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Defector

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Sophie Cunningham announces a round in a lightweight fight during the UFC 329 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WNBA

Sophie Cunningham Is About As Edgy As A Beach Ball

Tom Ley

Phee’s Back

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Which Version Of The Indiana Fever Is The Real One?

Skylar Diggins #4 of the Chicago Sky warms up prior to the game against the Portland Fire at Wintrust Arena on June 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois

The Long-Awaited Blowup Between Skylar Diggins And The Sky Has Finally Arrived

Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream shoots against the Golden State Valkyries in the fourth quarter at Gateway Center Arena on July 4, 2026 in College Park, Georgia.

The Atlanta Dream Are Getting Drowsy

Patrick Redford

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx looks on during the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on June 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Liv Takes Miles, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever passes the ball during the game against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Don’t Let Bored Football Fans Tell The Story Of Caitlin Clark’s Season

Women's Basketball

Marina Mabrey smiles during her game against the LA Sparks

Marina Mabrey Got 53 The Fun Way

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 22: Kennedy Burke #25 of the Connecticut Sun goes up for a shot defended by Natasha Cloud #9 of the Chicago Sky in the first quarter at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 22, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The Chicago Sky Have Nothing To Look Forward To

Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings in the third quarter at Target Center on June 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lynx defeated the Wings 100-76.

Olivia Miles Is The Throwback Point Guard Of The Future

Israel Daramola

I Have Been Olivia Miles-Pilled

The Indiana Fever flag waves during a WNBA game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever on May 20, 20, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, IN.

Indiana Fever Revoke Beat Writer’s Press Credentials Over Caitlin Clark Injury Report

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton #44 and Pauline Astier #18 of the New York Liberty celebrate after a timeout during the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Barclays Center on May 27, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Don’t Think Too Hard About The New York Liberty

Paige Bueckers #5 and Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings confer against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Wintrust Arena on May 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Dallas Wings Can Find A Bucket Anywhere

Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces handles the ball during the WNBA game between Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun on May 15, 2026, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Who Can Keep Up With Chennedy Carter?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries smiles on the side of the court during the first half of their game against the Chicago Sky at Chase Center on May 13, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Even A Bad Valkyries Game Is A Pretty Great Time

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half of their game at Crypto.com Arena on May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Cameron Brink Is All Tangled Up

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots over Alanna Smith #8 of the Dallas Wings

Role Players, Ring Chasers, And A Shadow GM: Your Guide To The 2026 WNBA Season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Flau'jae Johnson (L) of LSU poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 8th pick in the first round by the Golden State Valkyries during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)

Valkyries GM Declines To Explain Why She Traded Flau’jae Johnson For Two Second-Rounders

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Carolyn Swords Sees The WNBA Becoming The League She Hoped For

Angel Reese lays on her back during a game

The Chicago Sky Cost Themselves Angel Reese

Ray Ratto

Houston Rockets Kenny Smith (C) gets squeezed out on a screen play by Seattle Supersonic Detlef Schrempf (R) as his teammate Gary Payton (L) dribbles past during game one of their Western Conference semifinal series on May 4 in Seattle.

A Basketball Team Can Be Sold, But Who Owns Its History?

David Roth

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman women's basketball team in the gymnasium of Ladies Hall (now Chadbourne Hall), Madison, Wisconsin, 1900.

Please, Mr. Pibb Is My Father, With Emma Baccellieri

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holds a Golden State Valkyries jersey after announcing their fifth overall pick of Juste Joyce during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Welcome To The Craziest Possible WNBA Offseason, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics, Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm, Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces, Sonia Citron #2 of the Washington Mystics and Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The WNBA And Players’ Union Have A Verbal Agreement On A New CBA

Tamika Tremaglio, Executive Director of the NBA Players Association, speaks during the NBPA 2023 All-Star Weekend Press Conference at the Hyatt Regency on February 18, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Former NBPA Head Tamika Tremaglio Discusses The WNBA Labor Battle And The Art Of Bargaining

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Phantom dribbles the ball against Breanna Stewart #30 of the Mist during the first quarter of an Unrivaled 2026 at Sephora Arena on January 12, 2026 in Medley, Florida

What’s Going On With The WNBA CBA Talks?

The cover of Rooting Interest, next to a jump ball in a WNBA game.

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? 


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

James Pearce Jr. attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on February 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

James Pearce Jr. Arrested, Charged With Aggravated Battery, Stalking

“Disgusted” Breanna Stewart Holds Up “Abolish ICE” Sign Before Unrivaled Game

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Duren #0 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on November 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)