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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.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On July 15

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Live Event

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Tom Ley

A woman wearing Save Girls Sport hat records a video of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the girls long jump at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School on May 24, 2025 in Moorpark, California.

CIF Southern Section Masters Meet

Youth Sports

It’s A Great Time To Be A Pathetic Loser

<p>Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in <i data-stringify-type="italic">The Normal School</i>, <i data-stringify-type="italic">New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review</i>, and elsewhere.</p>


Jae Towle Vieira headshot

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

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Podcasts

The Champagne Socialist And The Espresso Martini Capitalist

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Albert Burneko

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a jump shot against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

tyrese haliburton fadeaway

Faster Is Better

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Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the dugout.

ohtaniHomerMetsSmileYay

Dodgers So Desperate For Starting Pitching They Turn To DH

<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>


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Drew Magary

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks during a Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor induction ceremony during halftime of a game against the Washington Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Washington Commanders v Indianapolis Colts

Funbag

Jim Irsay Can’t Meddle With The Colts Anymore, But His Kids Can

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Lauren Theisen

Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal

Carolina Hurricanes v Florida Panthers – Game Four

The Hurricanes Avoided The Garbage Can

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Ray Ratto

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 22 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Eastern Conference Final Panthers at Hurricanes

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

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Soraya Roberts

Benny (Benito Skinner), Carmen (Wally Baram), Holmes in OVERCOMPENSATING

Overcompensating – First Look

Arts And Culture

‘Overcompensating’ Is Not A Joke

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball against Julius Randle #30 and Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Minnesota Timberwolves – Game Four

That’s What We All Want To See

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts to a play against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 26: Ball Don’t Lie (Themeless)

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) drives past Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25) and goes in for two during a WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on May 24, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.

WNBA: MAY 24 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever

WNBA

Natasha Cloud Is A Kid In New York’s Candy Store

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Billy Haisley

Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius (second right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mates during the UEFA Women's Champions League final at Estadio Jose Alvalade, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Arsenal v Barcelona – UEFA Women’s Champions League – Final – Estadio Jose Alvalade

Soccer

Arsenal Met The Moment And Became Champions

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David Roth

Blueberries are sold at a store in Annapolis, Maryland, on April 4, 2025. These are not the blueberries that Jon Heyman purchased for $15.99 in Manhattan.

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This Is So Stupid

Defector Investigates: Is Jon Heyman Paying Too Much For Blueberries?

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Donald Trump holds up a printed article from "American Thinker" while accusing South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa of state-sanctioned violence against white farmers in South Africa during a press availability in the Oval Office at the White House on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.

trump ramaphosa

Margin Of Error

What Do You Do About A Declining President?

Dave McKenna

Kilkenny players return to the field before the Leinster Senior Camogie final match between Wexford and Kilkenny at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow.

Wexford v Kilkenny – Leinster Senior Camogie Final

Hurling

Dumbass Irish Rule Forcing Female Athletes To Wear Skirts Finally Repealed

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


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Nicholas Russell

MITomCruise

‘Mission: Impossible’ Must Finally Reckon With Tom Cruise’s Ego


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


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Sabrina Imbler

Picture of Colossal’s Dire Wolves; Romulus and Remus at age three months. Born 10/1/2024

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Creaturefector

Colossal Biosciences Can’t Have It Both Ways

A dejected Brenton Doyle #9 of the Colorado Rockies sits on the ground after a go-ahead two run home run off the bat of Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies flew over his glove in the eighth inning at Coors Field on May 19, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Philadelphia Phillies v Colorado Rockies

Rockies Fans’ Best Hope Might Be More Losses


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

Jeffrey Lurie, in a suit and tie with Eagles players behind him, points to the sky with his mouth open in celebration after Super Bowl 59.

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Substantial Speech Seemingly Saves Sport’s Shove

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025.

NHL: MAY 09 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Maple Leafs at Panthers

Paul Maurice And The Panthers Do Not Care If You’re Having Fun

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Kelsey McKinney

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen performs at City Year Los Angeles Spring Break at Sony Studios on April 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California

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Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Really Really Really Really Really Really Likes Carly Rae Jepsen

Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on May 22, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Milwaukee Brewers v Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Avoid Historic Humiliation, Suffer Regular Kind Instead

Police officers are seen outside the Supreme Court of the United States is seen on Thursday May 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The court is hearing arguments about lower courts' ability to block President Donald Trump's policy to end birthright citzenship.

Supreme Court – Washington, DC

Notes Of Sparkling Authoritarianism, With Jason Steinhauer

Tracy Morgan, Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller attend Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 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.

Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks – Game One

Congratulations, You Are Officially Having A Better Day Than Several Celebrities

Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 21, 2025.

Edmonton Oilers v Dallas Stars – Game One

Three Goals, Six Minutes, No Response

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