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Defector

Justin Ellis

New Zealand's defender #07 Ali Riley (L) and New Zealand's midfielder #12 Betsy Hassett (R) greet supporters at the end of Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group A football match between Switzerland and New Zealand at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on July 30, 2023.

Soccer

New Zealand Waited For Another Goal That Would Never Arrive

Ray Ratto

Manuela Vanegas of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Germany and Colombia at Sydney Football Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Colombia Made The Ground Shake And Stunned Germany

Tom Ley

Sean Payton Is Sorry For Saying His Predecessor Is A Huge Failure

Billy Haisley

Lauren James of England in action during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 match between England and Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Lauren James Is The Burgeoning Star Of The New England

Luis Paez-Pumar

Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona at Gewiss Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.

Window Shopping: Is Rasmus Hojlund Ready For Primetime?


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Back of a man wearing a shirt with the Rams logo on it and it says "MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TOUGH PLAYERS WHO PLAY SMART & LOVE TO COMPETE"

Are The Los Angeles Rams Looking For Mentally And Physically Tough Players Who Play Smart And Love To Compete?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels looks on from the pitchers mound in the bottom of the 2nd inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 27, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. The Angels defeated the Tigers 6-0. Ohtani pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout.

Shohei Ohtani Had The Best Day Ever, And So Did I

<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>


Drew Magary

Jim Irsay wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Indianapolis Colts

David Roth

The Immaculate Grid for July 25, with one square (Tom Candiotti, who played for Cleveland and Milwaukee) filled in.

Nine Ways To The Immaculate

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


Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a limbless amphibian called a caecilian

Creaturefector

Never Go In Against A Caecilian When Death Is On The Line

Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia.

Nigeria Was Ready For Its Moment

Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Christian Wood looks on during the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic during the 2023 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2023 at the Thomas &amp; Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)

Surely Christian Wood Still Has Something To Offer

Israel Daramola

Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers walks off the field against the Purdue Boilermakers at Huntington Bank Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Purdue defeated Minnesota 20-10.

Death To The NCAA

Report: P.J. Fleck Built A “Toxic Culture” Celebrating P.J. Fleck

Giri Nathan

College Basketball

At The Basketball Tournament, India Rose

Kathryn Xu

The White Sox Stop Trying, Claim They Will Soon Try Again

Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers sacks Colt McCoy #12 of the Arizona Cardinals during the game at Estadio Azteca on November 21, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Arizona Cardinals

Sophia Smith lines up a shot in the US Women's National Team's game against the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup on Wednesday night.

Podcasts

How Much Vlatko Is Too Much Vlatko, With Abigail Segel

Lauren Theisen

Shohei Ohtani celebrates with his Angels teammates

The Angels Are Going To Try

Barry Petchesky

Costa Mesa, CA - July 26: Justin Herbert, quarterback with the Los Angeles Chargers, speaks to the media following the first practice of training camp at the Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa on July 26, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

NFL Contract Guarantees Headache

Dave McKenna

Sinead O'Connor singing at a recent UFC fight

Music

Sinead O’Connor Was A Rebel With A Cause

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States celebrates scoring during the second half against the Netherlands during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group E match at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Lindsey Horan And The Power Of Rage Saved The USWNT From Itself

Mitch McConnell, seen possibly pooping his pants.

Defector Up All Night

Did Mitch McConnell Poop His Pants In A Room Full Of People?

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe at amid heavy rain during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Canada at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia.

It’s Too Bad Canada Was Better Than Ireland

Cover of All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Yellow background. Defector reads a book badge.

Defector Reads A Book

Grab A Tortilla And Come Talk About All Of Cormac McCarthy’s Pretty Horses

Jordan Akins #88 of the Houston Texans scores a two point conversion during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.