CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Patrick Redford

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Soccer

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

Ray Ratto

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers watches from the bench during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Moda Center on March 24, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Damian Lillard May Have Hit The Eject Button Too Late

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


Dan McQuade

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 04: Manager David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs argues with home plate umpire Erich Baccus #12 after a call in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David Ross Was Very Calmly Mad As Heck

SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Signe Bruun of Denmark (C) celebrating her goal with her teammates during the international Women's friendly match between Switzerland and Denmark at Wefox Arena on November 11, 2022 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Denmark’s Ready To Make Their Return To The World Cup Count

Tom Ley

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels walks to the dugout after being replaced during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 04, 2023 in San Diego, California.

It’s Been A Very Bad Few Days For The Angels

Billy Haisley

Haiti celebrate qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after their victory in the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Chile and Haiti at North Harbour Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Haiti’s The Underdog With The Biggest Dog

Soraya Roberts

Crowds are seen in front of the stage as Lost Frequencies gives a DJ Performance concert on the second day of the Champions Festival, which is being prepared for the UEFA Champions League final to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 9, 2023.

Arts And Culture

I Just Want To Go To A Concert

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Lucy Bronze of England pointing during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium MK on July 01, 2023 in Milton Keynes, England.

England’s Last Step Will Be The Hardest

<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

For Independence Day, An EXPLOSIVE Question About Doors

GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL - APRIL 7: Yui Hasegawa of Japan Women, Fatima Pinto of Portugal Women during the International Friendly Women match between Portugal Women v Japan Women at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques on April 7, 2023 in Guimaraes Portugal

Japan Climbed The Mountain Once, And Now They Need To Do It Again

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


Jen Ramos Eisen

Domingo German #0 of the New York Yankees pitches to Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on June 28, 2023 in Oakland, California. Ruiz made the final out in a no-hit perfect game for German, defeating the Athletics 11-0.

The Perfect Game That Also Sucked 

Lauren Theisen

Racing

NASCAR Got Wet In Chicago

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 23: A detail of the MLB All Star Game patch on a Seattle Mariners jersey during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday, June 23, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

It’s Good That Every Team Gets A Guy

RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia leads their side out prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Zambia Is Here For A Good Time, And Maybe Even A Long Time

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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.

The Sixers Enter Another Summer Of Angst

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Megan Keller #5, Rebecca Johnston #6 and Micah Zandee-Hart #28 of Team Keller celebrate after a 2-1 shootout win in the finals of the PWHPA All-Star Tournament

Women's Hockey

Women’s Hockey’s Civil War Has Ended, Messily

Barry Petchesky

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 01: Seth Brown #15 of the Oakland Athletics trots around the bases after hitting a solo home run off Keynan Middleton #99 of the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the seventh inning at RingCentral Coliseum on July 01, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

There Is No Easy Part Of The Schedule When You’re The White Sox

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 01: in their women's strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC Apex on October 1, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Mark Zuckerberg, I Will Give You Five American Dollars If You Choke Out Elon Musk

FRISCO, TX - JULY 04: Fans enjoys a post-game fireworks display over the stadium celebrating the Fourth of July after the MLS game between Inter Miami FC and FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Frisco, Texas.

Defector Up All Night

Let’s Have A Summer Weekend Open Thread

Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm shoots against Kayla McBride #21 of the Minnesota Lynx in overtime at Climate Pledge Arena on June 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

WNBA

Jewell Loyd Will Take All The Shots

Albert Burneko

The Spain women's national team huddles on the field after losing to Italy in the UEFA Euros

Spain Is A Big Ugly Mess With Some Extremely Cool Players

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


Nicholas Russell

Promotional image for Matthew McConaughey's Art Of Livin' event featuring McConaughey, Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, and Trent Shelton

The Art (And Commerce) Of Livin’: Five Dazed And Confusing Hours Of Matthew McConaughey’s Self-Help Seminar

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 31: Raquel Rodríguez #11 of Costa Rica celebrates her goal against Haiti during the second half during a Group A - 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying at BBVA Stadium on January 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Can Costa Rica Sneak Up On The World Again?

<div id="message-list_1773066846.655809">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<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>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Abigail Segel

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States with the ball during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images).

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Kristie Mewis


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 04: A general view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the Reese's Senior Bowl on February 4, 2023 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)