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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

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Portrait of a beautiful young woman smiling and touching a lantern that illuminates her face.

Under The Influence

White People Online Are Really Excited About Lunar New Year

Patrick Redford

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Team USA Stripes walks onto the court before the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Peeking Into The Durant Files, With Eamon Whalen

Luis Paez-Pumar

The result of the Knock-out Round Play-offs draw is displayed on the big screen alongside the UEFA Champions League trophy during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Knock-out Round Play-offs Draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on January 30, 2026 in Nyon, Switzerland

Soccer

A 2025-26 Champions League Playoff Preview For Your Enjoyment And Education

An image of (left to right) Maddie Mastro, Breezy Johnson, and Maxime Germain with their knitted creations, taken from their respective Instagram accounts.

Olympics

Let’s Check In With The Knitting Olympians

Dave McKenna

College Basketball

Doug Gottlieb Attacks Refs, Furniture After Loss

Kathryn Xu

Austin Florian of Team United States wears a Venom helmet.

A Tour Of The Sick-Ass Helmets Of Skeleton

Casey Wasserman at the Vogue World: Hollywood Announcement at Chateau Marmont on March 26, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Casey Wasserman, Radioactive With Epstein Fallout, Says He Will Sell His Agency

Lauren Theisen

Pro Wrestling

Why The Hottest New Pro Wrestling Chant Is “Fuck ICE”

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


Chris Thompson

Bryce Harper Is Still Grouchy About Dave Dombrowski’s Loose Ponderings

Ray Ratto

A customer takes a photograph of a glass of Russian River Brewing's Pliny the Younger at the Russian River Brewing Company on February 1, 2019 in Windsor, California.

Life Lessons

An Afternoon With Pliny The Younger

Maitreyi Anantharaman

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 7: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dives for a loose ball during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center on January 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 16: Swish

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


Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Where Is Cinema?: An Interview With A.S. Hamrah


<p>Michael is a writer who has worked with The Atlantic, The New Yorker, WIRED, Vox, The New York Times, and other publications. His first book, <em>The Other Olympians</em>, which uncovers the stories of several European athletes who transitioned gender in the 1930s, is now available for purchase.</p>


Michael Waters

Officials in hazmat suits remove a medal around an olympian's neck

Chromosome Testing Will Take Sports Back To The Dark Ages

Kelsey McKinney

a USA bobsledder pushes a sled (with a long exposure so it looks artsy)

Which Terrifying Sliding Sport Would You Brave?

Barry Petchesky

LIVIGNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 15: Ikuma Horishima of Team Japan crosses the finish line backwards after a fall as he competes in the Men's Dual Moguls 1/8 Finals against Nick Page of Team United States (not pictured) on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Air Park on February 15, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

This Backward Guy Medaled

Marc Kennedy of Team Canada competes in the curling men's round robin between Canada and USA during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

The Big Canada-Sweden Curling Beef, Explained

Ilia Malinin of Team United States reacts after competing in the Men Single Skating on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 13, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Even Ilia Malinin Is Mortal

<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

A Wawa kisok displaying The Saquon sandwich

Jamboroo

Wawa: The Defector Review

nick castellanos in a black tanktop on the field during warm ups

The Phillies Can Never Make Me Hate Nick Castellanos

Giri Nathan

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Chicago Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Become Exhausting

Taylor Hendricks of the Utah Jazz talks with team owner Ryan Smith during warmups before their game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026. Smith has a backwards baseball cap on, as always.

The Utah Jazz Got Fined For Losing Too Oafishly

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<div>Rena Behar is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor specializing in responsible travel and various international oddities.</div>
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Rena Behar

An illustration of a skier going down the mountain while holding picket signs

Capital

The Outdoor Industry Needs Workers, And Workers Need Unions

David Roth

A Pomeranian is groomed backstage during the Group Judging (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding) at 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2025.

Choosing Your Pomeranian, With Kathryn Xu

US President Donald Trump (R) looks on as LA 2028 Chairman Casey Wasserman (L) speaks during an event on creating a White House 2028 Olympics task force in the South Court Auditorium of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2025. The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Famous Clients Bail On Casey Wasserman Over Gross Sex Emails To Ghislaine Maxwell

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych, with his helmet, which features pictures of people killed in the war with Russia.