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Defector

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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.

College Basketball

Audi Crooks Makes Every Minute Count

Host/chef Gordon Ramsay with contestant Sandra in the "Cooking For Life" episode of HELL'S KITCHEN

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 8: That’s Me In The Middle

Chappell Roan attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.

The Crossword, Dec. 1: I Gotta Feeling

Around 500 people perform yoga on the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga at Cyber Hub near Cyber city, on June 21, 2025 in Gurugram, India. International Yoga Day emphasises the numerous benefits of yoga for personal wellness and mindfulness, urging individuals to embrace calm amidst chaos. Celebrated annually on June 21 since 2015, this year's theme is 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health.'

The Crossword, Nov. 24: Fight For Rights (Themeless)

Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns speaks with Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Crossword, Nov. 17: The Struggle Is Real

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 24, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Crossword, Nov. 10: What’s In A Name?

Coach Gary Lough watches as Mo Farah tries his race shoes the day before the Chicago Marathon on October 07, 2018 in Chicago, United States. This image is part of a series following Mo Farah behind the scenes in his journey towards the Tokyo Olympics. Farah is a multiple Olympic, World and European champion and Britain's most successful track athlete in modern Olympic Games history.

The Crossword, Nov. 3: Bottom Feeders

Inductee CC Sabathia is introduced during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown, New York.

The Crossword, Oct. 27: I’ve Seen This One (Themeless)

Albert Burneko

Giri Nathan

Israel Daramola

Patrick Redford

Ray Ratto

Tom Ley

Male students playing basketball, Western High School, Washington, D.C., circa 1899

Harken Ye Unto The 2025–26 NBA Season Preview, Which Stands Before You

Charles Omenihu #90 of the Kansas City Chiefs grabs the face mask of Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.

A Thorough And Depressing Review Of The Raiders’ Three First Downs

Azzi Fudd #35 of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during the first half of an NCAA women's basketball game against the St. John's Red Storm at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on February 12, 2025 in Storrs, Connecticut.

The Crossword, Oct. 20: Pitch Perfect

SEPTEMBER 28: Tommy Fleetwood of Team Europe lines up a putt on the 13th green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup

The Crossword, Oct. 13: Foraging

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

WNBA

The Aces Made Their Season From The Muck

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after her made basket against the Phoenix Mercury with .1 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 08, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Who Can Stop A’ja Wilson?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 05: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball between Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kathryn Westbeld #24 of the Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter of Game Two of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Aces Like It When The Game Gets Uncomfortable

Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dunks the ball against the Houston Cougars in the first half during the Final Four round of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament at Alamodome on April 5, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

The Crossword, Oct. 6: I’m A Dead Man

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media ahead of Game One of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 03, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Hottest Ticket In Vegas? Cathy Engelbert’s Press Conference

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert poses with MVP Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx following the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Napheesa Collier Put A Face To The Fight

Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx congratulates Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at PHX Arena on September 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Lynx 86-81 to advance to the WNBA finals.

So Much For The Lynx’s Revenge Season

Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury brings the ball up the court against the Las Vegas Aces in the third quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Crossword, Sept. 29: Miss Her, Kiss Her, Love Her (Themeless)

Sami Whitcomb #33 of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter during Game Two of the WNBA Semifinals at Target Center on September 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mercury defeated the Lynx 89-83 in overtime.

Sami Whitcomb Stayed Ready, And It Paid Off

Cheryl Reeve head coach of the Minnesota Lynx calls to her team against Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter during Game One of the second round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Lynx Are Stone-Cold Killers

Tom Brady greets Kavontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys prior to a game against the Chicago Bears on September 21, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago ,Illinois.

The Crossword, Sept. 22: Going Places

Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever speaks with ESPN reporter after the game three of the first round of WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on September 18, 2025 in College Park, Georgia.

Kelsey Mitchell Is Making Up For Lost Time In The Playoffs

Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts after making a three-point shot against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half of Game Two in the first round of WNBA Playoffs at Sap Center on September 17, 2025 in San Jose, California.