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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

Lauren Theisen

Nobody Knows Who The Oilers Should Start At Goalie In The Most Important Game Of The Season

J.J. Spaun fist pumps after making the winning putt

Golf

J.J. Spaun’s Last Shot Was The Shot Of His Life

Politics

Protests Big

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck into the net behind goaltender Calvin Pickard #30, Corey Perry #90, and Jake Walman #96 of the Edmonton Oilers

Panther Machine Never Breaks

Brian Wilson, along with the Beach Boys perform at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on January 1, 1987 .

Music

Brian Wilson Was The Sound Of Something Just Out Of Reach

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: A plastic rat is seen on the ice after the Florida Panthers 6-1 victory in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brad Marchand Is Still A Royal Pain In The Ass

Tony Shalhoub accepts the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for The Band's Visit onstage during the 72nd Annual Tony Awards

Staff Chat

An Experimental Staff Chat: Let’s Talk Tonys

Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) gets set in the first period of game one of Stanley Cup Final

Stuart Skinner Was Good Enough

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Leon Draisaitl #29 and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers react as the Florida Panthers celebrate their victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

So, What’s Gonna Happen This Time?

Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty mascot, performs before the game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun

WNBA

The Liberty Are Godzilla And The WNBA Is A Bunch Of Tall Buildings

The Panthers Are A Nightmare For The Rest Of The NHL

Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal

The Hurricanes Avoided The Garbage Can

Kelsey McKinney

Luis Paez-Pumar

Kathryn Xu

Singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen performs at City Year Los Angeles Spring Break at Sony Studios on April 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California

Defector Music Club

Defector Music Club Really Really Really Really Really Really Likes Carly Rae Jepsen

Arts And Culture

Helen Frankenthaler Is A Reason To Go To Rochester

Copies of Hillary Clinton's book "What Happened" sit on a shelf

A Short Farewell To The NHL’s Second-Round Losers

sarah snook on stage with several screens showing her

‘The Picture Of Dorian Gray’ Is A Digital Monument To Vanity

Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers is showered with ice water after hitting a three-run walk-off home run

Javy Báez Comes Back For Seconds

The Savannah Bananas players and Party Animals players get up after making a group photo after a game

The Savannah Bananas Make Baseball Boring

Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a late goal against Stuart Skinner #74

Leon, No!

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates after a goal

Leon Draisaitl Makes Everything Easier

Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens sits on the bench

Ravens Release Justin Tucker, Claim It’s A “Football Decision”

Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets stands on the ice in front of the Whiteout crowd prior to puck drop

Connor Hellebuyck Earned A Reprieve

Pro Wrestling

I Went To Japan To See One Building

Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal

There’s Nothing Like The Sound Of A Goal In Montreal

Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues reacts after winning against the Detroit Red Wings