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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.

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Defector

Abigail Segel is a writer based in Montreal.

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Abigail Segel

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Rose Lavelle #16 of NY/NJ Gotham FC celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammates during the 2025 NWSL championship game between Washington Spirit and NJ|NY Gotham City FC at PayPal Park on November 22, 2025, in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Elysia Su/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Washington Spirit v NJ/NY Gotham FC – NWSL Championship 2025 Presented by Google Pixel

Soccer

Gotham Grabs The Crown Of An NWSL At A Tipping Point

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on from the bench in the second half during timeout against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on November 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

Memphis Grizzlies v Dallas Mavericks

Even In Street Clothes, Ja Morant Is The Drama

Second placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren (later disqualified) on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas

Racing

McLaren’s Las Vegas Double DQ Has Blown The F1 Title Race Wide Open

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Barry Petchesky

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - NOVEMBER 22: Dakota Mermis #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fights Florian Xhekaj #63 of the Montréal Canadiens during the third period at Bell Centre on November 22, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Reuben Polansky-Shapiro/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens

You’re Either An Arber Xhekaj Or A Simona Xhekaj

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

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Chris Thompson

Victor Wembanyama sits court-side in street clothes.

Wemby in street clothes

Basketball Is Too Hard For All This Soft Tissue

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Kathryn Xu

Tarik Skubal warming up during the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners; in the background, out-of-focus camera flashes resemble a field of twinkling stars.

tarik skubal camera flashes

Now Is The Time To Fantasize About Your Loser Club Trading For Tarik Skubal

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Patrick Redford

Alexey Lutsenko of Kazakhstan and Team Israel - Premier Tech (C) with teammates prior to the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 1 a 184.9km stage from Lille to Lille / #UCIWT / on July 05, 2025 in Lille, France.

112th Tour de France 2025 – Stage 1

Cycling

The Israel–Premier Tech Cycling Team Is No More

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Two joggers run in an autumnal park between two trees.

Sunny autumn weather in Cologne

Life Lessons

Falling Back In Love With Running

<div>David Covucci is the editor-in-chief of <a href="https://foiaball.beehiiv.com/p/foiaball-football-for-the-people">FOIAball</a>, a new publication utilizing public records to report on college football.</div>

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Dave Covucci

UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs onto the field with teammates before the game against Nebraska at the Rose Bowl on November 8, 2025 in Pasadena, California.

UCLA vs Nebraska in Pasadena, CA

Death To The NCAA

How UCLA Used A Friendly Charity To Get Tax-Free NIL Money

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Israel Daramola

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Ray Ratto

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin stands on the field with a raised fist.

South Carolina v Ole Miss

College Football

Everybody Wants Lane Kiffin

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

a photo of RFK Jr. where he looks like a broken Chuck-E-Cheeze animatronic

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Science

Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism, No Matter What The CDC Website Now Says

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Tom Ley

A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.

AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2025

WNBA

The WNBA’s Million-Dollar Offer Is A Misdirection

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David Roth

Red-legged Pademelon in the rainforest, Daintree, Queensland, Australia.

Red-legged Pademelon, Australia

Podcasts

A Big World Full Of Friendly Little Guys, With Nathan Thornburgh

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Giri Nathan

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers attends the Allen &amp; Company Sun Valley Conference on July 9, 2025 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Every year, some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful figures from the media, finance, technology, and political spheres converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive week-long conference hosted by boutique investment bank Allen &amp; Co. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Allen & Co Brings Together Media And Tech Titans In Sun Valley

Capital

Larry Summers Recedes From Public Life Due To His Gross Emails With Jeffrey Epstein

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Kelsey McKinney

elyse myers in a yellow shirt smiles at the camera

2022 VidCon

Arts And Culture

How Normal Is A Celebrity Allowed To Be? 

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Lauren Theisen

Anaheim Ducks Wild Wing celebrates after their victory

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Truly The Most Random Men Scored For The Ducks Last Night

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Sarah York

A general view during Derek Steven's New Sportsbook Venture "Circa Sports" Launch at Golden Gate Hotel &amp; Casino on June 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Derek Steven’s New Sportsbook Venture “Circa Sports” Launches At Golden Gate Hotel & Casino

Jamboroo

Sports Gamblers Are Dorks

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: Devin Cooley #1 of the Calgary Flames stands during the singing of 'O Canada' prior to an NHL game on November 19, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images)

Calgary Flames v Buffalo Sabres

World’s Most Normal Goalie: “Nothing Matters, Nobody Cares, We’re All Gonna Die”

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Albert Burneko

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Animals

Beware The Jingler

Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.

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Lesley Ryder

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

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Diana Moskovitz

A detail of the NWSL logo on a game ball prior to the NWSL match between the Houston Dash and the Angel City FC at Shell Energy Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

Houston Dash v Angel City FC

NWSL

The NWSL Received 43 Complaints In 2024, And Five In The First Half Of This Year, Public Records Show

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket after being fouled by Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) in the first half

Lakers vs Jazz in Los Angeles, CA

LeBron James Embraces His Version Of An Old-Man Game

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 10: Daniel Lurie, San Francisco Mayor attends 36th Annual Macy's Great Tree celebration presented by Ripple Lighting Ceremony at Union Square on November 10, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images for Macy's)

36th Annual Macy’s Great Tree Presented By Ripple Lighting Ceremony At Union Square, San Francisco

Politics

Shocker: Appointing A 29-Year-Old Derelict Pet Store Owner With No Politics Experience To San Francisco Board Of Supervisors Not Actually A Masterstroke

Coach John Beam, center bottom, and the Skyline High School football team pose together after beating Oakland High School 19-0 for the championship title at Laney College in Oakland, Calif. on Nov. 24, 1989.

John Beam, Skyline Vs. Oakland High School Football

Coach John Beam’s Legacy Is Everywhere

Scotland's Kieran Tierney (R) and Kenny McLean celebrate at full time during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, on November 18, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Scotland vs Denmark

Scotland Stunned Its Way Back To The World Cup

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The Eyes Have It

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