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 #2, Ariel Atkins #7 and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky look on from the bench in the third quarter of their game against the Las Vegas Aces at T-Mobile Arena on September 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sky 80-66.

WNBA

Angel Reese And The Sky Are Ready To End This Dismal Season

Former Seattle Seahawk Marshawn Lynch looks on while on the sideline documenting the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Sept. 8: Chomp Chomp

Skylar Diggins #4 of the Seattle Storm celebrates against the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter at Target Center on August 28, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Storm defeated the Lynx 93-79.

Skylar Diggins Is Queen Of The Productive Crashout

Álex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing) celebrates winning the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Crossword, Sept. 1: Flushing Out

A'ja Wilson #22 and head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces laugh as Wilson waits to check in during the fourth quarter of a game against the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Wings 106-87.

The Aces Agenda Is Back In Full Swing

Andrew Martinez, owner of Bo's Bagels, bakes bagels in his store's oven on July 12, 2023 in New York City. Bagels are as synonymous with New York as pizza and the Statue of Liberty. Although there is no official count of New York's daily bagel production, Sam Silverman, chief executive of the trade group Bagelup, estimates there are about 500 specialty shops across the city's five boroughs. The ring-shaped bread has evolved and been reinvented since its arrival more than a century ago thanks to Polish Jewish immigrants.

The Crossword, Aug. 25: Out Of Office Again (Themeless)

Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings celebrates reacts to a Wings three pointer during an 81-80 Los Angeles Sparks win over the Dallas Wings at Crypto.com Arena on August 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Now Imagine What Paige Bueckers Could Do With Better Teammates

Interviews

Giri Nathan DISHES On Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz In This EXCLUSIVE Interview

Sonia Citron #22 and Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics interact during the first half of the game against the Golden State Valkyries at CareFirst Arena on July 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.

The Mystics’ Rookies Have Made The Team Better Than Intended

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks up the pitcher's mound in the fourth inning during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at PNC Park on April 19, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Crossword, Aug. 18: Musical Arrangement

Temi Fágbénlé #14 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts against the Las Vegas Aces in the third quarter at Chase Center on August 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

The Crossword, Aug. 11: Lose Control

Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks gestures after a call during the second half against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on August 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Cameron Brink Is Back And Ready To Swat

Pitching coach Carl Willis #51 of the Cleveland Guardians makes a mound visit in the second inning during Game 2 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 in New York, New York.

The Crossword, August 4: Big Finish

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) celebrates following the Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and Cleveland Guardians on July 18, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.

The Emmanuel Clase Market Is Perhaps Understandably Bearish

Tom Ley

Luis Paez-Pumar

Brandy Jensen

Defector Reads A Book: The Art of Fielding

Defector Reads A Book

The Art Of Reading

Te-Hina Paopao #2 of the Atlanta Dream reacts after a made three-point basket at Target Center on July 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

At The Very Least, The Atlanta Dream Are Worth Watching

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears talks with head coach Ben Johnson during Chicago Bears OTA Offseason Workout at Halas Hall on June 04, 2025 in Lake Forest, Illinois.

The Crossword, July 28: When You Win, Say Nothing (Themeless)

Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm blocks a shot by Elizabeth Williams #1 of the Chicago Sky during the second half at Wintrust Arena on July 24, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Dominique Malonga Gets It Done In Small Doses

Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics holds a "Pay the Players" sign following the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA Players Want To Share In The League’s “Hypergrowth”

North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the crowd during a basketball game against the La Salle Explorers on December 14, 2024 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 93-67.

The Crossword, July 21: One By One

Bill Veeck holds up a sign to the crowd so they can manage the baseball game

Bills Week

Bill Veeck’s Goofy, Gag-Filled Baseball Book Was Ahead Of Its Time

Jermaine Johnson #52 of the New York Jets blocks a punt from Sam Martin #8 of the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.

The Crossword, July 14: Quarterback Scramble

Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever talks to the media during a press conference before the match-up against the Brazil National Team, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 4, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Christine Brennan’s Caitlin Clark Book Is More About Gripes Than Greatness

Summer McIntosh is interviewed by NBC Sports Nicole Auerbach after winning the Women's 400 Meter Individual Medley Final on Day 3 of the TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont at FMC Natatorium on March 07, 2025 in Westmont, Illinois

The Crossword, July 7: Tennis, Anyone?

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to the crowd before the game between the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx at Carefirst Arena on June 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.