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

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.

Shohei Ohtani!!!!

MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 20: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds second base in the first inning during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Look At Corbin Carroll Go!

Arike Ogunbowale signs a t-shirt for a fan after being ejected.

WNBA

The Arike Ogunbowale Show Doesn’t End With An Ejection

Edward Olivares #14 of the Kansas City Royals dives for but misses the ball in the outfield during the 4th inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Kauffman Stadium on June 14, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Royals Are Tiptoeing Around The Basement

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates as he leaves the court after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 94-89 NBA Finals clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Nikola Jokic Just Wants To Go Home

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 21: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the first half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Brittney Griner Is Back Where She Started

Dana Evans #11 of the Chicago Sky reacts against the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena on May 26, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Chicago Sky Taught Me It Was OK To Win Now

Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays watches recording on the iPad in the dugout after getting pulled from the game in the first inning against the Houston Astros in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 5, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Alek Manoah Blew His Way Out Of The Majors

Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin (0) and Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne (11) looks on after a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Chicago Sky on May 26, 2023, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

Shakira Austin Is Right Where Elena Delle Donne Needs Her To Be

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 13: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty drives against A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their preseason game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 84-77.

The Superteams And The Other Teams: A Preview Of The 2023 WNBA Season

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras (40) walks through the dugout to the on deck circle during a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers on April 29, 2023 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

The Cardinals Have A Problem And A Scapegoat

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23, Manny Machado #13, and Juan Soto #22 congratulate Nelson Cruz #32 of the San Diego Padres after his solo homerun during the third inning of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series against the San Francisco Giants at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico.

What An Atmosphere For Baseball!

Will Levis waits to be drafted in the green room backstage during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

What Were The Odds Will Levis Would Have To Wait In The Green Room All Night?

Giri Nathan

Kelsey McKinney

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Defector Reads A Book

Let’s All Confess What We Thought Of ‘The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter’

Tony Kemp #5 of the Oakland Athletics tags out Luis Rengifo #2 of the Los Angeles Angels at second base during the tenth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 24, 2023 in Anaheim, California

An Exhilarating Night With The Saddest Teams In Baseball

Jameson Williams #9 of the Detroit Lions reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Lions Have A Gambling Problem

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) dumps Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) during Game 2 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 19, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Panthers Are No Fun For The Bruins

Draftee Diamond Miller talks to the media before the 2023 WNBA Draft on April 10, 2023 at Spring Studios in New York City, New York.

Turning Pro In Women’s Basketball Is Not A Zero-Sum Game

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 02: First lady Jill Biden talks with guests during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

College Basketball

Angel Reese And Jill Biden Achieve Detente

Louisiana State Tigers players celebrate their win over the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

LSU Is The New Kind Of Cinderella

GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 27: Zia Cooke #1 and Brea Beal #12 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate in the closing minutes of their victory over the Maryland Terrapins during the Elite Eight round of the 2023 NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 27, 2023 in Greenville, South Carolina.

South Carolina’s “Freshies” Have One Last Job In Them

Cotie McMahon #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after being fouled and making the basket during the fourth quarter against the UConn Huskies in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 25, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Ohio State Keeps On Pressing

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts during the fourth quarter against the Louisville Cardinals in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 26, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Iowa Is The Truth

Man sitting at library table, scratching head, with large book open in front of him.

Defector Reads A Book Is Back For April

Atlanta Braves left fielder Adam Duvall (23) exchanges a broken bat handle for a new bat with a bat boy during the Atlanta Braves vs. Baltimore Orioles MLB game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 15, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.