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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Skylar Diggins #4 of the Seattle Storm celebrates against the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter at Target Center on August 28, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Storm defeated the Lynx 93-79.

WNBA

Skylar Diggins Is Queen Of The Productive Crashout

<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

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at an event welcoming the 2025 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on the South Lawn of the White House on April 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump honored the Eagles after their second Super Bowl victory, following their first win in 2018.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Philadelphia Eagles

Patrick Redford

BILBAO, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 03: A group of fans protest against Team Israel - Premier Tech riders by displaying Palestinian flags at arrival during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 11 a 157.4km stage from Bilbao to Bilbao / #UCIWT / on September 03, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

You Can Advertise The State Of Israel On Your Shirt Or Ride Undisrupted In La Vuelta, But Not Both

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


Sabrina Imbler

A CVS pharmacy store on February 28, 2025 in San Diego, California

Science

How Are You Supposed To Get The COVID Vaccine Now? An Explainer

Ray Ratto

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers attends a press conference at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Center Gymnasium during his 2025 Asia Tour on August 23, 2025.

Kawhi Leonard And Los Angeles Clippers Implicated In Low-Effort Tree-Planting Scheme

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


Dan McQuade

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Kansas City Chiefs

Lauren Theisen

Gamers sample an assortment of pinball machines

Video Games

Pinball Is Getting Too Fancy

Dan McQuade sits in a blue chair, which is big and fake leather-ish, and has big arms on it. He has his head resting on his left arm, which is on the left arm of the chair. He has long light brown hair, a beard cropped to his face, and I dunno I'd say he's pretty handsome, but I am biased as I am the subject of the photo. Dan is wearing a red shirt with a grey and white tabby cat's face on it, with a rose under (and patially covering) the cat. Under that it says DEFECTOR with the 4 degrees slant logo. He has on blue shorts or pants (they're shorts, I know they're shorts), they're not jeans but they're not sweats, like a sort of inbetween situation. There's a hospital admit bracelet on his left arm. His right arm is on the other arm of the couch.

Stories

My Life With An Uncommon Cancer

Barry Petchesky

Show Us Your Fantasy Football Team

Tom Ley

The New York Yankees against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 2, 2025 in Houston, TX.

Catching A Pissed-Off Framber Valdez Should Come With Hazard Pay

Giri Nathan

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates after defeating Coco Gauff of the United States during their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Tennis

Naomi Osaka Is On To Her Second Act

Israel Daramola

Death To The NCAA

Alabama Football, Welcome To Mediocrity

The new Apple AirPods Max are displayed during an Apple special event at Apple headquarters on September 09, 2024 in Cupertino, California. Apple held an event to showcase the new iPhone 16, Airpods and Apple Watch models.

Funbag

AirPods Have Broken The Social Contract

Kathryn Xu

Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari sits out after a crash.

Racing

Let’s Appreciate Some Photos Of A Dejected Charles Leclerc Retreating To The Grassy Wild

David Roth

Announcements

Defector And Immaculate Grid Present: The Guys Of The 21st Century

It’s Time To Overreact To Arch Manning

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 9: The Nike, Robinhood jersey of Tyus Jones #5 of the Washington Wizards is seen during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 9, 2024 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. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Podcasts

The Most Evil NBA Jersey Sponsors, Ranked

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on prior to the game against the TCU Horned Frogs. He's sort of grimacing but maybe also smiling by his standards? Hard to say. Looks bad.

College Football

Bill Belichick Gets Ass Handed To Him In College Football Debut

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. Her debut novel, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-of-the-boys-victoria-zeller/21775251&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0sXpgNMmxpIwmIZOFd-Pnw">One of the Boys</a></i>, is out now. Her personal website can be found <a href="http://victoria.monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://victoria.monster&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1735306610555000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PrZ7PkO1IykxAodWoMLI_">here</a>.</div>
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Victoria Zeller

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is unable to cross the goal line during a two-point conversion attempt during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Buffalo Bills

Álex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing) celebrates winning the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 1: Flushing Out

A screengrab from Mark Teixeira's website for his congressional run. He's holding out a baseball and grinning and wearing a tight red golf shirt. It looks like an ad for a real estate agency.

Mark Teixeira Is Ready To Do Whatever It Is Congress Guys Have To Do

Rachelle Hampton

A young woman at home, feeling sick. She is, appropriately, holding her lower back.

Life Lessons

I Hurt My Back

Fans celebrate after Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil defeated Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Five of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Defector Up All Night

Have A Chill Time In The Labor Day Weekend Open Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the NFL Draft in the Oval Office of the White House on May 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. Joined by, (L-R) Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Trump announced that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held on the National Mall.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Washington Commanders

Billy Haisley

Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United reacts during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England.