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Defector

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty and Breanna Stewart #30 high five during the game against the Las Vegas Aces during game 3 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on October 15, 2023 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

WNBA

New York Showed Up In A Big Way

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty in the first quarter of Game Two of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 11, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Liberty Are Going Down Without A Fight

Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces handles the ball under pressure from Jonquel Jones #35, Betnijah Laney #44 and Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty in the fourth quarter of Game One of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 99-82.

Jackie Young’s Game 1 Barrage Arrived Right On Schedule

DeMarcus Walker #95 of the Chicago Bears sacks Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 05, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.

Sam Howell Gets Hit Different

Betnijah Laney #44 of the New York Liberty looks on against the Connecticut Sun on September 29, 2023 in Uncasville, CT at Mohegan Sun Arena.

It’s Betnijah Laney’s Turn To Be The Playoff Hero

Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after stealing second base in the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on September 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Acuña Jr. is the first player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in a single season.

It’s Starting To Feel Kind Of Cubs

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty drives as Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun defends at Barclays Center on May 27, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Everyone Made Their MVP Case Last Night

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts to a play in the third quarter of Game One of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 24, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Wings 97-83.

A’ja Wilson Is Everywhere

Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx and DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Connecticut Sun looks on during the game on September 17, 2023 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The Lynx Tank Has Gone Off The Rails

Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics plays against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on September 10, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Brittney Sykes And The Mystics Can Hang

Harper Murray #27 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers serves against the Omaha Mavericks at Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2023 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Volleyball

Nebraska Is A Volleyball School

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 28, 2023 in Brooklyn, New York.

The Liberty Rocked The Baby

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty plays defense during the game against the Connecticut Sun on August 24, 2023 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

There’s No Shame In Losing To The Liberty, Unless You Lose Like This

Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty drives to the basket during the 2023 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship on August 15, 2023 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Aces Have Met Their Match

A screenshot of Liz Cambage as she talks to Bleacher Report reporter Taylor Rooks.

Australians, Nigerians, Americans Unite In Inspiring Global Effort To Debunk Liz Cambage

Couples take to the floor in the 'Crossword Puzzle' dance at East Ham Palais de Dance.

Crosswords

Introducing The Defector Crossword

Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts in the fourth inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

AL Central Power Rankings: Post-Deadline Edition

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels looks on from the pitchers mound in the bottom of the 2nd inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 27, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. The Angels defeated the Tigers 6-0. Ohtani pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout.

Shohei Ohtani Had The Best Day Ever, And So Did I

Giri Nathan

Barry Petchesky

Patrick Redford

Cover of All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Yellow background. Defector reads a book badge.

Defector Reads A Book

Grab A Tortilla And Come Talk About All Of Cormac McCarthy’s Pretty Horses

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 28: Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces passes as Tiffany Mitchell #25 of the Minnesota Lynx defends in the fourth quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 28, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Lynx 94-73.

Chelsea Gray Serves Aces Wins In Every Flavor

Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after drawing a walk during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 16, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Christian Yelich’s Powers Have Returned

Gabrielle Williams of ASVEL Basket Landes Feminine in action during the Women's French Cup Final basketball match.

The Prioritization Rule Will Haunt WNBA Players For A Long Time

Megan Keller #5, Rebecca Johnston #6 and Micah Zandee-Hart #28 of Team Keller celebrate after a 2-1 shootout win in the finals of the PWHPA All-Star Tournament

Women's Hockey

Women’s Hockey’s Civil War Has Ended, Messily

Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm shoots against Kayla McBride #21 of the Minnesota Lynx in overtime at Climate Pledge Arena on June 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Jewell Loyd Will Take All The Shots

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels watches his opposite field solo homerun, to take a 3-1 lead over the Chicago White Sox, during the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 27, 2023 in Anaheim, California.