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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

Angelina Mazza

L-R) Nihar Duvvuri, Molly Griggs, Fina Strazza, Amalia Yoo, Sadie Sink, Morgan Scott, Gabriel Ebert, Maggie Kuntz and Noah Pacht take the curtain call during "John Proctor Is The Villain" Broadway opening night at the Booth Theatre on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

Arts And Culture

The Revolution Will Be Extra-Curricular

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Politics

Never Attempt To Bribe Me With Snacks Unless They Are The Good Snacks

Kathryn Xu

Commuters ride a SEPTA bus on October 10, 2017, in the Philadelphia, PA Suburbs.

Transit

Doomsday For SEPTA Is Bad News For Everyone

Alex Sujong Laughlin

(Original Caption) First mass produced receiver for home entertainment, 1921. Photograph.

Journalismism

The Future Of Podcasting Is Here, And It Sucks

Israel Daramola

Listening Habits

Rap Music Yearns For The Good Ole Days

<p><a href="http://www.ddavisla.com"><span style="font-weight: 400">David Davis </span></a>is the author of <i>Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans From World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation</i> and <i>Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku</i>. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>
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David Davis

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - CIRCA 2000: Photographer Bruce Bennett photographers a battle between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the of the New York Islanders circa 1990 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images)

Shots

After 50 Years Of Shooting Hockey, Bruce Bennett Finds An Even Tougher Challenge: Birds

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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

Players of Chicago Stars celebrates with teammate Alyssa Naeher #1 after the NWSL match between Seattle Reign and Chicago Stars at Lumen Field on August 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Soccer

Alyssa Naeher Shoots And Scores, But The Chicago Stars Are Still In The Dark

Patrick Redford

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 19: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media 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. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

WNBA

The WNBA And Connecticut Sun Continue To Fight Over What A Sale Would Look Like

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


Dan McQuade

A brown leather couch covered, almost completely on the seats and up the seatbacks, with Greg Briley Topps baseball cards

Life's Rich Pageant

Here’s How A Man Accidentally Bought 10,400 Greg Briley Rookie Cards

Luis Paez-Pumar

Alexander Isak during the Pre Season Training Camp at FC Seefelder Plateau on July 14, 2025 in Innsbruck, Austria.

Alexander Isak Wants The Hell Out Of Newcastle

Barry Petchesky

Kwakho Madikwain, associate of former gang member Nicholas Mnguni, fills out a spreadsheet of purchase orders in Khayelitsha on March 13, 2025. Former gang member Nicholas Mnguni, known as Zwe in his township, left the 20 Men gang in 2017 to start his own business, producing and selling perfumes, cleaning products, and insect repellent. His business, ML Scents, has enabled him to employ 4 seasonal workers, with the hope of keeping them off the streets, and away from gang recruitment. As a former gangster, Nicholas is exempt from paying the protection fee demanded by local gangs. “Luckily, they know me, so they leave me alone, plus, I don’t want to be aggressive anymore,” he says. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)

The Machines

It Took Many Years And Billions Of Dollars, But Microsoft Finally Invented A Calculator That Is Wrong Sometimes

<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

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers makes a catch before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Los Angeles Chargers

Albert Burneko

A pure black field. Nothing whatsoever is visible.

What’s ‘Mönch’ Thinking?

Death To The NCAA

Let’s See How Dumb We Can Make The College Football Playoff

Podcasts

The Defector Era Of ‘Nothing But Respect’ Is Here, With Maitreyi Anantharaman And David Roth

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Interviews

Giri Nathan DISHES On Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz In This EXCLUSIVE Interview

Owner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders stands on the sidelines prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, at SoFi Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Inglewood, California.

Funbag

What Makes A Failson?

John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards dribbles to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers

John Wall Was Too Fast

Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: A Big Bedroom, A Small Living Room, And A Dated Bathroom

Defector Staff

Announcements

Defector Is Celebrating Its Fifth Birthday By Giving You A Big Fat Discount


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Sabrina Imbler

A photo of a green fla-necked chameleon posing against a swirly yellow and green background

Creaturefector

Chameleons Endure Tiny Knock To Colorful Reputation

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers yells during warmups before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Pittsburgh Steelers

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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

Kim Jong Un, Girl Dad

Kelsey McKinney

Starving Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organization as Israel continue to block humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip on August 10, 2025.

The Free Press Reports Gaza’s Starving Children Have Pre-Existing Condition Of Being Bombed By Israel

Sonia Citron #22 and Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics interact during the first half of the game against the Golden State Valkyries at CareFirst Arena on July 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.