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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>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 Pete Carroll and Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lumen Field on August 18, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Seattle Seahawks

Lauren Theisen

A hand holding a cracked Autostraddle logo reaches out of a pink whirlpool

Capital

Autostraddle To Be Acquired By Queer Wellness Company For Them

Patrick Redford

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Mason Greenwood of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park on January 15, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Soccer

Manchester United Changes Its Mind, Won’t Bring Back Mason Greenwood

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


Dan McQuade

CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 15: A fan holds a sign in the stands during the Leagues Cup 2023 semifinals match between Inter Miami CF and Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 15, 2023 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Messi Was The Attraction, But The Philadelphia Union Were The Story

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

Ukraine's Olha Kharlan (L) refuses to shake hands with Russia's Anna Smirnova, registered as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN), after she defeated her during the Sabre Women's Senior Individual qualifiers, as part of the FIE Fencing World Championships at the Fair Allianz MI.CO (Milano Convegni) in Milan, on July 27, 2023.

Olympics

Olga Kharlan’s Stand Had History Behind It

Tom Ley

Luis Rubiales, President of the Royal Spanish Federation greets Aitana Bonmati of Spain after the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Luis Rubiales Put His Disgusting Mark On The World Cup

David Roth

Dallas Keuchel on the mound for the Minnesota Twins on August 6, 2023.

Dallas Keuchel Approaches Perfection

Miami Marlins owner Jeffery Loria looks on during a game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on June 27, 2017.

Jeffrey Loria Makes A Good Point

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami hoist the trophy with his teammates after defeating the Nashville SC to win the Leagues Cup 2023 final match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on August 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Lionel Messi Shared The Spotlight

Spain players celebrate at the end during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Spain’s Players Earned This World Cup

Kathryn Xu

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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

Computer room and workers ca. 1980. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Life Lessons

Why Call When An Oblique Email Will Do The Job Of Making A Prospective Intern Spiral Into A Panic?

The cast of Our Gang/The Little Rascals singing, circa 1930.

Staff Chat

It’s Time For A Staff Chat

Samer Kalaf

Chelsea Gray jumps in the air and celebrates as the Aces beat the Liberty.

WNBA

Upon Further Review, The Aces Have Not Met Their Match

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Tampa, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Israel Daramola

Michael Oher #74 of the Ole Miss Rebels stands with his family during senior ceremonies prior to a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Journalismism

The Tuohy Family’s Side Of The Story Has A Giant Hole At The Center

James Harden, Hanging Out On A High School Sports Field, Says Relationship With Sixers Is Beyond Repair

Dawand Jones #74 of the Cleveland Browns blocks Nolan Smith #3 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lessons Learned At A Terrible Eagles Preseason Game

<p>Krys Malcolm Belc is the author of <em>The Natural Mother of the Child: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenthood</em> (Counterpoint) and the flash nonfiction chapbook <em>In Transit</em> (The Cupboard Pamphlet). He is the memoir editor of <em>Split Lip Magazine</em><i>. </i>Krys is the current Edelstein-Keller Writer-in-Residence at the University of Minnesota and lives in St. Paul with his partner and their four young children.</p>


Krys Malcolm Belc

Drawing of a group of people helping each other over a labyrinth

Histories Of Transition

How Transmasc Parents Navigate Testosterone After Pregnancy

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


Sabrina Imbler

A very cute hadal snailfish that is blue and chunky and appears to be smiling

Creaturefector

A Unified Theory Of Deep-Sea Fish Aesthetics; Or, The Deeper You Go The Cuter They Get

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Vlatko Andonovski, Head Coach of USA, speaks to the media in the post match press conference following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

It Is Mercifully Vlatkover

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 29, 2021: Gunner Olszewski #80 of the New England Patriots performs a drill during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 29, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

NFL Training Camp Storylines, Ranked

Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field on November 24, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Detroit Lions

Video Games

The Slow-Building Joys Of ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ And Turn-Based Combat

Barry Petchesky

COLUMBUS, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: Cierra Gaytan-Leach of the Hard Eights prepares to serve during the Major League Pickleball finals match against BLQK at Pickle &amp; Chill on October 16, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Hear Me Out: Pickleball Eschaton

A t-shirt with a three-by-three grid. Each box has two cows standing in front of the state of New Hampshire. The bottom of the shirt says "... enough said!"