What Midway changed at sea

If Japan could still launch major operations after Midway, what momentum did the battle actually change?

Midway changed freedom of movement and sea control more than it eliminated Japan's ability to conduct operations outright.

Japan retained a primary fleet and could still mount large air, land, and naval operations after Midway. The change lay in which navy could move supporting forces more freely across the sea. American escort carriers and secondary formations could operate with greater latitude because the carrier balance reduced the threat to them. Japanese forces could still strike, but they had less freedom to cover and sustain the many other units needed across the theater. Midway is therefore framed as a shift in operational sea control rather than an instant end to Japanese offensive power.