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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

Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.

Owen Lewis

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers looks on in street clothes during player introductions before a game against the Detroit Pistons

Following The Damned Pacers Through The Pits Of Hell

David Benavidez exchanges punches with Anthony Yarde in a WBC and WBA light-heavyweight title fight during Ring IV: Night of the Champions at ANB Arena on November 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Boxing

The Fights Got Bloody In Riyadh

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates his win over Francisco Comesana of Argentina during day two of the Rolex Paris Masters 2025 on October 28, 2025 in Nanterre, France.

Tennis

Felix Auger-Aliassime Is Once Again Threatening To Turn The Corner

Interviews

Lucas Schaefer Understands The Brutality, Absurdity, And Transcendence Of Boxing

Victoria Mboko of Canada reacts against Naomi Osaka of Japan during the Women's Singles Final match on day twelve of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Victoria Mboko Is Here To Break Brains

A Lot Can Go Wrong While Attempting A Speed Record On Mount Everest

Iga Swiatek of Poland drops her racket as she stretches for a backhand against Aryna Sabalenka in the Women's Singles Semi Final match on Day Twelve of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 05, 2025 in Paris, France.

Iga Swiatek Abdicates Her Clay Throne

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo with his trophy alongside his team following victory against Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Men's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2025 at Foro Italico on May 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy.

Carlos Alcaraz Keeps Smiling At Jannik Sinner’s Expense

Aryna Sabalenka returns a shot against Jessica Pegula

Aryna Sabalenka Is Thrillingly Imperfect

The Australian Open Is Happy And Hot

Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk during the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBO World Heavyweight championship contest at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture date: Saturday December 21, 2024. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Someone Got Inside Tyson Fury’s Head For A Change

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses for a photo with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, after being awarded the trophy following victory in his Men's Singles Final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain

Saudi Arabia Got What It Wanted From The Six Kings Slam

Canelo Alvarez poses at the press conference for the Berlanga fight

The Fights

Canelo Álvarez No Longer Cares About Showcasing His Greatness

Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

circa 1955: Two elementary school students complete homework assignments together, the girl has a book, 'Living By God's Law,' next to her on the table.

Announcements

The Defector Summer Interns Say Farewell

Arts And Culture

Kazuo Ishiguro Is A Repetitive Genius

A packed crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds awaits a fateful kick from Carlton's Mitch McGovern.

Australian Football

I Love Australian Rules Football More Than I Get It

Life Lessons

I Don’t Ever Want My Favorite Things To Change

Remco Evenepoel with his third-place honors at the 2024 Tour de France.

Cycling

Cycling’s Belgian Brat Just Needs To Get A Little More Deranged

Patrick Redford

Giri Nathan

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain stretches to play a backhand volley against Daniil Medvedev in the Men's Singles Semi-Final match during day twelve of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)