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

Team Japan celebrates their win in a Women's Basketball Semifinals game against France on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 06, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.

Olympics

Olympic Basketball’s Most Entertaining Team Is Going For Gold

Barry Petchesky

Giri Nathan

Defector Reads A Book

Open The Door! We’re Here To Talk About ‘The Big Sleep’

Destiny Littleton #11 of the South Carolina Gamecocks controls the ball during the second half against the Texas Longhorns in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on March 30, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas.

College Basketball

Report: The NCAA Can’t Be Bothered To Make Money Off Women’s Basketball

Aleksandra Crvendakic #11 of Team Serbia drives to the basket against Kayla Alexander #14 and Kia Nurse #5 of Team Canada during the first half of the Women's Preliminary Round Group A game on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 26, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.

The Canadian Women Might Just End Their Nation’s Basketball Woes

Yui Ohashi of Team Japan celebrates after winning the Women's 200m Individual Medley Final on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 28, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Spotlight Found Yui Ohashi

Ahmed Hafnaoui of Team Tunisia celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's 400m Freestyle Final on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Swimming

From The Outside Lane, Ahmed Hafnaoui Stunned The World And Himself

Lauren Theisen

Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during the second period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena on June 08, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Ned Alert! An Emergency Red Wings Post-Trade Blog/Celebration

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organising Committee president Seiko Hashimoto speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on July 8, 2021.

The Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee Cannot Hire A Single Normal Person

Deandre Ayton Lost, But He Still Had Fun

Liz Cambage (C) of the Las Vegas Aces attends an exhibition game between Nigeria and the United States at Michelob ULTRA Arena ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Liz Cambage Makes A Mysterious Exit From The Olympic Team

A woman rests and tans near a lake in the Bois de Boulogne near Paris, in June 1946, during a heat wave at the beginning of the 1946 summer.

Life Lessons

Can I Point You To The Dew Point?

Danielle Robinson #3 of the Indiana Fever brings the ball up the court in the game against the New York Liberty at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 16, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA

The Indiana Fever Won A Game, And Then Another One, And Then Another One!

Pupils in the library at Fisher Park High School, Ottawa, circa 1955.

Say, Would You Like To Know What July’s Defector Reads A Book Selection Is?

Assistant coach Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 14, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona.

When A Coach Becomes A Cudgel

Kelsey McKinney

This Blog May Or May Not Be A Place To Talk About Franz Kafka’s ‘The Castle’

Center Sylvia Fowles #34 of the Minnesota Lynx reacts to a call against the Los Angeles Sparks in game three of the 2016 WNBA Finals at Galen Center on October 14, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Sylvia Fowles Is So Good At Her Job

Interviews

A BOMBSHELL Interview With HOTSHOT Debut Novelist Kelsey McKinney

Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky huddles with teammates Kahleah Copper #2 and Allie Quigley #14 during the first half of the game against the Washington Mystics at Entertainment &amp; Sports Arena on May 15, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Let The Chicago Sky’s Great Resurgence Begin

Jasmine Thomas #5, DeWanna Bonner #24, Jonquel Jones #35, Natisha Hiedeman #2 and Brionna Jones #42 of the Connecticut Sun huddle on the court before their game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sun defeated the Aces 72-65.

Oh No, The Connecticut Sun’s Best Player Has To Go Be Bosnian Real Quick

Kalyn Kahler

We’re Rested And Ready To Talk About ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’

If Someone Watched You Watch Sports, What Would They See?

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury attempts a free-throw shot against the Seattle Storm during game three of the WNBA Western Conference Finals at Talking Stick Resort Arena on August 31, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Phoenix Mercury Need This Brittney Griner Every Night

Liz Cambage #8 of the Las Vegas Aces is guarded by Brionna Jones #42 of the Connecticut Sun during their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sun defeated the Aces 72-65.

Connecticut Columnist Unwisely Ignores Liz Cambage’s Warning

‘The Hockey Sweater’ Is All You Need To Know About Leafs-Habs

Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty dribbles during the first half against the Indiana Fever at Barclays Center on May 14, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.