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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

Kathryn Xu

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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

Computer room and workers ca. 1980. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Life Lessons

Why Call When An Oblique Email Will Do The Job Of Making A Prospective Intern Spiral Into A Panic?

Tom Ley

The cast of Our Gang/The Little Rascals singing, circa 1930.

Staff Chat

It’s Time For A Staff Chat

Samer Kalaf

Patrick Redford

Chelsea Gray jumps in the air and celebrates as the Aces beat the Liberty.

WNBA

Upon Further Review, The Aces Have Not Met Their Match

<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

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Tampa, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Israel Daramola

Michael Oher #74 of the Ole Miss Rebels stands with his family during senior ceremonies prior to a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Journalismism

The Tuohy Family’s Side Of The Story Has A Giant Hole At The Center

James Harden, Hanging Out On A High School Sports Field, Says Relationship With Sixers Is Beyond Repair

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


Dan McQuade

Dawand Jones #74 of the Cleveland Browns blocks Nolan Smith #3 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lessons Learned At A Terrible Eagles Preseason Game

<p>Krys Malcolm Belc is the author of <em>The Natural Mother of the Child: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenthood</em> (Counterpoint) and the flash nonfiction chapbook <em>In Transit</em> (The Cupboard Pamphlet). He is the memoir editor of <em>Split Lip Magazine</em><i>. </i>Krys is the current Edelstein-Keller Writer-in-Residence at the University of Minnesota and lives in St. Paul with his partner and their four young children.</p>


Krys Malcolm Belc

Drawing of a group of people helping each other over a labyrinth

Histories Of Transition

How Transmasc Parents Navigate Testosterone After Pregnancy

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


Sabrina Imbler

A very cute hadal snailfish that is blue and chunky and appears to be smiling

Creaturefector

A Unified Theory Of Deep-Sea Fish Aesthetics; Or, The Deeper You Go The Cuter They Get

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Vlatko Andonovski, Head Coach of USA, speaks to the media in the post match press conference following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Soccer

It Is Mercifully Vlatkover

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 29, 2021: Gunner Olszewski #80 of the New England Patriots performs a drill during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 29, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

NFL Training Camp Storylines, Ranked

Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field on November 24, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Detroit Lions

Luis Paez-Pumar

Video Games

The Slow-Building Joys Of ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ And Turn-Based Combat

Barry Petchesky

COLUMBUS, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: Cierra Gaytan-Leach of the Hard Eights prepares to serve during the Major League Pickleball finals match against BLQK at Pickle &amp; Chill on October 16, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Hear Me Out: Pickleball Eschaton

A t-shirt with a three-by-three grid. Each box has two cows standing in front of the state of New Hampshire. The bottom of the shirt says "... enough said!"

What Does This Cow Shirt Mean?

&lt;&gt; at KessPro Studios on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Podcasts

The Hater’s Guide To The 2023 Fantasy Football Season, With Andy Behrens

Lauren Theisen

Luke Raley rounds third to score his inside-the-park home run

Now This Is A Real Inside-The-Park Home Run

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Hey It's That Guy

Can Benny Safdie Just Make Himself Into A Character Actor?

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 28, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Pittsburgh Steelers

Billy Haisley

Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates her team’s 2-1 victory and advance to the final following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Semi Final match between Spain and Sweden at Eden Park on August 15, 2023 in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand.

Aitana Bonmatí Can’t Win

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Manchester United supporters protest against Mason Greenwood of Manchester United and the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on August 14, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Manchester United Continues To Stumble Its Way Toward Reinstating Mason Greenwood

Sabrina Ionescu and Marine Johannes celebrate on the court

You’re Goddamn Right The Aces Have Met Their Match

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty drives to the basket during the 2023 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship on August 15, 2023 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Aces Have Met Their Match

Kelsey McKinney

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Alex Sujong Laughlin and Kelsey McKinney standing beside Flat Margaret.

Kelsey And Alex’s Big Adventure: Notes From Normal Gossip On The Road

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half during the Leagues Cup 2023 semifinals match between Inter Miami CF and Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 15, 2023 in Chester, Pennsylvania.