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Defector

Tom Ley

Soccer

Cristiano Ronaldo Is Holding Portugal Hostage

Ray Ratto

Chancel Mbemba of Congo DR reacts after the 1-1 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Portugal and Congo DR at Houston Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

Congo Was Ready For The Moment, And For Portugal

Patrick Redford

Slovenia's rider Tadej Pogacar of team UAE Emirates - XRG attends the team presentation on the eve of the first stage of the Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse) cycling race, in Sondrio, Italy, on June 16, 2026. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Cycling

It’s Still Tadej Pogacar’s World

Billy Haisley

Lionel Messi (right, Argentina) is embraced by Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) after scoring his second goal to make it 2-0.

Even At The End, Lionel Messi Is Just Getting Started

Alexi Lalas attends the Fox Sports FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Day event at Lavan on May 21, 2026 in New York City.

Alexi Lalas Has Already Worn Out His Welcome

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

You Are The Dancing Fly, Young And Spry, Just A Little Guy

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings in the third quarter at Target Center on June 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lynx defeated the Wings 100-76.

WNBA

Olivia Miles Is The Throwback Point Guard Of The Future

Patrick T. Dorsey is the writer of and a producer on the feature film FUTURE DATE, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Comedy Feature. You can hear him Thursdays on Defector Trivia, whenever Diana Moskovitz shouts, “Baaaaaaabe!”

Patrick T. Dorsey

Golf

Nelly Korda Is Really Good At This

Lauren Theisen

Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run

White Sox Cleverly Lull Yankees Into False Sense Of Superiority In Potential Playoff Preview

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

JT Snow pulls three-year-old Darren Baker out of harm's way at homeplate.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Direct My Kid To The Stuff They’ll Enjoy And Be Good At?

T Brubaker of the San Francisco Giants pitches with bible crap scrawled on his cap.

MLB Pride Nights Co-Opted And Consumed By Owners And Culture-War Freaks

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 14: John Tortorella of the Vegas Golden Knights arrives before the start of game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 14, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Christopher Trim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

I Hope John Tortorella Didn’t Bother Unpacking

David Roth

National Park Service workers push algae towards an aeration area in the center of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following the completion of recent renovations in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2026. It looks all fucked up.

Life's Rich Pageant

Promises Made, Promises Kept: The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Absolutely Looks Like Shit Now

Sohini Desai

Rock Chalk Algeria

Sarah Borus

Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs hits a single to complete the cycle

The Cubs Are Riding The World’s Bumpiest Roller Coaster

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Funbag

What’s The Ideal Target For A Heist?

One of two new studio sets that have multiple spots within for shooting. Sportsnet has built a new set for their hockey coverage, including a new set for Hockey Night in Canada. in Toronto. October 6, 2021.

The Original ‘Hockey Night In Canada’ Takes Its Dying Breath

Luis Paez-Pumar

Iranian fans greet the players after the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 15, 2026.

Iran Forced Out Of U.S. Immediately After Playing Best Match Of World Cup

Giri Nathan

Knicks fans watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News via Getty Images)

The Circus Came To San Antonio

New York Knicks owner James Dolan is interviewed by Ernie Johnson Jr. after his team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Podcasts

FancyFree Is The Center Of The World, With Giri Nathan

College Football

Brendan Sorsby Decides To Make Himself The NFL’s Problem

John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and Maclean’s.

John Loeppky

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 05: Zhiqiang Yan of Team People's Republic of China competes with teammates Zhijian Lan and Qi Zhang (not in frame) in the Mixed Team - BC1/BC2 Gold Medal Match #294 against Muhamad Syafa, Felix Ardi Yudha and Gischa Zayana of Team Indonesia on day eight of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at South Paris Arena on September 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Parasports

When Competing Means Being Able To Afford The Right Equipment

Dave McKenna

The Fights

UFC’s White House Fight Night May Have Been An Unforgivable Folly, But At Least It Was Violent And Offensive

Cabo Verde players react after the 0-0 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Cabo Verde at Atlanta Stadium on June 15, 2026.

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