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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Ray Ratto

An aerial view of Sutter Health Park on January 24, 2021 in West Sacramento, Calif. The stadium is the home of the Sacramento River Cats.

West Sacramento Just Needs To Let The A’s Come To Them

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chicago Sky fans celebrates during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on June 27, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

WNBA

WNBA Ticket Prices Are Going Up, But It Wasn’t Inevitable

Rachelle Hampton

Visitors examine the exhibition as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City presents the groundbreaking exhibition The Harlem Renaissance and Transtlantic Modernism which includes some 160 works of painting, sculpture, photography, film, and ephemera in New York, United States on February 20, 2024.The exhibition opens in Black History Month, is honoring the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history.

Arts And Culture

Girl, Uninterrupted

Israel Daramola

Lauren Theisen

Patrick Redford

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Is So Brat

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Dennis Young is the news editor at Front Office Sports.</span></p>


Dennis Young

David Roche sprays a bottle of champagne after winning the Leadville 100

Interviews

How David Roche Nearly Ran His Dick Off And Maybe Changed Ultrarunning In The Process

Johnny Gaudreau And His Brother Matthew Have Died

Giri Nathan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts after a point against Botic van De Zandschulp of the Netherlands during their Men's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Is Out

Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani holds Decoy in his arms while Decoy licks at his face.

Life's Rich Pageant

Just A Bunch Of High-Resolution Photos Of Shohei Ohtani And His Dog

David Roth

Manhattan sky is seen after the rain storm in New York City.

Podcasts

Some Kind Of Summer Vibes

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.

I Believe In The Seattle Mariners

Samer Kalaf

Boar's Head deli meats Recall notice at Deli counter in grocery store, Queens, New York.

“Heavy Meat Buildup,” And More Alarming Phrases From A USDA Inspection Of A Boar’s Head Plant

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Highmark Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bears won 33-6.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Buffalo Bills

Fans cool off in misters during Day Three of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

A Sweltering U.S. Open Inspires Many Ways To Stay Cool, Most Of Them Useless

Travis Jankowski celebrates after the Rangers win

White Sox Almost Win

<p>John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and <em>Maclean’s</em>.</p>


John Loeppky

Paris , France - 26 August 2024; A general view of the Agito logo on the Arc de Triomphe in advance of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Parasports

Why Aren’t Paralympic Broadcasters Better?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Podcaster Alex Cooper poses before a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 26, 2024

Journalismism

For Wondery And SiriusXM, Spending Big Isn’t The Same As Thinking Big

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 24: Cal McNair of the Houston Texans walks off the field during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at NRG Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Houston Texans

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

DraftKings Sued By NFL Players Association Over Reignmakers Rug-Pull

Bocce is played near the ferry building, Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in San Francisco, Calif.

A Bocce Loser’s Guide To Losing At Bocce

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts to defeating Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the first round on Day 2 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2024 in New York City (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Naomi Osaka Found The Joy

<p>Alex Prewitt is a writer in Brooklyn. He shoots free throws the normal way.</p>


Alex Prewitt

Timber Cleghorn stands shirtless in front of his shelter on the show 'Alone.'

Anxiety, Injury, And Constipation: An Executive Producer Discusses The Toll On ‘Alone’ Contestants

Dave McKenna

US author and journalist Diana Nyad arrives for Elle's 2023 Women in Hollywood celebration, at Nya Studios in Los Angeles, California, on December 5, 2023.

Swimming

Lawsuit: Open Water Swimming Expert Rewrote Swimming History To Glorify Diana Nyad


<p>Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.</p>


Richard Staff

An illustration of several baseball mitts trying to catch the same ball

The Minor League Shrink And The Growing Gap Between Triple-A And The Bigs

Tom Ley

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks to pass in the first half during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brandy Jensen

September 1958: An employee of the 'Housewives Help Service' hoovering the living room of a businesswoman while she relaxes. (Photo by Frank Martin/BIPs/Getty Images)