– Manchester United are exploring a move for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, according to The Daily Mirror. The Red Devils are one of several clubs keen on signing the 27-year-old following a “bust-up” with manager Xabi Alonso, and would be willing to make an offer in the region of €80 million. However, that is expected to fall short of what Los Blancos would be looking for, with the Bernabéu hierarchy insisting on a deal over €100 million given that Valverde remains contracted until the summer of 2029.
– Paris Saint-Germain are considering a move for Barcelona‘s on loan striker Marcus Rashford, reports Football Insider. Rashford, 28, is on loan from Manchester United and Barca are favorites to sign him permanently as they can activate a €35 million release clause in the deal. Rashford has scored six goals while providing seven assists in 18 games since arriving at Camp Nou in the summer, but PSG are now keeping close tabs on his situation and could step up their interest if Barca opt not to do anything.
– Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, according to Footmercato. The three Premier League clubs are reported to have made initial enquiries regarding a potential approach for the 25-year-old, who has been placed high on their shortlists as a potential attacking reinforcement in the next two transfer windows. Ndiaye, who joined the Toffees from Marseille in 2024 for around €20 million, has scored four goals in 13 league matches this season.
– Bayern Munich and Barcelona are among the teams monitoring Santos full back Souza, who has been compared in style to former Real Madrid and Brazil star Marcelo. Diario AS reports that the Blaugrana have been interested in the 19-year-old since the summer, when he was also linked with Chelsea. It is believed that an offer worth €15 million would be enough to land him, but Santos don’t want to discuss a deal before the end of the campaign.
– Aston Villa are lining up a move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, according to The Daily Mirror. It is reported that the 24-year-old has been identified as a potential long-term replacement for Ollie Watkins, and manager Unai Emery is hopeful that the Villa Park hierarchy would be willing to tempt the Bees with a £50 million proposal. He scored his eleventh goal of the Premier League campaign on Saturday with a brace during the 3-1 win over Burnley.
EXPERT TAKE
play
1:46
Can Phil Foden reach Kevin De Bruyne’s level at Manchester City?
Janusz Michallik discusses Phil Foden’s performance and place in the Manchester City team after scoring twice in their win over Leeds.
OTHER RUMORS
– Barcelona will turn their attention to Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez if Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane doesn’t activate his €65 million release clause in the summer. (Sport)
– Benfica are weighing up a January approach for Bayern Munich left back Raphael Guerreiro. (A Bola)
– The €50 million release clause in the contract of Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy will only be available in the summer to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal. (Sport1)
– Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton will only consider a move to Manchester United if they qualify for next season’s Champions League. The Red Devils remain confident in winning the race to sign him. (Daily Mirror)
– Juventus remain attentive to the situation of Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with the Serie A club keen to reinforce their midfield in January. (Tuttosport)
– Roma are keen to add Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee on loan in January, but they would only be willing to include a permanent option clause worth £20 million. (Daily Mirror)
– Liverpool have made progress towards agreeing a contract extension with defender Ibrahima Konate while Real Madrid explore several other options. (TEAMtalk)
– Any offers from Nottingham Forest to sign Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood will be dismissed. (Football Insider)
– Multiple clubs including Atalanta, Eintracht Frankfurt, Crystal Palace and Fulham are interested in Watford winger Rocco Vata, 20, at around £20 million. (Daily Mail).
– A move for Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock is being considered by Crystal Palace. (Football Insider)
– Al Hilal will resist offers from Europe for forward Marcos Leonardo. (Ekrem Konur)
– Internazionale and Napoli have joined Juventus in the race for Atalanta wing back Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari. (Nicolo Schira)
Editor’s note: Black Friday deals are still happening, so check out the latest and greatest discounts that today has to offer.
You might find it kind of sad to put your hard-earned Switch 2 into a protective case. To me, it’s freeing. Using a case relieves me of the worry that it will accumulate tons of little scratches, or worse. I’ve tested several types of cases on the Nintendo Switch 2 since its June 2025 debut, including flimsy shells that snap or slide onto the Switch 2 to provide a simple, aesthetically pleasing barrier from scratches to the console and its Joy-Cons. I’ve also tested carrying cases that protect the console when it isn’t in use.
It didn’t take long for me to find one that I think is the best, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying new options from brands that are familiar, as well as from companies that aren’t household names. There’s something for everyone — and every budget — below.
What I look for in a Switch 2 case
We use each Switch 2 case as it was designed to be used. We follow the instructions to get the best fit and protection, noting along the way when a feature works better than expected, or worse. We don’t perform drop tests (I’m using my personal, and thus treasured, Switch 2), but we try our best to find weak points in each case.
Installing a case should be easy, not cumbersome. Given the Switch 2’s hybrid design, a multi-step process is expected, but it should be easy to install the case every time with little effort.
Since many gadget cases are made before said technology is publicly available, I make sure the cases that I test actually fit the Switch 2. Even a millimeter’s difference isn’t good enough for me or you.
Some protective cases come with compromises, like preventing you from detaching the Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 controllers. Others block the kickstand, and/or prevent the console from fitting into its dock for playing on a TV. Compromises are fine as long as you know what they are beforehand. I think most people want a case that doesn’t block the Switch 2’s unique features, so I’ve focused mostly on picks that retain them, except where noted otherwise.
I just listed my high standards for form-fitting cases made to fit the Switch 2 while it’s in use. However, the bar for carrying cases is lower. They just need to protect the console and, ideally, provide some extra value, like a pocket for cables, cartridge storage, or ideally both.
As for my favorite case, I didn’t want to make any major compromises; I wanted one that’s just as good for handheld mode as when docked, which is why I think the Dbrand Killswitch is the best model overall. I published a full review of the Killswitch, but the skinny is that while it’s perhaps more expensive than some may hope to pay, the level of protection and versatility it offers is worth the cost.
The best Switch 2 case for both handheld and docked play
$60
The Good
Very secure fit
Makes the Switch 2 feel more like a Steam Deck (in the best ways)
Clever dock adapter
The Bad
Chunky dock adapter
Not the most affordable case
Front protection only comes in the $80 tier
The least expensive Killswitch tier costs $59.95 and includes a set of Joy-Con 2 grips, a rear cover for the console and a small matching piece to adhere to its kickstand, all of which securely latch onto each component. It also includes one of Dbrand’s skins. There’s no piece of the Killswitch that feels like it’ll incidentally wiggle off.
Unfortunately, the protective case makes it impossible to fit the Switch 2 into the dock. However, Dbrand includes its workaround adapter that fits into the dock, essentially acting as an extender for it’s USB-C jack. It’s a fairly elegant solution that works as intended. The only downside is that it leaves your Switch 2’s screen exposed instead of concealed by the dock’s plastic wall. It’s a little clunky, but I’m willing to forgive it because it allows the Switch 2 to retain its docking functionality.
1/5Photo: Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
The tier I recommend for most Switch 2 players (especially those who will often throw their console into a bag) is the $79.85 “Travel” tier, which includes a semi-transparent cover that protects the front of your console when you aren’t using it. The cover fits around the front of your Killswitch-equipped console, securing around the back with a tough bungee cord latch. This tier also includes a pair of analog stick grips and a tray that holds 10 Switch cartridges and fits neatly within the travel cover. Dbrand is discounting its Ultra Killswitch kit for Black Friday, which includes all of the perks in the Travel tier, plus two tempered glass screen protectors. Normally $134.80, it’s $89.80 for a limited time.
When this guide was first published, Dbrand was in the midst of updating its Killswitch so that it wouldn’t allow the Joy-Con 2s’ magnets to break away without you pressing their release buttons. Basically, if you held your Killswitch-equipped Switch 2 parallel to the ground solely by either of the Joy-Con 2 controllers and give it a shake, the entire console portion was likely to detach, potentially causing serious damage to the console. Dbrand redesigned the Joy-Con 2 grips to fix the issue, and previous buyers can request a replacement free of charge. Future buyers will receive the Killswitch with the updated, improved grips. We’ve received the tweaked pieces and can confirm that they fix the issue.
The Jsaux Split Protective Case is an affordable alternative to Dbrand’s Killswitch, costing $29.99 but with many of the same characteristics. It includes two Joy-Con 2 grips that let you detach them from the system at will, and a transparent shell to clip around the back and the top and bottom edges of the Switch 2. Unlike the Killswitch, however, the Jsaux shell is so thin that the console can still fit into the dock. It also comes with a hard front cover that protect the screen during transit (or just for safekeeping), and it has storage for 10 Switch cartridges on its underside.
I’ve got minor qualms with Jsaux’s case, which I can overlook given its low price (and may not be an issue for you, anyway); the Joy-Con 2 grips are smaller, and don’t add as much bulk or grip as Dbrand’s Killswitch, but they’re still serviceable. Also, its build quality isn’t as good (for instance, on my review unit, there was a little bit of warped plastic that looks like a raised eyebrow near the power and volume buttons, though it’s hard to say if this affects multiple units).
Lastly, the design of its Joy-Con 2 grips exhibit the same edge case issue that Dbrand’s model initially faced before it issued a free fix to all owners. If you hold the Switch 2 by either Joy-Con and shake the console’s full weight downward, the force may be enough to completely detach it, sending the console down to the ground. In my testing, it was really difficult to get the Switch 2 to fall, so this hopefully shouldn’t impact many people, but it’s worth mentioning nevertheless.
The best carrying cases for the Switch 2
Tomtoc’s FancyCase Slim case has recently become my favorite Switch 2 zip-up case. Starting at around $33 and going up to $39 depending on the style that suits you best, it’s not the most affordable option. But it’s worth the cost if you want better protection than either the PowerA or Belkin cases below can provide. It has less give in its middle section by comparison. Another thing that sets it apart are the bulbous sections on the outer cover, which offer more vertical clearance above the Joy-Con 2’s analog sticks, ensuring they don’t get pressed while your console’s inside. Oh, and it includes color options that look like ice cream sandwiches.
The FancyCase Slim case is the best option I’ve tried not just for durability but also for a dash of style. That said, it’s short on other perks to justify the price. While Belkin’s Switch 2 carrying case features a pocket for storing microSD Express cards, a cable, or any other small trinket like an AirTag to track its location, the only thing inside of this one is a soft screen-protecting flap that can hold 12 Switch cartridges on the other side.
WaterField Designs has been making tweaks to its beloved, but pricey CitySlicker case for every major handheld to come along. For fans of the case, or those who are looking for a more premium option, the $129 Switch 2 version doesn’t change what isn’t broken. The City Slicker hugs the console’s curves closely enough to ensure a snug fit with a fleece interior, flanked by two pockets for cables and small accessories — one in front of where the Switch 2 sits, and one behind it. There’s a larger zip-up mesh pocket on its back.
High-quality materials set this case apart from the others on this list, and unsurprisingly are what drives up the cost. It features leather on the flap covering the system and around the front of the case. For the secondary material, you have the option of waxed canvas or ballistic nylon. If you want your Switch 2 to sleep in style, this would make for a great gift to yourself or to another game. However, the City Slicker likely won’t protect your console as much as a tougher zip-up or cover case can. Not to mention, you may prefer a case with more cartridge slots than the five that are punched out of this case’s luxe leather.
Power A’s slim zip-up case for the Switch 2 is a simple and inexpensive way to keep your console safe when you aren’t using it. It’s not a hard case, so it won’t survive catastrophic damage, but it’s a fine choice if you don’t want to add a bunch of heft. To that end, it’s one of the slimmest cases that I have tried.
At just $19.99 (half the cost of Nintendo’s official carrying case), baseline protection alone would be sufficient, but it offers safe storage for up to 10 Switch cartridges, too. The cartridge holder has a soft bottom that protects the screen, and it can also fold into a tent, allowing the Switch 2 to rest against it (the Switch 2 already has a kickstand for this).
This case doesn’t suffer from a negative trait that’s common among other slim cases (some of which are pricier than PowerA’s): being able to press on the Joy-Con 2 joysticks from the outside. Other cases might allow your Switch 2 to suffer some joystick damage unbeknownst to you, but not this one, as well as the others included in this section.
For $10 more ($29.99), Belkin’s slim case is better-looking than PowerA’s and is made with better materials. It has a carrying strap, a large mesh pocket, and a secret compartment for an Apple AirTag or similar Bluetooth tracker, all of which the PowerA case lacks. Belkin’s case can carry 12 cartridges, and it’s only slightly thicker than the PowerA case, likely to compensate for whatever cables or small gizmos you might stuff into its pocket. It features deep grooves to fit the Joy-Con 2’s triggers, and its outer shell it tough enough to prevent most accidental presses on the joysticks. It comes in dark gray, cream, and a fun green shade.
Belkin sells a $69.99 version of its slim case that features everything above and includes a 10,000mAh 20W battery for keeping the Switch 2 charged while it’s inside the case. The company says the battery can fully charge the console 1.5 times. The battery results in a thicker case, and its bespoke compartment only holds the specific Belkin model that’s included, so you won’t be able to swap in a different, faster-charging battery. Neither of those may be deal-breakers for you, but are worth keeping in mind.
The best grip case for the Switch 2’s handheld mode
The Killswitch is the best case for handheld mode because it allows you to remove the Joy-Con 2 controllers and includes an adapter to easily connect to the dock. Plus, it offers kickstand access.
If you don’t ever plan to connect your Switch 2 to its dock or detach its Joy-Cons, or it’ll be a rare occurrence, you might pick an all-in-one shell that fits completely around the console. It will protect every angle of your Switch 2 from dings and scratches, and may even keep it safe in the event of a drop.
The $29.99 Spigen Rugged Armor is a suitable option. It fits around nearly every nook of the Switch 2, leaving access to its headphone jack, USB-C ports, and speakers (it doesn’t cover up the air vents either because that’d be silly). It gets bonus points for fitting around the edges of the Joy-Con 2 while providing more pronounced grips, which may be a boon for those who experience hand or wrist pain while holding the console in handheld mode. However, as noted, you’ll need to remove the case in order to install the Switch 2 into its dock.
Update, November 18th: Verified prices and stock for products mentioned in this post, and added a new Black Friday deal for the Ultra tier of Dbrand’s Killswitch.
There aren’t many givens in a sport as chaotic as college football, but rivalry week coming with a wide array of trolls was probably as assured of a bet as you’d find this week.
Per tradition, the final week of the college football regular season paired a number of local and long-distance rivals alike, with trophies and bragging rights being bestowed to the winner. One additional — if admittedly minor — benefit of claiming a rivalry week victory? The ability to troll your opponent on social media afterward.
The Hawkeyes earned a win over their rivals to the west, Nebraska, on Friday, and had a simple but timely jab at the ready. Playing into the Black Friday game-day theme, Iowa posted a photo of a receipt between a Hawkeyes football helmet and the Heroes Trophy, with the text “the trophy’s not moving — again” just above Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz’s signature. The Hawkeyes have now won three straight, and 10 of the past 11, in the rivalry on the gridiron.
Iowa also added a post asserting the superiority of Iowa’s corn to Nebraska’s corn.
Iowa wasn’t the only team with jokes this week, though. Here are all the top trolls from around the college football world in Week 14.
Texas A&M entered Austin for its rivalry week matchup with Texas undefeated in its first 11 games and with a No. 3 national ranking. The Longhorns survived a slow first half to come out on top at home, winning their third consecutive Lone Star Showdown, and their second straight edition of the rivalry since it was brought back to the gridiron.
Unsurprisingly, Texas had a barrage of trolls for its in-state rivals — sending out posts that included a series of thumbs down emojis (flipping Texas A&M’s ‘gig em’ thumbs up gesture) as well as one with an Aggie-themed line from “Texas Fight” (“and it’s goodbye to A&M”). And as the final seconds ticked away, the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium took the opportunity to play an edited video — opening with a clip of Aggies head coach Mike Elko asserting that his squad represents the state’s flagship program.
Air Force‘s offense was stellar in the Falcons’ dominant rivalry win over Colorado State, posting 420 total yards and scoring at least one touchdown in every quarter to pull away from the Rams. Conference re-alignment played a central role in Air Force’s troll of their rivals, which featured a pair of suitcases set to either side of a ram next to a Pac-12 road sign, captioned “Sent them packing.” Colorado State will officially join the Pac-12 in 2026.
This season marked Northern Illinois‘ final campaign in the MAC, a fact that Kent State was happy to recall as the Golden Flashes tallied a season-ending victory. With the Huskies heading to the Mountain West next season, Kent State’s social media team also took a realignment-themed approach, noting that its final game in its soon-to-be former football conference came with a loss.
For the second straight year Navy will finish its regular season with at least nine wins, dispatching Memphis in a Thanksgiving matchup. The Midshipmen held the Tigers scoreless in the second half after trailing 17-14 at halftime, with a pair of rushing touchdowns by Alex Tecza and Blake Horvath making the difference for Navy in the final 30 minutes.
The Midshipmen took to social media after the game to opt for a mascot-oriented troll, posting an image of Navy’s goal symbol proudly standing atop a vanquished tiger.
The Falcons and Minutemen aren’t exactly traditional rivals — their Tuesday meeting was the first time the two schools faced off on the gridiron in a decade — but Bowling Green made sure to offer its opponents a solid ribbing after its midweek triumph.
A detailed graphic did the trick for the Falcons’ troll with a number of elements taking aim at Massachusetts‘ colonial nickname. A pocket watch featuring Bowling Green’s unofficial Pudge the Cat mascot sits below an old wooden rifle, with the caption “time’s up” completing the jab.
To maximize savings on Amazon Black Friday 2025 deals, start by making a list of must-have items and tracking current prices so you’ll know when a true deal drops. Create or update your Amazon account for faster checkout, enable 1-Click ordering if you use it, and add your favorite products to your Wish List or cart so you can monitor price changes. For the biggest advantage, sign up for deal alerts, subscribe to our E! Insider Shop newsletter, and follow our Instagram updates for real-time Amazon Lightning Deals and early Black Friday price drops.
When Do Black Friday Deals Start and End?
Black Friday 2025 officially falls on November 28, but Amazon traditionally launches its early Black Friday deals well before the holiday—sometimes weeks ahead. Many of the best Amazon Black Friday beauty and shopping deals will roll out in waves, beginning in early November, intensifying over Thanksgiving week, and continuing through Cyber Monday. Inventory sells out fast, so shopping early is the best way to secure top discounts before they disappear.
What Brands Have the Best Sales on Black Friday?
Amazon Black Friday 2025 is expected to feature major discounts across top beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Some of the biggest markdowns typically come from brands like Dyson, Olaplex, Charlotte Tilbury, Lululemon, Kate Spade, Peter Thomas Roth, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Coach, Michael Kors, and more. Whether you’re hunting for luxury skincare, trending makeup, premium haircare, or high-quality fashion and accessories, these brands consistently deliver some of the most impressive Amazon Black Friday deals of the year.
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But which team will stake its claim for the hardware in Las Vegas this season, and can it continue that tournament momentum into the postseason?
Here’s what you need to know about the in-season tournament, including rule changes for this season, takeaways from the week’s biggest games, schedule and scores.
Friday takeaways: Close games decide East quarterfinalists
The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks entered the final night of NBA Cup group stage action Friday as the only teams to have qualified for the knockout rounds of the tournament in each of its first two iterations. But only the winner of Friday night’s clash at Madison Square Garden would get the chance to make it three in a row.
Because of the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ loss to the Atlanta Hawks, and the Orlando Magic‘s win over the Detroit Pistons, it was known with three minutes to go in New York that if the Knicks won, they’d be headed to Toronto for the quarterfinals and if the Bucks won, they’d be headed to Orlando.
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo putting up 30 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists in 28 minutes in his return from a groin strain and, it was New York that prevailed with a 118-109 victory, punching its ticket into the quarterfinals. The Knicks had maintained a slim lead throughout the majority of the second half, and New York eventually managed to escape with a victory thanks to some clutch time heroics from Jalen Brunson, whose 3-point play with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter made it a three-possession game. The Knicks ground things out from there.
As a result, the Eastern Conference bracket was set, with the Magic getting the top seed, and with it a matchup with their in-state rivals the Miami Heat, and New York heading to Toronto to face the Raptors.
Coming into Friday night, the Raptors were the only Eastern Conference team assured of a place in the Cup’s knockout rounds. The Raptors won all four of their group stage games, and had a plus-55 point differentia but still had to wait to see if they’d get the top seed because of the Magic’s rout against the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
If Orlando won, it would be the top seed, and the Raptors would be second, whereas a Pistons win — as long as it wasn’t by over 30 points — would mean Toronto would get the top seed.
The Magic and Pistons played a barnburner in Detroit, where Cade Cunningham had a brilliant intentional free throw miss in the closing seconds, with it ricocheting directly back to him so he could kick it out to Duncan Robinson for a potential tying 3-pointer.
The other team whose résumé was set heading into this final day of action was the Heat, who were 3-1 and sported a plus-49 point differential in the group stage.
Miami had multiple ways to make it into the knockout rounds, but when Orlando won, the Heat were virtually assured of being the wild-card entry from the East if the Knicks won, and would’ve been the Group C winners had the Bucks won.
What to watch in the West
The Suns and Thunder meet Friday in Oklahoma City with the top spot in Group A on the line, but a little of the excitement is undercut by the fact that both undefeated teams might reach the quarterfinals. In fact, we might have a rematch at the same arena in the quarterfinals next week if the Thunder win close on Friday.
With a league-best plus-71 point differential in NBA Cup play, Oklahoma City is all but assured of advancing as either the No. 1 seed in the West or the wild card.
Phoenix’s chances are more tenuous with a loss, but their plus-35 differential is currently best of the contenders and San Antonio’s win means Group C can no longer produce a wild card. The Clippers and Grizzlies will square off, with both looking for a decisive win to get in the wild-card conversation.
However, the night’s only clear deciding game will be in Denver, where the Nuggets host the Spurs for Group C supremacy. San Antonio will remain without All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, who’s sidelined by a calf strain. The stakes are clear: Friday’s winner takes Group C, while the loser will be eliminated. — Kevin Pelton
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. (Prime)
Memphis Grizzlies at LA Clippers, 10 p.m.
FAQ (by Tim Bontemps)
The NBA unveiled the six groups for the third edition of its in-season tournament — now called the Emirates NBA Cup. Here’s a look at everything you’ll need to know about the return of the competition.
What is the format?
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has had a long-standing fascination with European soccer. Establishing an in-season cup competition within the NBA schedule came from soccer leagues having both a regular-season title, won by the team with the most points over the full year, and a separate tournament (or, in some leagues, multiple tournaments) that runs concurrently with the league season. In England, for example, there are the various divisions — led by the Premier League — and also the FA Cup competition. But unlike those European leagues, which play their cup competitions outside of their league schedules, the NBA Cup is built into the regular-season slate. The 30 NBA teams are split into six five-team groups — three featuring Eastern Conference teams, and three comprising Western Conference teams — with each team then playing one game against the other four in its group. The winner of each group, plus the team with the best record among the non-group winners, will then advance to the knockout stage of the competition.
How will this impact the regular-season schedule and standings?
Typically, the NBA sends out a full 82-game schedule in mid-August. Now, the league sends out only 80 games and leaves a gap for roughly a week to fill in later, depending on how the group stage of the NBA Cup plays out.
The two teams from the East and West that lose in the quarterfinals will play their 82nd game against one another on one of four dates: Dec. 11, 12, 14 or 15. Meanwhile, the 22 teams that fail to qualify for the knockout rounds will have their final two games scheduled — one at home and one on the road — on Dec. 11 or 12 and 14 or 15 against others eliminated in the group stage.
The teams that reach the NBA Cup’s finale will actually play 83 games — though the championship game won’t count toward the standings or any statistical markers. All four teams that make it to Las Vegas for the semifinals will have completed their 82 games, and won’t need anything else added. The additional wrinkle added to this year’s schedule is the possibility that a few dates on the calendar may move around. On Dec. 8, there are currently three games scheduled: the Sacramento Kings at the Indiana Pacers; the Phoenix Suns at the Minnesota Timberwolves; and the San Antonio Spurs at the New Orleans Pelicans. If any of those teams are playing in the quarterfinals, taking place on Dec. 9 and 10, those games would move to Dec. 7 (a decision that would be made by Nov. 29, the day after the end of the group stage).
This also would only be an issue if one of the teams were playing on Dec. 9. If they’re playing Dec. 10, nothing will change. The other scheduling quirk is that there are currently eight teams — the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards — scheduled to play on Dec. 17, the day after the championship game in Las Vegas.
Any team that makes it to the semifinals in Las Vegas would have that game moved later into the schedule to avoid back-to-back games. The NBA made this change in an effort to avoid having empty days on the calendar while attempting to minimize back-to-back games for all teams as much as possible.
Are the semifinals and finals still being played in Las Vegas?
For this season, yes. Next year, however, the semifinals — like the quarterfinals — will be played at home sites. Having teams go to Sin City for a week (and, more importantly, trying to get fans there for two games over several days on short notice) hasn’t gone the way the league initially believed that it would.
What is new about the tournament this year?
Most of the games are being shown on Amazon Prime, including the knockout rounds. The schedule is also primarily on Fridays, beginning on Halloween, rather than bouncing back and forth from Tuesday to Friday throughout November as it did during the first two years of the tournament.
Why does the NBA Cup include regular-season games?
Before its launch, one of the main questions surrounding the in-season tournament was why any team would be incentivized to compete in it. The NBA ensured teams will be motivated by making every game part of the season — and, being in-conference, potentially important from a playoff-tiebreaker standpoint. If this had been set up like the cup tournaments in European soccer, there would have been nothing stopping NBA teams from opting out, literally or figuratively — sitting their top players for extra rest.
What teams make up the groups?
To create the groups, the NBA put all 15 teams in each conference into five pots, separated by their finish in last season’s standings. Pot 1 included the teams that finished 1-3 in regular-season record, teams 4-6 went into Pot 2, teams 7-9 into Pot 3, teams 10-12 into Pot 4, and teams 13-15 into Pot 5. As a result, the following groups were drawn:
Does one group stand out the most from the others?
This one is easy: West Group C. Three of the top four teams in the Western Conference — Houston, Denver and Golden State — are in the group, plus a Blazers team that excelled down the stretch last season. Oh, and don’t forget about Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, too. West Group B is also competitive, but Memphis is already dealing with injuries, Dallas is missing Kyrie Irving and the Pelicans are expected to be well outside the playoff picture.
What do players get for winning?
In 2023, the first year the tournament was held, the players on the winning team received $500,000 each, while those on the runners-up got $200,000. The losing players of the semifinals each got $100,000, and those ousted in the quarterfinals each got $50,000. Now, in each subsequent year, the prizes will be slightly higher, as a result of negotiated raises year over year to keep pace with increases in the salary cap and basketball-related income as part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.
Will anyone earn individual honors for their play in NBA Cup games?
There will be an MVP award, as well as an all-tournament team.
Will this have any impact on the playoffs?
Not beyond the games counting in the regular-season standings (and toward tiebreakers). The only playoff impact comes from the wins and losses accrued throughout the tournament. Though there was debate among league insiders about guaranteeing a playoff berth for winning the tournament, ultimately, that idea (or any other to further incentivize teams) was not enacted.
Why is it called the Emirates NBA Cup?
The league struck a sponsorship deal with Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, to sponsor the tournament after its initial run. The NBA said last year that it went with the most basic titles for both the tournament and its trophy — the “in-season tournament” and “NBA Cup” — as a way to introduce the concept to fans. However, using such nondescript names had another clear advantage: It gave the league a blank slate in case the tournament and cup became properties it ended up selling to a sponsor, and avoided the complications that could arise by naming them after someone (for example, the late NBA commissioner David Stern, one possibility that had been floated before the tournament was officially unveiled).
It may not surprise anyone who is tech-aware that publications such as The Verge track the affiliate links that their readers click — in fact, every article that links to a vendor has this statement on top: “If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.”
So we will be totally honest with you: we do have some idea of which products our readers are purchasing during the Black Friday sales. (But no, we have no idea what you personally purchased.) And it can be interesting to see which products are more popular — because they are definitely not all tech. If you also find it as interesting as we do, here are some of the top products that you, our readers, have purchased through our site.
To maximize savings on Amazon Black Friday 2025 deals, start by making a list of must-have items and tracking current prices so you’ll know when a true deal drops. Create or update your Amazon account for faster checkout, enable 1-Click ordering if you use it, and add your favorite products to your Wish List or cart so you can monitor price changes. For the biggest advantage, sign up for deal alerts, subscribe to our E! Insider Shop newsletter, and follow our Instagram updates for real-time Amazon Lightning Deals and early Black Friday price drops.
When Do Black Friday Deals Start and End?
Black Friday 2025 officially falls on November 28, but Amazon traditionally launches its early Black Friday deals well before the holiday—sometimes weeks ahead. Many of the best Amazon Black Friday beauty and shopping deals will roll out in waves, beginning in early November, intensifying over Thanksgiving week, and continuing through Cyber Monday. Inventory sells out fast, so shopping early is the best way to secure top discounts before they disappear.
What Brands Have the Best Sales on Black Friday?
Amazon Black Friday 2025 is expected to feature major discounts across top beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Some of the biggest markdowns typically come from brands like Dyson, Olaplex, Charlotte Tilbury, Lululemon, Kate Spade, Peter Thomas Roth, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Coach, Michael Kors, and more. Whether you’re hunting for luxury skincare, trending makeup, premium haircare, or high-quality fashion and accessories, these brands consistently deliver some of the most impressive Amazon Black Friday deals of the year.
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As a service to fans who have a general interest in WWE but might not have watched a match in months, we’re happy to provide this FAQ as a guide to Survivor Series: WarGames, on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET from Petco Park in San Diego. The Premium Live Event (PLE) will stream exclusively in the U.S. for fans with a subscription to the ESPN Unlimited plan — either directly or through a traditional pay TV package — on the ESPN App.
What’s a WarGames match again?
We’ve come a long way from the humble beginnings of Survivor Series. Back in the day, it was all about multi-wrestler elimination tag-team matches, with mismatched partners and goofy team names like “Roddy’s Rowdies” and “Clowns Are Us.” Want to see Lex Luger team with The Undertaker against a team of “foreigners” that included Roman Reigns’ cousin, Yokozuna? There’s a Survivor Series for that!
Since 2022, Survivor Series has featured men’s and women’s WarGames matches contested between the two rings surrounded by a giant steel cage without a roof. The lack of ceiling denotes the difference between a “cage” and a “cell” in WWE parlance. Two participants from each five-person team start the match. A new member from each team enters the match at preset time intervals until all the participants are in the ring and the match officially begins. The match can only be won by pinfall or submission. Things tend to get violent fairly quickly.
Last year’s match had Roman Reigns teaming with his cousins, Jimmy and Jey Uso, while forging a fragile alliance with CM Punk, against a team with Bronson Reed on it. This year’s match has … Reigns teaming with his cousins Jimmy and Jey Uso, while forging a fragile alliance with Punk, against a team with Bronson Reed on it. But so much more!
Who’s battling in the men’s WarGames match?
In addition to the Usos and Punk, the fifth member of Reigns’ team this year is undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes. And by that we mean “Rhodes’ team.” Or is it world heavyweight champion CM Punk’s team? As usual, galactic-sized egos are trying to coexist for the greater good, but Reigns has indicated he wouldn’t mind a shot at either Rhodes or Punk’s title when this WarGames business is over.
In this case, “the greater good” is beating the snot out of The Vision, the faction led by the malevolent Paul Heyman. Please recall that The Vision was the group founded by Seth Rollins after his epic heel turn against Reigns and Punk at WrestleMania 41. The Vision is now Bron Breakker and Reed, who joined forces with Rollins only to attack him months later, writing him off television for at least six months following a reported shoulder injury suffered at Crown Jewel. (Although after that swerve with the crutches, we’re side-eying any Rollins injury timeline.)
What’s the sense of having nefarious antagonists if Logan Paul isn’t part of the team, right? The heat magnet slugged Punk with a pair of brass knuckles on a recent episode of “Raw” before aligning with Heyman’s group. Later, Paul and The Vision attacked Punk, with Rhodes and Jey Uso arriving to have his back against their own rivals. Punk issued the challenge for a WarGames match, telling Heyman to go find his team. The next guy he found technically wasn’t allowed to wrestle.
Drew McIntyre was suspended by “SmackDown” general manager Nick Aldis for attacking a referee. But Heyman, wise man that he is, found a loophole in his WarGames contract: He was allowed to choose any member of the WWE roster to join Team Vision. McIntyre, while suspended, is still a member of the roster, so he was on the team and joined in an attack on the Usos, Rhodes and Punk.
On Nov. 17, Heyman’s team added a formidable fifth: Brock Lesnar, who hit the “Raw” ring and gave Punk and Rhodes an all-expenses-paid trip to Suplex City. But just as Lesnar was congratulating Heyman at ringside, Reigns’ music hit to the shock of the crowd. One Superman punch on Lesnar later, and it was clear the odds had been evened.
(Lesnar would later light up the internet on the “go home” episode of “Raw,” slipping and falling during his pyro-filled intro. But we give him major props for the Simone Biles-esque somersault that undercut the botch.)
While half the competitors in this WarGames match were banging against the cages a year ago, this is far from a repeat affair. Heyman was aligned with Punk and Reigns in 2024 — not so much now. Last year’s match was in the last gasps of The Bloodline feud; this year’s event finds The Vision, and especially Breakker, more ascendant. And due respect to Sami Zayn, who was the fifth member of the Punk-Reigns team last year, but any WarGames is more compelling with Rhodes inside the cages, considering his father, the late Dusty Rhodes, was the inventor of the format.
What about the women’s WarGames match?
There are a lot of simmering rivalries fueling this match, but the most compelling features a former women’s champion who hadn’t been seen in the WWE for nearly a decade before this year: AJ Lee.
About two months ago, Punk was feuding with WWE power couple Rollins and Becky Lynch, who attacked Punk during a match against Rollins at Clash In Paris. When Lynch and Punk dueled on the mic in the aftermath of that attack, fans began chanting “AJ Lee!” in reference to Punk’s real-life wife. Lynch eventually snapped back with “she doesn’t work here!” … until Lee started working there again in September, skipping out of the back like it was 2013 again, to the shock of Lynch.
This led to a mixed tag-team match between the two couples at Wrestlepalooza, where Lee forced Lynch to submit with the Black Widow. Then came the ultimate indignity: Lee distracted Lynch in a title match at Madison Square Garden, allowing Maxxine Dupri to end “The Man’s” Intercontinental Championship reign at a record 163 days.
The loss sent Lynch into a spiral. She accused referee Jessika Carr of being a “crooked” CM Punk fan. She threatened legal action, calling Lee an unlicensed manager at ringside and claiming the match was “rigged.”
Another feud in the women’s WarGames match is between the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) and their former teammate, Iyo Sky. The Warriors didn’t like that Sky wanted to align with Rhea Ripley, which eventually led them to turn on Sky and attack both Sky and Ripley.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss — the rivals-to-besties who won the Women’s Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam in August — were involved in a feud with Nia Jax and, eventually, NXT call-up Lash Legend. Legend, a former WNBA player, attacked Bliss during a match between Flair and Jax and later helped Jax cost them the titles in a match against the Kabuki Warriors, the new champs. Sky and Ripley returned from injury to rescue Bliss and Flair from a four-on-two beatdown, leading Ripley — sporting a facemask after breaking her nose in a match last month — to issue the challenge to WarGames.
Initially, Flair refused to play Ripley’s reindeer games, citing their long history as rivals as a reason not to trust her. But thanks to a wooden table, dramatic music and mood lightning, the two called a truce after Ripley said there was no one she’d rather go to war with. Which, admittedly, sounded a little confrontational, so she followed that up with “there’s no one I’d rather stand side-by-side with” in a war.
Anyway, Flair was like “OK” because flattery will get you everywhere.
There’s a ton of talent in this match, with high-fliers and power wrestlers. But it’s hard not to think that this WarGames match will come down to Lynch and Lee.
What about the Women’s World Championship?
WWE women’s champion Jade Cargill isn’t on the Survivor Series card — although she might have some business with women’s United States champion Chelsea Green on the horizon. Women’s world title holder Stephanie Vaquer, she of the scary ram horns, defends her title against former ally Nikki Bella at Survivor Series.
Vaquer and Bella were a tag team feuding with the Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. Vaquer put over the fact that she was teaming with a Divas’ Revolution legend. As the saying goes, never form a makeshift tag team with your idols. Bella turned on Vaquer, attacking her with the title belt then doffing her red shirt to reveal an EVIL BLACK SHIRT underneath, like she went from nWo WolfPac to Hollywood in an instant!
What’s the latest on the John Cena retirement tour?
Survivor Series is the final PLE for Cena before his retirement match on Dec. 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. Fun fact: He first appeared on a WWE pay-per-view over 23 years ago, defeating Chris Jericho at Vengeance 2002.
Cena enters Survivor Series as Grand Slam Champion after his Intercontinental Championship victory over Dominik Mysterio on Nov. 10, winning each of the singles and tag team championships during his WWE career. That victory came in Boston, not far from Cena’s hometown of West Newbury. He agreed to give “Dirty Dom” a rematch in Mysterio’s hometown of San Diego at Survivor Series.
As one might expect, Mysterio has enjoyed trolling Cena ahead of their title rematch. Witness his shenanigans at “Raw” on Monday, when he popped the crowd by playing Cena’s theme music only to have a Micro Wrestling Federation wrestler dressed as Cena emerge from the back. When “little” John went off script in the ring, Dom gave him a boot to the chest. Just in case you were worried, Dom couldn’t become any more loathsome.
While Cena has this title defense at Survivor Series, there’s an ongoing “The Last Time Is Now” tournament in the WWE to determine who will face “The Last Real Champion” in his retirement match.
Did you know that Gunther, who is in the final four of the tournament, is the longest-reigning Intercontinental champion ever and has never before faced Cena in a match? Huh, fancy that.
What’s the biggest thing to watch at Survivor Series?
The thing to watch for this Saturday is the thing that has always made Survivor Series matches intriguing: “Can they coexist?”
That not only goes for Flair and Ripley in the women’s match, but the holy trinity of self-importance that is Rhodes, Punk and Reigns — three wrestlers united by a common enemy and potentially divided by their own self interests. In the end, the real survivors are the ones who can check their egos at the cage door. And clearly, not everyone in these WarGames will survive them.
