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

Tom Ley

Temwa Chawinga #6 of Kansas City Current controls the ball during the first half of the National Womens Soccer League game against NJ/NY Gotham FC on April 14, 2024 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

Soccer

Barbra Banda And Temwa Chawinga Were Bigger Than The Season’s Biggest Game

Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning stands on the field prior to the start of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Defector Up All Night

The Clarion Ledger, A Mississippi Newspaper Founded In 1837, Is Shutting Down Any Speculation That Archie Manning Is Not 75

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States yells at referee Kevin Ortega during the second half against Uruguay at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 01, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

A Noisy Loss Is Still Just A Loss

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers high fives Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers after the game on December 23, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Paul George And The Sixers Have To Make This Work

Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle during the post game press conference after the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas A&amp;M Aggies on May 23, 2024 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

College Baseball

Texas A&M Baseball Coach Leaves For Texas, One Day After Scolding Reporter Who Asked If He Might Leave For Texas

Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky and NaLyssa Smith #1 of the Indiana Fever react during the second half on June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

WNBA

Angel Reese Is Not, In Fact, Too Small

Who Says Contact Hitters Aren’t Fun?

Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Celtics Were Built To Shine

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) in action during a NWSL match between the Seattle Reign FC and the Orlando Pride on May 19, 2024 at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA.

The NWSL Is There For Barbra Banda’s Taking

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

The Celtics Keep It Simple

Patrick Redford

Giri Nathan

Albert Burneko

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Luis Paez-Pumar

Ray Ratto

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks on November 23, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Behold The Defector NBA Finals Mega-Preview

Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.

Lakers’ Pursuit Of JJ Redick Gets Even Funnier, In That They Are Now Pursuing Dan Hurley

Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) is whistled for a flagrant foul for knocking Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) to the ground on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Caitlin Clark And The Fever Are Going Through It

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defendant's table inside the courthouse as the jury is scheduled to continue deliberations for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan gave the jury instructions, and deliberations are entering their second day. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial.

Justice Delivered To Notable Yankees Fan

Announcements

Programming Notes

The NCAA logo is covered by confetti after the South Carolina Gamecocks defeat the Oregon State Beavers during the Elite Eight round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at MVP Arena on March 31, 2024 in Albany, New York.

Death To The NCAA

The NCAA Settlement Should Be The Beginning, Not The End

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Karl-Anthony Towns (32) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Minnesota Has The Bedrock

Scottie Scheffler arrives to the course during the second round of PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

This Is So Stupid

Officer’s Pants Tragically Struck Down In Confrontation With Scottie Scheffler

Golf

Don’t Worry, Scottie Scheffler Will Make His Tee Time. He Just Had To Get Arrested Real Quick

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

No Weapon Formed Against Nikola Jokic Shall Prosper

The Timberwolves Had A Very Bad 20 Seconds

NFL Rookies Decide Against Risking $10,000 On Daniel Jones And Washington’s Offensive Line

Gordon Hayward #33 of the Oklahoma City Thunder arrives to the arena before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2024 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Gordon Hayward Is The Low-Effort King Of The Playoffs

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets attempts to pass over Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 06, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

The Nuggets Have Been Exposed For All To See

John Stewart attends the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.