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

Chloe Kelly of England celebrates after scoring the team's winning penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park on July 27, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

Soccer

Chloe Kelly Carried England To The Promised Land

Lauren Theisen

L t r Greg Gates, Melb. Glenn Ford, Willoughby, Syd. and Joe Italiano, of Mitchum Vic, study Copy of Fantastic Four

Defector At The Movies

Four Thoughts About ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Semi-Final match between Germany and Spain at Stadion Letzigrund on July 23, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Spain Won An Ugly Game Thanks To Moments Of Splendor

Jennifer Falk #12 of Sweden missed a decisive 11m goal against goalkeeper Hannah Hampton #1 of England in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Womens EURO 2025 Quarter-Final match between Sweden and England at Stadion Letzigrund on July 17, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Atrocious England-Sweden Penalty Shootout Has Wild Bill Hickok Turning Over In His Grave

Bills Week

An Ode To Bill, The Pokémon Maniac

Lauren James of England celebrates with teammate Ella Toone after scoring her team's third goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group D match between England and Netherlands at Stadion Letzigrund on July 09, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

England Unleashed Hell On The Netherlands

Jule Brand and Klara Buehl (L-R) of Germany celebrate after her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group C match between Germany and Denmark at St. Jakob-Park on July 08, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

Germany Has Been Good Enough, For Now

A bloody hand in the foreground while someone walks in through a door in 'The Last Of Us Part II'

The Backlog

‘The Last Of Us Part II’ Insists There’s Artistry In All Of Its Violence

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald J. Trump sign a football during a World Cup 2026 ceremony after a state dinner at the Lusail Palace on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.

FIFA Says Yes To Racism

Nuno Mendes of Portugal runs to the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2025 final match between Portugal and Spain at Munich Football Arena on June 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Nuno Mendes Made The Nations League Worth The Hassle

Albert Burneko

Tom Ley

Ray Ratto

Patrick Redford

David Roth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

Players of Seattle Sounders pose for a team photograph before the MLS match against Minnesota United on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Sounders Players Protest For Fair Share Of Lucrative Club World Cup Bonuses

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers grabs the ball against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Pacers Were Just Too Much To Handle

Désiré Doué of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Paris Saint-Germain Left No Doubt

An early game battle against Metal Face in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

‘Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition’ Is What A Remake Should Be

Kelsey McKinney

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

Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur lifts the Europa League trophy after winning the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain.

Tottenham Slogged Its Way To Glory

Pedro Rodriguez of SS Lazio celebrates a first goal during the Serie match between Inter and Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

The Stage Is Set For A Wild Serie A Finale

Four main characters in 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33'

Video Games

‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ Makes Your Wandering Worth It

Four-year-old Antonia Salmon with one of her birthday presents,a computer which used to belong to her father.

The Machines

Restart Your Computer!

Davide Frattesi central midfield of Internazionale and Italy celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 6, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

Inter Survived A War For The Ages

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrates the teams victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Gave Liverpool Everything It Needed

Cloud Strife in 'Final Fantasy VII Remake'

‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’ Tore Down The Past To Build A New Future

Lamine Yamal right winger of Barcelona and Spain celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

On A Spectacular Night, Lamine Yamal Shone Brightest

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-final First Leg football match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London, on April 29, 2025.