CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Luis Paez-Pumar

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates a late basket in the fourth quarter at Paycom Center on November 09, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gave The Bucks All They Could Handle

TOPSHOT - Denmark's forward Kasper Dolberg (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen during the UEFA Nations League football match between Denmark and France in Copenhagen on September 25, 2022. - Denmark OUT (Photo by Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT

Soccer

With Christian Eriksen Back, Denmark Can Go Deeper Than Ever

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the trophy after winning the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lionel Messi And Argentina Are Ready For World Cup Glory

ST. POELTEN, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the International Friendly match between Iran and Uruguay at NV Arena on September 23, 2022 in St. Poelten, Austria.

Iran Has More Than Just Soccer On Its Mind At The World Cup

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 25: Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Netherlands and Belgium at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 25, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Netherlands Is Ready To Go Where It’s Never Been Before

Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig celebrates scoring their side's second goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League group F match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid at Red Bull Arena on October 25, 2022 in Leipzig, Germany.

Christopher Nkunku Is Just The Best

Asisat Oshoala of FC Barcelona celebrates her team's third goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League Group D match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 19, 2022 in Sant Joan Despi, Spain.

Asisat Oshoala Put An Exclamation Point On Barcelona’s Rout

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game at FedExForum on October 19, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Let’s Enjoy The First Ridiculous Ja Morant Highlight Of The Season

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on October 16, 2022 in Liverpool, England.

Mohamed Salah Is The Difference

Game three of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners enters the seventeenth inning without a run at T-Mobile Park on October 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

I Did So Many Things While Houston And Seattle Failed To Score

Hirving Lozano of Napoli celebrates after scoring the first goal for Napoli during the UEFA Champions League group A match between SSC Napoli and AFC Ajax at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 12, 2022 in Naples, Italy.

Napoli Is Soaring To The Top Of Europe

Race winner and 2022 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Second placed Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan.

Racing

The Formula One Title Race Got The Anticlimactic Ending It Deserved

UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1950s: Two boys playing baseball.

Underexplained Lists

The Coolness Of Baseball Positions, Ranked

Head coach Jorge Vilda of Spain looks on during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Qualifier group B match between Spain and Ukraine at Ciudad del Futbol de Las Rozas on September 06, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

The Spanish Soccer Federation Is Once Again Going To War Against Its Own Players

Pro Wrestling

Saraya Is AEW’s Best Chance To Fix Its Women’s Division

My Chemical Romance plays Barclays Center on September 11, 2022.

Music

My Chemical Romance Never Died

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks dejected after Piotr Zielinski (not pictured) of SSC Napoli scores their team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 07, 2022 in Naples, Italy.

Liverpool Is Broken

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 29, 2022 in Anaheim, California.

Shohei And The Angels Out-Dingered Aaron Judge And The Yankees

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on from the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 28, 2022 in Spa, Belgium.

Max Verstappen Is The Fun-Killer

Lyons Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta celebrates during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and FC Nantes at The Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on May 14, 2022.

Window Shopping: Lucas Paquetá Does It All

Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle United reacts after a missed sho during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on August 21, 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Newcastle United Is Almost There

Houssem Aouar of Olympique Lyon celebrates following his team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Lyon at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 15, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Window Shopping: Houssem Aouar Is Going Where??

Sandro Tonali of AC Milan celebrates during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on May 08, 2022 in Verona, Italy.

Window Shopping: Sandro Tonali Is Worth Whatever It Takes

Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona takes a selfie with fans during the match between FC Barcelona and the A-League All Stars at Accor Stadium on May 25, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.

Barcelona Is Threatening Legal Action To Get Out Of A Contract It No Longer Wants

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Manchester City at the London Stadium, in London on August 7, 2022.