CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Kelsey McKinney

Zillowing Out

A $1.2 Million House Where We Can Be A Sim

<div dir="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/NotTheBobbyOrr">Robert Orr</a> is an author of Baseball Prospectus.</div>

Robert Orr

Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe celebrate Lowe's two-run homer in a May game.

How The Rays Raised Their Offensive Game

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lynn Williams #6 of the United States controls the ball during the SheBelieves Cup game between Brazil and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

Soccer

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Lynn Williams

Maitreyi Anantharaman

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 13: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty drives against A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their preseason game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 84-77.

WNBA

The Superteams And The Other Teams: A Preview Of The 2023 WNBA Season

Israel Daramola

LeBron Cost The Lakers

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 18: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership meeting on November 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting comes on the heels of former President Donald Trump becoming the first candidate to declare his intention to seek the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Reports: Mets Owner To Do Something Stupid

Albert Burneko

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who sucks at his job

Media Meltdowns

How Not To Interview A Transportation Secretary

Ray Ratto

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during the fourth overtime to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 18, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

Game 1 Didn’t Last Long Enough

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

LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 01:A general view of the stadium after the game between the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Browns at FedExField on January 1, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Commanders’ New Owner Is Eyeing An Exciting Opportunity To Piss Off Grateful D.C. Fans

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

Diana Moskovitz

Dearica Hamby #5 of the Las Vegas Aces looks on in the locker room before Game 2 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on September 13, 2022 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Dearica Hamby Trade Will Always Sting

David Roth

Split image: Dan McQuade (left) wearing an American Dream EST. 2019 hoodie standing next to a cardboard cutout of Shrek at the DreamWorks Water Park inside a mall. David Roth (right) pointing up at the "WINNERS CIRCLE" entrance at the old Meadowlands Arena.

Life's Rich Pageant

Dan And Dave Explore The American Dream (Mall)

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A close-up of a clay model from Mesopotamia that dates back to 1800 BCE, depicting a nude couple kissing and copulating.

Science

When Was The First Sexy Kiss?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Members of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence pose at a pride event.

Dodgers Cave To Culture War Crank And Senator From Other Side Of Country, Disinvite Venerable Charity Group From Pride Night

Giri Nathan

Rafael Nadal announces his withdrawal from the French Open

Tennis

Rafael Nadal Will Be Out Of The French Open, And Out Of Tennis After 2024

Podcasts

Dispatches From The Gulf Of Pain, With David Grann

Ted Silary.com, with a very 1990s design.

High School Sports

Ted Silary Gave A Voice To High School Athletes

Patrick Redford

BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nobody Pounces Like The Heat

Samer Kalaf

A view of the Mets game from the concourse. Pete Alonso is about to hit a walk-off home run.

There’s Something I’ve Never Seen Before

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 13: Starting pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gestures at home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus #18 during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on May 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Birdfector

Zac Gallen Is Now An Enemy Of The Birds

From left: Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob at Chase Center, Friday, July 30, 2021, in San Francisco, Calif. The Warriors selected Jonathan Kuminga (No. 7) and Moses Moody (No. 14) in the NBA Draft on Thursday night.

Suddenly Joe Lacob Has A Budget

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates with teammates Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish after scoring the teams second goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on May 17, 2023 in Manchester, England.

It Sure Feels Like It’s Manchester City’s Time

Creaturefector

Quick, Everyone Play Dead!

College Football

Look At This Asshole’s Asshole Truck

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.