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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

Tom Ley

Angel Reese lays on her back during a game

WNBA

The Chicago Sky Cost Themselves Angel Reese

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Giannis Antetokounmpo sits on the sideline, in street clothes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo And The Bucks Are Feuding Right To The End

Barry Petchesky

Science

What Would You Do Behind The Moon?

Lauren Theisen

The Islanders Swap Coaches With Four Games Left In A Playoff Chase

Ray Ratto

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City. This is the play in which he hurt his hamstring.

A Vengeful Deity Is Smiting The Lakers

Patrick Redford

A LED sphere screen shows information inside the new location of the prediction market online platform Polymarket called "The Situation Room."

Capital

Polymarket Apologizes For Taking Bets On American Pilots Downed Over Iran

Maitreyi Anantharaman

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) makes a catch during the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots Super Bowl LX game on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.

Crosswords

The Crossword, April 6: Hit Parade

Lauren Betts #51 hugs Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins during the second half of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

College Basketball

Cori Close And UCLA Won At Their Own Speed

David Roth

of the Los Angeles Angels catches a fly ball hit by Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of the baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 4, 2026.

Jo Adell Stole Three Homers And A Win From The Mariners

Rachelle Hampton

A yellow path curves through sprays of purple irises.

Arts And Culture

Monet, Through The Iris

Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after a play during the first half of a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four game against the Arizona Wildcats on April 4, 2026.

Michigan Is Nasty

Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of a NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game on April 3, 2026.

South Carolina Upset Connecticut, But Not As Much As Dawn Staley Upset Geno Auriemma

Tiger Woods is seen leaving Martin County Jail in the back of an SUV.

Golf

A Very Sweaty Tiger Woods Called Donald Trump After His Car Wreck

Kathryn Xu

Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up prior to a spring training game.

Is Konnor Griffin Actually 19 Years Old? Let’s Discuss

Tech Media Propaganda Operation Makes It Official, Goes In-House At OpenAI

Defector Staff

Pictured L to R: Aubry Bracco, Genevieve Mushaluk, Christian Hubicki, Joe Hunter, Rick Devens, Dee Valladares, Cirie Fields, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Colby Donaldson, Emily Flippen, Chrissy Hofbeck, Tiffany Ervin, Kamilla Karthigesu, Jonathan Young and Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick.

Welcome To The Defector ‘Survivor 50’ Midseason Questionnaire

Eli Cugini

It’s Time To Grow Up

Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores against Juuse Saros

The Wild Card Race Gives Me A Tummy Ache

Artemis Took A Picture Of Us

Grace Byron is a critic, reporter, and novelist based in Queens. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Bookforum, and elsewhere. Her debut novel Herculine is out now.

Grace Byron

The Gentle Parenting Of Ben Lerner’s ‘Transcription’

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

Diana Moskovitz

Down judge Robin DeLorenzo #134 during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.

Female Ref Sues NFL For Discrimination, Says She Was Told To “Shut Your Fucking Mouth” By Another Official

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Podcasts

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

Giri Nathan

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia reacts to Paula Badosa of Spain during practice prior to The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)