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Alex Sujong Laughlin

David Roth

Giri Nathan

Kelsey McKinney

Annie Dillard receiving her 2014 National Humanities Medal

Arts And Culture

Annie Dillard Gave It All

Patrick Redford

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Kathryn Xu

Elena Rybakina R of Kazakhstan celebrates during the awarding ceremony for the women's singles final match between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Tennis

The Defector Tennis Desk Takes Stock Of The U.S. Open

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates with the trophy after defeating Ben Shelton of the United States in their Men's Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The U.S. Open Men’s Final Changed Nothing

USA's Ben Shelton celebrates his win against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during the men's singles quarter-final tennis match on day ten of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Leonardo MUNOZ / AFP) / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Leonardo MUNOZ has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [USA's Ben Shelton] instead of [Spain's Carlos Alcaraz]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”

Ben Shelton Took Down Carlos Alcaraz In The Match Of His Life

France's Gael Monfils reacts after a point against Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo during the men's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Gael Monfils Can Make The Crowd Dance To A Swan Song

An Interview With A Biographer Of Renée Richards, An Actual Trans Pro Athlete

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during a changeover against Mariano Navone

Novak Djokovic Pukes And Crumbles  At The U.S. Open

Pat McAfee reacts in the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Indianapolis Colts

Reds Week

I Played Pat McAfee’s Album For Another Frequently Red-Faced, Sleeveless Baby

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 18: Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during a match against Learner Tien of the United States on day eight of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Frances Tiafoe Is Peaking At The Right Time

Los Angeles Lakers' Governor Jeanie Buss during the Los Angeles Lakers unveiling former head coach Pat Riley statue at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images)

The Buss Children Are Squabbling Over Their Remaining Lakers Stake

Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks after a steal against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on January 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, 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 Harry How/Getty Images)

Russell Westbrook Was Total

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets attends a 2025 NBA Summer League game

Interviews

Let’s Unpack LaMelo Ball’s Sugary Abode

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)

Alex Eala Is Catching The WTA’s Best Off Guard

A view of the Larry O'Brien championship trophy

A Review Of The Larry O’Brien Trophy, Or Anyway A Larry O’Brien Trophy

All Hail Lilli Tagger And The One-Hander

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers smile during the second half of the game

LeBron James Is A Philadelphia 76er

A dad sits in the grass at a park with his shirt off listening to music on headphones and reading the paper while his baby sleeps next to him

Minor Dilemmas

What’s Going To Happen To The Rest Of My Life After I Become A Parent?

Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at State Farm Arena on January 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia

Lu Dort And Zaccharie Risacher Involved In Depressing Trade

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Bam Adebayo #13 and Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat look on at the end of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Kaseya Center on March 30, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Various Reports Dispute Where Bam Adebayo’s Fist Landed On Tyler Herro’s Face

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Jannik Sinner of Italy with his Gentlemen's Singles Trophy over the Royal Box balcony after his victory in the Gentlemen's Singles final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner Reinstates The Regime

Karolina Muchova of Czechia and Coco Gauff of United States interact at the net following their Ladies' Singles semifinal match on day eleven of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Karolina Muchova And Coco Gauff Played A Tiebreak Neither Will Forget

Coco Gauff of the Untied States returns a shot in the Ladies Singles Quarter Finals match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on day nine of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 07, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

You Don’t Have To Love Grass To Win On It

LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to a three-point basket during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets

LaMelo Ball Is Headed To Minnesota, Hopefully Not In His Car

BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 16: Serena Williams of the United States competes during the women's doubles match alongside Karolina Muchova against Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe at the WTA 500 Berlin Ladies Open tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany on June 16, 2026. (Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Serena Williams Is Coming Back As A  Wild Card At Wimbledon

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)