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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase (left) talks with guard Carla Leite (right) during the second quarter of a WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at College Park Center in Arlington, TX.

WNBA

The WNBA Had Too Much Going On Last Night

Kathryn Xu

New York Yankees Left Fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) steals second base with Los Angeles Angels Shortstop Zach Neto (9) catching the throw.

Will The Yankees Ever Score Another Run? No

Defector Staff

In the shadows, c.1920. Private Collection. Creator: Cucuel, Edward (1875-1954).

Arts And Culture

Books We Think You Should Read This Summer

Patrick Redford

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Christian Pulisic #10, and Tyler Adams #4 on the field after playing Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League third place match at SoFi Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Soccer

The USMNT Is Going Nowhere

Albert Burneko

AI-Powered Robot interacts with People during the Italian Tech Week 2024 at OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni on September 26, 2024 in Turin, Italy.

Capital

Toward A Theory Of Kevin Roose

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Journalismism

Each William Langewiesche Disaster Story Was An Event In Itself

David Roth

President Trump, sitting alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and First Lady Melania Trump, observe U.S. Army tanks traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue, during a celebration of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on Flag Day, June 14, 2025.

Politics

Against The Day

Ray Ratto

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

Barry Petchesky

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE17: Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers lifts the cup in the locker room during their team celebration after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Panthers Grind All Before Them To Dust

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Kris Humphries Celebrates His Bachelor Party at LAVO

Funbag

Bachelor Parties Are Strictly Optional

Luis Paez-Pumar

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald J. Trump sign a football during a World Cup 2026 ceremony after a state dinner at the Lusail Palace on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.

FIFA Says Yes To Racism

San Francisco Giants’ President Buster Posey talks to the media before Giants play San Diego Padres during MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Buster Posey Made The Big Deal Giants Fans Have Been Waiting For

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning.

Shohei Ohtani Is Getting Back To Abnormal

Lauren Theisen

Nobody Knows Who The Oilers Should Start At Goalie In The Most Important Game Of The Season

The author can be reached at postpostdoc@protonmail.com.

Post-Postdoc

This photo taken on January 4, 2022 shows a vehicle with Luminar LiDAR based Proactive Safety pre-collision braking crash avoidance technology (R) stopping to avoid a child-sized test dummy as it is demonstrated on a test track, while a Tesla Model Y collides with the test dummy (L) at the Las Vegas Convention Center ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. - As it pursues the goal of fully autonomous driving, Tesla has bet entirely on cameras and artificial intelligence, shunning other commonly used tools such as laser detection.

The Machines

When An AI Agent Tries To Kill You, Who Goes To Jail?

The Thunder Are Sharpening Their Knives

Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., speaks during a rally outside National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headquarters to oppose the recent worker firings, in Sliver Spring, Md., on Monday, March 3, 2025

Weenie Centrist Legislator Faceplants Hard At Weekend Protest Event

Kelsey McKinney

dakota johnson and pedro pascal slow dance at a wedding in materialists

Defector At The Movies

A Good Marriage Plot Needs Real Stakes

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
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Lucy Bloom

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the field before the game

Dodgers Innovate Watchable June Bullpen Game

Lando Norris walks away after a crash during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada.

Racing

Lando Norris Fails To Find One Gap, Widens Another

Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 16: Swing Both Ways

J.J. Spaun fist pumps after making the winning putt

Golf

J.J. Spaun’s Last Shot Was The Shot Of His Life

Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates after defeating the New York Yankees in a shutout to sweep the series at Fenway Park on Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Red Sox Fans Chopped Up And Cooked On The Hot Stove

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 13: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a layup against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Finals Good As Hell

Tom Ley

Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 24, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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.