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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

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at The Kia Forum on July 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Music

No Journey With Lady Gaga Is Ever Wasted

Luis Paez-Pumar

Left half: A screenshot from Fall Guys, with the Beans running up a slipper slope. Right half: A screenshot from Among Us, with an impostor killing a crewmate.

The Backlog

‘Fall Guys’ And ‘Among Us’ Gave 2020 The Parties It Needed

Ray Ratto

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller looks on before Game Three of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on October 8, 2024.

The Padres And Twins Did The Absolute Most At The MLB Trade Deadline

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Minnesota Twins Are Finished

David Roth

Isabelle Harrison and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty making some fantastic What Can You Do faces on the bench during a July 25 game against the Phoenix Mercury.

Podcasts

A Huge W, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Tom Ley

Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers makes a call from the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Carolina Panthers

Rafael Devers of the San Francisco Giants looks on walking back to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the ninth.

Rafael Devers Is Living Proof That No One Knows Anything

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Brandy Jensen

Defector Reads A Book: The Art of Fielding

Defector Reads A Book

The Art Of Reading

Maggie Mertens is a freelance journalist in Seattle, and the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/better-faster-farther-how-running-changed-everything-we-know-about-women-maggie-mertens/20674936?ean=9781643753355" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/better-faster-farther-how-running-changed-everything-we-know-about-women-maggie-mertens/20674936?ean%3D9781643753355&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1754022936515000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1qsnDemLKZppvFS2kpVCTH">BETTER FASTER FARTHER: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women</a>. She also sometimes writes and sends the newsletters <a href="https://maggiemertens.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://maggiemertens.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1754022936515000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lAUeT18_qV95dy9jg9Sg0">My So-Called Feminist Life</a> and <a href="https://gilmorewomen.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gilmorewomen.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1754022936515000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hLBDLFWCAWpJsqvPzljRr">Gilmore Women</a>.
<div></div>

Maggie Mertens

High School Sports

Minnesota Softball Has A Title IX Problem

Barry Petchesky

BRONX, NY - JULY 30: New York Yankees Shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) fields a ground ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays Designated Hitter Yandy Diaz (2) (not pictured) during the eighth inning of a Major League Baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees on July 30, 2025, at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

The Anthony Volpe Experience Will Give You Whiplash

The front of the New York Times building on 8th Avenue during sunset

Journalismism

The New York Times Clarifies That A Starving Child In Gaza Also Needs Medical Care

Alanna Smith #8 of the Minnesota Lynx passes around Marine Johannes #23 of the New York Liberty during the first quarter at Target Center on July 30, 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.

WNBA

It’s Time To Lock In On The Lynx And Liberty

Dave McKenna

Head coach Gilbert Arenas of the Enemies runs out during introductions against the Trilogy during BIG3 Week Six at Comerica Center on July 23, 2022 in Frisco, Texas.

Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Running Illegal And Depressing Poker Games

Samer Kalaf

Luka Doncic dunks the ball as a member of the Dallas Mavericks

Men’s Health Article Hallucinates Luka Doncic With A 42-Inch Vertical

DETROIT, MI - JULY 29: Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (31) gets congratulated in the dugout following his two run homer in the fifth inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday July 29, 2025 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

Have You Heard? They’re Touching It

Trevor Story does the airplane celebration.

Red Sox Dance To Commemorate The Flight From Hell

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

Brick Johnson, Jack Johnson, Robert Kraft, Suzanne Johnson and Woody Johnson attend the New England Patriots vs. the New York Jets game at Met Life Stadium on September 19, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: New York Jets

Lauren Theisen

Birch boletus - edible mushrooms on moss (Leccinum scabrum)

Arts And Culture

My Favorite Part Of ‘Anna Karenina’ Is The Guy Who Can’t Stop Himself From Talking About Mushrooms

(Original Caption) St. Louis: Los Angeles Dodgers' Steve Sax is forced to make a leaping throw over sliding St. Louis Cardinals' Gene Tenace to allow David Green to beat the ball to first in the fourth inning. Green hit to Dodgers' Bill Russell to force out Tenace at second. The Dodgers defeated the Cards 11-3.

‘The Art Of Fielding’ Knows What’s Scary About Baseball

Eva Holland is a freelance writer and editor based in Whitehorse, Yukon. She&#8217;s a correspondent for Outside magazine and the author of the books Nerve and <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/no-sleep-til-fairbanks#/">No Sleep &#8216;Til Fairbanks</a>.

Eva Holland

Science

Why Did National Geographic Disappear Its Own Documentary About A Queer Climate Scientist?

Ichiro Suzuki speaks during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown, New York.

Ichiro Saved One Last Surprise For Cooperstown

Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders practices during the team's training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center on July 28, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada.

Why Your Team Sucks: Las Vegas Raiders

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

Behold: A Surprisingly Beautiful Depiction Of Being Swallowed By A Toothy Penis Worm

Albert Burneko

San Antonio Spurs French forward-centre Victor Wembanyama (C) reacts as he attends his event named "Hoop Gambit", a chess and basketball tournament that takes place in his birth town of Le Chesnay, south-west of Paris, on July 20, 2025.

Funbag

OK But What If The Billionaire Is A Cool Guy?

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres makes a jumping catch in the fourth inning of the game against New York Mets