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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

Lauren Theisen

Journalismism

The Athletic Decides Local News Doesn’t Pay

Maitreyi Anantharaman

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 21: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the first half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

WNBA

Brittney Griner Is Back Where She Started

Giri Nathan

Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the French Open

Tennis

Iga Swiatek Finally Faced A Challenge At The French Open

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Gimlet Media co-founder Alex Blumberg speaks at the Ignition: Future of Media conference in New York City, in 2017.

Capital

Gimlet Media’s Story Was Always Going To End Like This

Patrick Redford

Riders shake their heads in confusion as they pass a car on the race course.

Cycling

Cycling Race Canceled After Riders Call Out Organizers For Letting Them Compete In Open Traffic

Derek Mead

Cyclists walk their bikes through a muddy portion of the 2023 Unbound gravel race

I Got My Ass Kicked By America’s Dirtiest Bike Race

Andrew McCutchen singles for his 2000th career hit

The Pirates Have Youth, Nostalgia, And The NL Central On Their Side

Ray Ratto

REGINA, SK - SEPTEMBER 16: An Edmonton Elks helmet on the bench before the game between the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on September 16, 2022 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Brent Just/Getty Images)

Someone’s Gotta Be The Worst Team In Edmonton

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Josh Taylor (L) and Teofimo Lopez (R) exchange punches during their WBO junior welterweight championship fight at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2023 in New York City.

The Fights

The Mysterious Minds Of Fighters

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 11: Miami Marlins third baseman Jean Segura (9) jumps in the air after hitting a home run in the ninth inning during a Major League Baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox on June 11, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Marlins Can Be A Bigger Fish In A Big Pond

Alex Pareene

Reddit logo is seen on an android mobile device with an ascent growth chart in the background.

The Last Page Of The Internet

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Phillies Are On The Frontier Of Pitch-Clock Weirdness

Greg Norman stands with Yasir Al-Rumayyan at a LIV Golf event.

Golf

The PGA Tour Couldn’t Beat ‘Em, But LIV Golf Won’t Join ‘Em

Albert Burneko

Some chicken and sausages cooking on a hot grill, with a Chefector illustration

Chefector

You Just Need A Thermometer

David Roth

Donald Trump hooting at supporters outside Mar-A-Lago in Florida in April of 2023.

Politics

So It’s A Crime Now To Have Boxes Full Of Cool Folders With Various Words Printed On Them?

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain appears to be injured against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men's Singles Semi Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on June 09, 2023 in Paris, France.

Carlos Alcaraz Lost His Legs, And His Chance To Beat Novak Djokovic

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 31: Anthony Bass #52 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Rogers Centre on May 31, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Anthony Bass Tossed From Major-League Roster

A. Frog is a freelance writer living in Japan.

A. Frog

Creaturefector

I Messed Up Again

Tom Ley

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Trinity Rodman #25 of the United States runs for the ball during an international friendly game between Ireland and the USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Soccer

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Trinity Rodman

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

Dan McQuade

Bill Russell in a USF jersey holding a basketball. He's number 6.

College Basketball

College Basketball Players Can Wear Digits Above ‘5’ Again

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

Music

Sometimes The Best Bands In The World Play Right In Front Of The Toilets

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

When A Turtle Is A Taxi For Shrimp

Barry Petchesky

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 08: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers scores a goal past Adin Hill #33 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game Three of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at FLA Live Arena on June 08, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

There’s Life In The Old Cat Yet

Several photos of Eagles fans overlaid with a note to the Eagles owner, and under that is a screenshot of a newspaper

In 1984, These Two Men Told The Eagles Owner: “Go Birds”

Samer Kalaf

Jimmy Dunne speaks during Golf Channel interview