ‘put an exact date on it.’ She added, ‘Would we like to get it done? Yes. Does it have to be done exactly on that date? We’ve got some room to continue negotiations if we’re close at that point.’

            But the latest controversy shows just how far the players and the league remain on a deal as the clock ticks.

            ‘I feel confident that we can repair any loss of trust,’ Engelbert added. ‘I hope all the players will engage and know what proposals we put on the table. And I think now’s the time to do that as we get up to the end of the season and then into the end of this calendar year. So yeah, we will dialogue with players. I mean one-on-one relationships, groups of relationships.’

            Another point of contention in the league has been officiating and the growing physicality of the game, topics that were renewed during the postseason. Coaches and players from various teams have publicly pleaded for reform, including Aces head coach Becky Hammon, Indiana Fever head coach Stephane White and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who were all were swiftly met with fines.

            “The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff worth is f—ing malpractice,” Reeve said in an expletive-filled rant after being ejected for arguing a non-call in the Lynx’s Game 3 semifinal loss to the Phoenix Mercury, resulting in a $15k fine and a one-game suspension for Game 4. Reeve called for a “change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating.’

            Engelbert said she’s had ‘a lot of conversations’ with the league’s officials on consistency.

            ‘Everybody has their opinion on officiating in every sport … but yeah, certainly something we’re talking about,’ she added. ‘The officials are evaluated. Every … non-call and call is evaluated for every game during the season. This isn’t something we blow off. They’re evaluating every call and no-call. So think about that. That’s every play in every game. Film is reviewed, there’s training, there’s officiating, there’s points of emphasis obviously. So we continue to have those discussions with officiating crews even here.’

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            Texas Rangers hire new manager, who will replace future Hall of Famer

            Sport 1 Min Read

            Skip Schumaker has officially been tasked with leading the Texas Rangers.

            Schumaker was the 2023 National League manager of the year with the Miami Marlins, leading the team to an 84-78 record and rare playoff appearance. He and the Marlins parted ways, however, after they went 62-100 in 2024.

            The 45-year-old has spent the last year as a special assistant with the Rangers under future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy.

            Bochy and the Rangers agreed he would not continue on as manager after three seasons that included the club’s first World Series title in 2023.

            Schumaker inherits a team that went 81-81 in 2025.

            The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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