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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Harry Ford #5 of the Seattle Mariners raises the celebratory team trident after the game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 7-6 in 12 innings.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 23: It’s An Art,  Not A Science (Themeless)

Megan Keller #5 (R) of Team United States celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Hannah Bilka #23 (C) and Hilary Knight #21 (L) in the first period during the Women's Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Czechia on Day minus one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Olympics

Still Country For Old Women

Canada's #29 Marie-Philip Poulin reacts during the women's play-off semi-final ice hockey match between Canada and Switzerland at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 16, 2026.

Canada Needs Marie-Philip Poulin To Bail Them Out One More Time

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 7: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dives for a loose ball during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center on January 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Crossword, Feb. 16: Swish

Laila Edwards #10 of Team United States celebrate her first goal with Hilary Knight #21 during the Women's Ice Hockey - Group A match between Team Canada and Team United States on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Team USA’s Speedy Children Delivered A Beatdown Of Canada

Head coach Kim Caldwell of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers looks on in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Colonial Life Arena on February 08, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.

College Basketball

Kim Caldwell Is Running Out Of Hard Truths To Deliver

Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets greets fans prior to the game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Miami, Florida

The Crossword, Feb. 9: Italian Class

Pittsburgh Penguins v Tampa Bay Lightning

The Crossword, Feb. 2: Hard Act To Follow

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye gets a game-sealing first down in the fourth quarter. The New England Patriots played the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High on January 25, 2026.

The Crossword, Jan. 26: Nailbiter (Themeless)

Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins in the net against the Seattle Kraken at the TD Garden on January 15, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Crossword, Jan. 19: Sole Cycle

College basketball betting odds on the video board at the Westgate SuperBook sports book on November 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gambling

Rigging A College Basketball Game Seems Stressful

Rashid Shaheed #22 of the Seattle Seahawks returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

The Seahawks Have A Need For Rashid Shaheed

Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a basket during the second half of a game against the Texas Longhorns at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 11, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LSU Actually Did Not Eat Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - MARCH 23: Ilia Malinin of the United States competes in the Men's Free Skating during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Centre Bell on March 23, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Joosep Martinson)

The Crossword, Jan. 12: Shuffle Along

Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and LSU Tigers, January 4, 2025, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.

LSU Ate Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

A couple look into the window at Katz's Delicatessen on March 20, 2015 in New York City.

The Crossword, Jan. 5: Workplace Standards

If Syla Swords Takes A Shot But The Clock Is Frozen, Did It Actually Happen?

Shaquille O'Neal with kids on the court during the Icy Hot &amp; The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation launch latest Comebaq Court event, in partnership with Boys &amp; Girls Club of Northeast Texas, on July 14, 2025 in Rockwall, Texas.

The Crossword, Dec. 29: Men Getting Hit By Football (Themeless)

Athina Ioannidou and guest attend the Sephora Cardiff Opening on October 23, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales.

The Crossword, Dec. 22: Spinning Tops

Jennifer Gardiner #12 of the Vancouver Goldeneyes is congratulated after scoring a goal during the second period of their PWHL game against the Ottawa Charge at Pacific Coliseum on December 16, 2025 in Vancouver, Canada.

PWHL

The Vancouver Goldeneyes Are Already Built To Win

K.J. Macura, Joe Sherburne #13 and Jairus Lyles #10 of the UMBC Retrievers address the media after the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

The Crossword, Dec. 15: Out Of Court

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 14: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs lays on the ground after sustaining an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Patrick Mahomes Tore His ACL And The Chiefs Tore Off The Bandage

Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes a shot as Layla Hays #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes blocks in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 10, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

Audi Crooks Makes Every Minute Count

Bryce Young hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.