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

Patrick Redford

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 27: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic dives for a loose ball during the first half of game four of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at the Kia Center on April 27, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Pistons 94 to 88 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wendell Carter Jr.

The Magic Are Winning The Beef War

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 26: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs walks off the court after a 114-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Moda Center on April 26, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images)

De’Aaron Fox Makes The Game Fun For The Spurs

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 23: Jaden McDaniels #3 and Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on after Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center on April 23, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 113-96. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

Jaden McDaniels Will Fight You Every Step Of The Way

Podcasts

Micro Aura Transgressions, With Giri Nathan

SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs holds his head after falling to the court against the Portland Trailblazers in the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on April 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

The Scariest Part Of A Concussion Is The Uncertainty

Victor Wembanyama dribbles towards Deni Avdija

Victor Wembanyama’s Playoff Debut Was Worth The Wait

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 19: Arthur Fils of France jumps into a swimming pool with members of the Ball Team following victory against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) in the Men's Singles final match on day seven of the Barcelona Open of the Barcelona Open at Real Club De Tenis Barcelona on April 19, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis

Allow Arthur Fils To Reintroduce Himself

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the second half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

LeBron James Still Has It

The Warriors’ Old Guys Showed Up When It Mattered Most

Inglewood, CA - February 15: NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver announces the MVP of the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday, February 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Behold! The ‘Nothing But Respect’ NBA Playoffs Mega-Preview

BERGARA, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Paul Seixas of France and Team Decathlon CMA CGM celebrates at podium as Yellow Leader Jersey and overall final race winner with the "Txapela" hat trophy during the 65th Itzulia Basque Country 2026, Stage 6 a 135.2km stage from Goizper-Antzuola to Bergara / #UCIWT / on April 11, 2026 in Bergara, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Paul’s Here

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Flau'jae Johnson (L) of LSU poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 8th pick in the first round by the Golden State Valkyries during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. 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 Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)

WNBA

Valkyries GM Declines To Explain Why She Traded Flau’jae Johnson For Two Second-Rounders

Winner Team Visma - Lease a Bike's Belgian rider Wout van Aert celebrates on the podium of the 123rd edition of the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic cycling race, 258.3 km between Compiègne and Roubaix, at the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, northern France, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Wout van Aert Forever

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé watches the Kings play the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Center on November 13, 2024 in Sacramento, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

NBA Investigates Kings For Tanking, Determines That They’re Just Ass

Spencer Weiner 805–653–7527 –– – (left–r) Steve Galbraith and Kim Cuevas, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Archaeologists, search burn area near Lions camp in Rose Valley. The Forest Service regularly researches ruins, or other artifacts revealed in Wilderness areas after wildfires. Members of U.S. Forest Service Archeological team are in areas of the Sespe Wilderness to check on the condition of rare Native American rock art and other artifacts that may have been damaged when the wolf fire raged through the area last week.

The Great Outdoors

The Trump Administration Is Killing The U.S. Forest Service So It Can Also Kill U.S. Forests

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

A Post-Tournament Prospect Prospectus, With David Roth

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons and Kenny's Young Stars drives past Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Chuck's Global Stars during the 74th NBA All-Star Game at Chase Center on February 16, 2025 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The 65-Game Rule Exacerbates The Fake Problem It Was Intended To Solve

Sindarov Javokhir of Uzbekistan competes against Matlakov Maxim of Russia during the Rapid Open sixth round of the FIDE World Rapid &amp; Blitz Championship at the Sports and Events Complex, Qatar University, in Doha, Qatar, on December 27, 2025. (Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Chess

An Uzbek Chess Prodigy Is Laying Waste To The World’s Best Players

A LED sphere screen shows information inside the new location of the prediction market online platform Polymarket called "The Situation Room."

Capital

Polymarket Apologizes For Taking Bets On American Pilots Downed Over Iran

Tech Media Propaganda Operation Makes It Official, Goes In-House At OpenAI

Food

Erewhon Is Not A Grocery Store

of the New York Knicks of the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 9, 2009 in New York, New York.

Critical New Jersey Hoops Survey, With Papo2oo4

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 25: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts during action against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 110-108 in overtime. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

The Wolves And Rockets Held An Incredible Meltdown-Off

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. The global investment management company held the summit consisting of leaders from government, business, and labor to address expanding U.S. infrastructure. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Now That OpenAI Has Terminated Sora, How Will I Have This Blog Read To Me By An Uncanny Buxom Mike Wazowski?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holds a Golden State Valkyries jersey after announcing their fifth overall pick of Juste Joyce during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)