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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

<p>Nina Mandell is a journalist living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who has written for Bustle, ESPN, <em>Sports Illustrated</em>, <em>USA Today</em>, <em>The New York Daily News</em>, and NBC Regional Sports Networks. She is the former managing editor of <em>USA Today</em>’s For The Win site and the former digital director/managing editor of NBC Sports Washington.</p>


Nina Mandell

Chamique Holdsclaw #23 of the Washington Mystics gets ready to shoot the ball while Mery Andrade #23 of the Cleveland Rockers guards her

WNBA

Chamique Holdsclaw Made Headlines, Made Mistakes, And Made History

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California- and Las Vegas-based baseball labor and economics reporter.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

<p><span class="il">Frankie</span> de la Cretaz is an award-winning independent journalist whose work sits at the intersection of sports and gender. They are the co-author of <em>Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League</em>, and their writing has been featured in the <em>New York Times</em>, <em>Sports Illustrated</em>, and many more publications.</p>


Frankie de la Cretaz

An illustration of a woman baseball player sitting at a desk and waiting for a phone call. A baseball glove, ball, and bat sit on the desk. The phone glows but has no incoming call. The player has her head down and arms crossed in sadness.

Women's Baseball

The New Women’s Pro Baseball League Offers Hope—And Frustrations

Giri Nathan

Los Angeles Lakers' Governor Jeanie Buss during the Los Angeles Lakers unveiling former head coach Pat Riley statue at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images)

The Buss Children Are Squabbling Over Their Remaining Lakers Stake

Ray Ratto

PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 12: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on at third base during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Zach Gardner/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

This Ketel Marte Thing Is Getting Strange


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

Freaky Little Plant Propagated By Freaky Little Freaks

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Carolina Panthers

Patrick Redford

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JULY 26: Tyga performs during Dream Fest 2025 at Sea Breeze on July 26, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

Podcasts

They Put A Data Center In Rack City, With Ock Sportello

<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

Funbag

What Is The Greatest TV House Of All Time?

Tom Ley

Atlanta Dream And WNBA Embrace Anti-Trans Losers

<p>Mychal Denzel Smith is the author of <i>Stakes Is High</i>, winner of the Kirkus Prize for Non-Fiction.</p>


Mychal Denzel Smith

Politics

The Crazy Thing About “Woke 1” Was How It Was Exploited

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Steve Ballmer attends the Los Angeles Clippers &amp; Comcast NBCUniversal's NBA All-Star Legendary Tip-Off Celebration at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on February 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/WireImage)

ESPN Reports Steve Ballmer Cleared By NBA’s Kawhi Leonard Investigation, NBA Says Otherwise

Kathryn Xu

Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers diving past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt on a play at home plate.

Eventually You May Have To Believe In The Dang Milwaukee Brewers

Angel Reese’s Game Is Too Weird Not To Appreciate

Kelsey McKinney

slideshow showing "learning to score a baseball game" in a bar

I Taught A Scorekeeping Class And Everybody Came

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<div>Casey Taylor is a writer living and working in Pittsburgh. He is currently writing a book for St. Martin&#8217;s Press about cannabis religions, Haile Selassie I, and the Cold War in the Caribbean. He also writes a free newsletter called <a href="https://weedchurch.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weedchurch.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709306863919000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mVH2xiID6S0zvlyj6yHco">Weed Church</a> covering foolish spiritual things that occur to him. His work has appeared in The New Republic, WIRED, New York Magazine, and a sports blog he can’t currently recall the name of. You can <a href="mailto:caseyt7@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> him if you’d like.</div>
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Casey Taylor

Arts And Culture

The Fight To Save The Remarkable, Upsetting Murals Of Maxo Vanka

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Midge Purce #23 of NJ/NY Gotham FC warms up before the match against the Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 17: Roster Talks

<p>Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.</p>


Matt Ufford

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Minnesota Vikings

Mr. Manfred Calling For Mr. Walter

Dave McKenna

Gaelic Football

How Do You Get Over The Greatest Sports Story Of All Time?

Brandy Jensen

A Brief Consideration Of Some Fictional Big Boys

In His Debut Game, Joshua Baez Ties Stump Wiedman On Career Homers List

Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm shoots against Serah Williams #25 of the Portland Fire during the first half at Moda Center on August 08, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

The Storm Are The WNBA’s Tank Champions

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners heads back to the dugout after striking out in the second inning against the New York Yankees.