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

Lauren Betts #51 hugs Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins during the second half of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

College Basketball

Cori Close And UCLA Won At Their Own Speed

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

South Carolina Forgets But Doesn’t Forgive

Cyclists ride in protest along 15th Street after plans to remove bike lanes sparked opposition on March 23, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 30: Feeling Good (Themeless)

A detail shot of the scoreboard as a call is overturned in an ABS challenge review in the first inning during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

For Now, ABS Makes Good Theater

Olivia Miles #5 of the TCU Horned Frogs reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

Olivia Miles Was Made For March Highlight Reels

Amaya Battle #3 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates with her team after making a go-ahead shot against the Ole Miss Rebels in the fourth quarter during a second round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Williams Arena on March 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Minnesota’s Buzzer-Beater Sounded Like Home

Commissioner Roger Goodell of the NFL announces the New York Jets pick during round one of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Crossword, March 23: March Madness

Mikayla Blakes #1 and head coach Shea Ralph of the Vanderbilt Commodores react on the sideline against the Furman Paladins in the first half at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium on November 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Tournament’s Best Subplot Is Shea Ralph Vs. Her Old Coach

Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics, Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm, Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces, Sonia Citron #2 of the Washington Mystics and Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA

The WNBA And Players’ Union Have A Verbal Agreement On A New CBA

Tamika Tremaglio, Executive Director of the NBA Players Association, speaks during the NBPA 2023 All-Star Weekend Press Conference at the Hyatt Regency on February 18, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Interviews

Former NBPA Head Tamika Tremaglio Discusses The WNBA Labor Battle And The Art Of Bargaining

Quinn Kuntz #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers greets her team's mascot before the Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes held at Ridder Arena on March 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Crossword, March 16: Big Blowup

Madison Booker #35 of the Texas Longhorns shoots over Destiney McPhaul #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Moody Center on February 22, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Madison Booker’s Game Punishes The Tryhard Defender

Ebba Aarsjoe of Sweden competes in the Para Alpine Skiing Women's Downhill Standing Final on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on March 7, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The Crossword, March 9: Music Round

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Phantom dribbles the ball against Breanna Stewart #30 of the Mist during the first quarter of an Unrivaled 2026 at Sephora Arena on January 12, 2026 in Medley, Florida

What’s Going On With The WNBA CBA Talks?

Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins talks to home plate umpire Nick Mahrley #48 in the first inning at Target Field on September 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Crossword, March 2: College Athletes

The cover of Rooting Interest, next to a jump ball in a WNBA game.

Women's Basketball

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? 

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.

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.

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.