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Defector

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

A large group of hundreds of New Yorkers reveling after Game 4 of the NBA Finals

One Euphoric Night In The City Of OG Anunoby

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Interviews

Longtime NBA Photographer Nathaniel S. Butler Explains How He Sees Basketball

Qinwen Zheng of China returns a shot to Ekaterina Alexandrova during the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 04, 2025 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Tennis

How Much Good Can A Green Clay Tennis Court Do?

Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and finalist Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the trophy ceremony of the Men's Final on day 8 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2026, an ATP Masters 1000 at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 12, 2026 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France near Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz Swap Places On The Mountaintop

Samer Kalaf

Azeez al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

NFL Threatened To Pull Azeez Al-Shaair From Game For Eye Black Memorializing Palestinian Child

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Get My Kid To Be A Sports Sicko Without Turning Myself Into A Vile Sports Parent?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

David Roth

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)

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

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is interviewed by Jim Courier following victory over Alex de Minaur of Australia during the Men's Singles Quarter Final match on day 10 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

How Tennis Channel’s Jim Courier Sees The Sport

A huge group of fans mill around at the 2026 U.S. Open

The State Of The U.S. Open Is The State Of Us

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

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

20-year-old fish sauce spews out of a rupture in a vat at an abandoned plant

Life's Rich Pageant

Let Me And A Food Scientist Sample The Abandoned Fish Sauce Terrorizing A Small Canadian Town

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