News
South Carolina fends off Iowa and Caitlin Clark to claim NCAA women’s championship
South Carolina clinched an impressive victory over Iowa in the NCAA women’s championship on Sunday, with a final score of 87-75. The Gamecocks’ win marked the end of Caitlin Clark’s remarkable college career at Iowa, as she played her final game for the Hawkeyes. Clark, who set a new NCAA Division I scoring record in February by surpassing Pete Maravich’s 54-year-old record, put up an impressive 30 points in the championship game.
South Carolina entered the game with a perfect 37-0 record, becoming the first undefeated champion since UConn in 2016. This victory secured their second national championship in three years and third in school history, as reported by CBS Sports. The Gamecocks, under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, demonstrated a relentless performance on both ends of the court throughout the season, ultimately becoming the 10th Division I team to complete a season without a single loss.
Despite losing all five starters from last season’s team, South Carolina managed to maintain their dominance and secure the championship. The Gamecocks’ triumph is a testament to their resilience, team chemistry, and exceptional coaching by Staley. In a season filled with challenges and uncertainties, they stood out as a force to be reckoned with in women’s college basketball.
Caitlin Clark’s outstanding performance in the championship game highlighted her as one of the greatest players in NCAA history. Though falling short in two NCAA title games, Clark’s impact on the game goes beyond wins and losses. She has inspired a new generation of fans and players with her talent, dedication, and passion for basketball.
South Carolina’s success in the tournament solidifies their status as a dominant force in women’s basketball. With three titles in the past eight years, including two of the last three, the Gamecocks have established themselves as a powerhouse in the sport. Head coach Dawn Staley joins elite company with her third national championship, alongside coaching legends like Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey, and Tara VanDerveer.
Looking ahead, South Carolina is well-positioned to continue their winning tradition with a majority of their team returning next season. While they bid farewell to star center Kamilla Cardoso, Staley’s squad remains a formidable contender for future championships. Tessa Johnson’s stellar performance with 19 points in the championship game underlined the team’s depth and versatility, ensuring a bright future for the Gamecocks.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
-
News1 week ago
Juno discovers massive lava lake on Io
-
News2 weeks ago
Knowing the Magnetic Field of an Exoplanet’s Star is Essential to Determining the True Size of the Exoplanet
-
News1 week ago
Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker, seeks revenge
-
News1 week ago
Possible Future Colleague of Trump: David Lammy, a Close Associate of Obama
-
News2 weeks ago
Additional Perspectives on the 2024 Eclipse: Views from the Moon and Earth’s Orbit
-
News2 weeks ago
House speaker receives additional request from GOP member to resign or be ousted
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Bethenny Frankel reveals that her mother Bernadette Birk passed away from lung cancer
-
News2 weeks ago
Forest Lawn Drive now free of RV encampment and parking