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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Cotie McMahon #23 of the Washington Mystics celebrates with teammates after the game against the Dallas Wings at CareFirst Arena on August 5, 2026 in Washington, DC.

WNBA

The Washington Mystics Don’t Act Their Age

David Roth

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on July 16, 2026. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Podcasts

Mugged By Seagulls, With Rohan Nadkarni

Jefry Yan #84 of the New York Mets celebrates after striking out Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians for his first career strikeout during the sixth inning of his major league debut on August 5, 2026.

It’s Jefry Yan Time

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

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Miami Dolphins

Kathryn Xu

Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Oh No: Dodgers In Unrecoverable Tailspin After Sixth Straight Loss

Patrick Redford

ILLUSTRATION - 17 May 2024, North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne: A person works at a computer with an illustrative image generated by artificial intelligence on the screen, showing code from various programming languages and a neural network diagram. At the meeting of telecommunications ministers on May 21, the EU countries are expected to finally adopt the AI law in the EU. The European Parliament had already given the green light for the project beforehand. Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa (Photo by Oliver Berg/picture alliance via Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Defector Also Investigating How Our Super Powerful AI Tool Broke Contain

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Paul Skenes Is Stuck Being A Guy While The Pirates Require A Dude

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

Books

Claire Stapleton Helped Write The Myth Of Google, But Now She’s Trying To Tell The Truth

Lauren Theisen

Miles Mikolas #36 of the Washington Nationals lays down a sacrifice RBI bunt in the top of the 11th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park

Miles Mikolas Now Better At Hitting Than Pitching

Samer Kalaf

A general view of a "Google" logo and a WNBA logo on seats

The Machines

The Mystery Of Google’s Fixation On “The Transwoman In The WNBA”

Tom Ley

Bryson DeChambeau tees off at a LIV Golf event

Golf

LIV Golf Claims It Will Be Rescued From The Toilet Any Day Now

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Cincinnati Bengals

Giri Nathan

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 01: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates after winning a women's singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day six of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Tennis

Alex Eala Is Catching The WTA’s Best Off Guard

Sohini Desai

A huge crowd of protesters marching in support of Black families. As the Black Lives Matter and Defund The Police movements are gaining momentum, activists are pushing to get rid of institutions that police and oppress black people. Activist in Brooklyn gathered at MetroTech plaza for a march to defund the Administration for Children's Services (ACS)

Politics

New York’s Use Of AI For Family Policing Summarizes The Last 30 Years Of City Politics

Dave McKenna

A little boy walks among the tombstones at Arlington National Cemetary in Washington D.C.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Talk To My Kid About Death?

George Lombard Jr. smiles in the Yankees dugout.

For One Night Only, A Rookie And His Sweet Folks Make It Possible To Enjoy The Yankees

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

A Kia Soul on display at the New York International Auto Show with a presenter dressed up as a hamster

How Far Would You Go To Save Your Kia Soul?

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA - JUNE 12: Basketball Player and Team Co-Owner of Sierra Racing Club, Kyle Kuzma poses for a photo ahead of the E1 Series Dubrovnik GP on June 12, 2026 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. (Photo by Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images)

‘Nothing But Respect’ Is Back From Summer Break

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Collage: An old drawing of people in a lifeboat struggling against rough seas; in front of them a modern woman is popping out of the water, taking a photo of herself.

Under The Influence

What Are You Banning When You Ban Influencers?

Aaron Rodgers being unbearable during an interview with Pat McAfee in front of a bunch of Steelers fans at training camp. McAfee looks pink and kind of boiled; Rodgers is slouching and pinching his fingers together.

We’re Just Going To Keep Doing 2020 Again Until All The Wrong Stuff Is True

Luis Paez-Pumar

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Soccer

Is This The End For Gianni Infantino?

Sarah Borus

Former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Maybelle Blair and WPBL mascot pose for a photo prior to the game between the Boston Hunters and San Francisco Firebells at Robin Roberts Stadium on August 02, 2026 in Springfield, Illinois

Women's Baseball

The Women’s Pro Baseball League Will Eventually Need To Escape The Past

Albert Burneko

Kristaps Porzingis with blood on his forehead from a collision.

Funbag

Concussion Protocols Are A Sham

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Kansas City Chiefs

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 16: David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, speaks onstage at the Paramount Pictures presentation at The Dolby Colosseum at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of Cinema United, on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)