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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Hailey Van Lith #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs goes to the basket against the Houston Christian Huskies in the second half at Schollmaier Arena on November 5, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas.

College Basketball

Hailey Van Lith Is Getting Her Groove Back At TCU

Matt Eberflus looking vaguely disheveled as he coaches the Bears

Matt Eberflus Made Bears History In The Bad Way

Lin Manuel Miranda debuts the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' song 'Jabba Flow' at 'Hamilton' on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on May 4, 2016 in New York City

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 2: Hot Ones

Referee David Elford blows the whistle as he loses sight of the puck somewhere under Kaleigh Fratkin #13, Hannah Brandt #20, Aerin Frankel #31 of Boston in the crease during scrum in the second period at Tsongas Center on May 29, 2024 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

PWHL

All Your Questions Will Be Answered In This 2024-25 PWHL Season Preview

Las Vegas center A'ja Wilson (22) shoots a three-pointer during the WNBA game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Atlanta Dream on July 12th, 2024 at the Gateway Arena in College Park, GA.

The Crossword, Nov. 25: Party Hat (Themeless)

Cairo Santos #8 of the Chicago Bears watches as Karl Brooks #94 of the Green Bay Packers blocks a potential game winning field goal at the end of the fourth quarter of a game at Soldier Field on November 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Bears Continue To Innovate In The Space Of Crushing Last-Second Defeat

Tracy Chapman performs onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

The Crossword, Nov. 18: Turnaround Jumpers

Jaloni Cambridge #22 of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the court during the game against the Cleveland State Vikings at Value City Arena on November 5, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

Get Ahead Of The Curve And Watch These Exciting New Freshmen

The Crossword, Nov. 11: Paintball

Chappell Roan performs during 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 06, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

The Crossword, Nov. 4: Rock Group

Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon of the Chicago Sky complains about a call against her team during the fourth quarter of a home basketball game against the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena on August 28, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

WNBA

What Happened To All The WNBA Coaches?

Hoang&#8211;Kim Vu is the co-editor of the Defector Crossword. His puzzles have appeared in multiple venues, including the New York Times, L.A. Times, and USA Today.

Hoang-Kim Vu

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after Enrique Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a triple in the fifth inning during Game One of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

The Crossword, Oct. 28: A Cryptic!

Jonquel Jones #35 and Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty celebrate after winning Game Five of the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime to win the championship.

The Liberty Were Built, Bought, And Blessed

Phoebe Bridgers, winner of the Best Alternative Music Album award for "The Record"- Boygenius, Best Rock Song award for "Not Strong Enough", Best Rock Performance award for "Not Strong Enough" and Best Pop/Duo Group Performance award for "Ghost In The Machine", poses in the press room at the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

The Crossword, Oct. 21: Sub-liminal Messages

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty defends against Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx d2q in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Target Center on October 18, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Lynx And Liberty Are Getting Too Close For Comfort

Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty reacts after hitting a game winning three point basket to defeat the Minnesota Lynx 80-77 in Game Three of the WNBA Finals at Target Center on October 16, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Liberty Can Always Count On The Big Three

Trinity Rodman #2 of Washington Spirit in action against the OL Reign during the second half of the NWSL game at Audi Field on May 1, 2022 in Washington, DC.

The Crossword, Oct. 14: Flower Arrangement

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton #44 of the New York Liberty reacts during the second quarter of Game Two of the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays Center on October 13, 2024 in New York City.

The Liberty Too-Smalled The Lynx

Leland Smith #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers secures an onside kick late in the second half as Collin Dixon #17 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Champaign, Illinois.

College Football

How To Recover An Onside Kick

Lane Thomas #8 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a grand slam during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Five of the Division Series at Progressive Field on October 12, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lane Thomas Put Detroit’s Ace In A Hole 

Courtney Williams #10 and Bridget Carleton #6 of the Minnesota Lynx react after being fouled during the second half against the New York Liberty during Game One of the WNBA Finals at the Barclays Center on October 10, 2024 in New York City.

Was That The Greatest WNBA Finals Game Ever?

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball as Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to tackle during the first half at FedExField on October 06, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.

Jayden Daniels Has Brought The Commanders To Life

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on November 17, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro.

The Crossword, Oct. 7: Pile Your Plate High

Vanderbilt Commodores fans march the goal posts around the field following a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Alabama Crimson Tide, October 5, 2024 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Vandy Took Down Bama, And The Goalposts, Too

Manager Terry Francona #78 of the Cleveland Guardians watches the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 14, 2023 in Washington, DC.