defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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-no-empty-space

Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

let-drew-cook-final

tip jar sweepstakes

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Netherlands' forward #22 Esmee Brugts (centre L) scores her team's sixth goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Vietnam and the Netherlands at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on August 1, 2023.

TOPSHOT-FBL-WC-2023-WOMEN-MATCH42-VIE-NED

Soccer

Esmee Brugts Only Scores Absolute Firecrackers

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

Ana Capeta #21 of Portugal sends a shot off the post during the second half of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia Auckland, New Zealand.

Portugal v USA: Group E – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

The USWNT Stayed In The World Cup By An Inch

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

Mary Fowler of Australia celebrates after scoring a goal with her teammates that was later cancelled as a result of VAR consultation during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on July 31, 2023.

Canada v Australia – FIFA Women’s World Cup

Canada And Spain Ate Shit And Deserved It

Lauren James of England in action during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 match between England and Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

England v Denmark: Group D – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Lauren James Is The Burgeoning Star Of The New England

Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia.

Australia v Nigeria: Group B – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Nigeria Was Ready For Its Moment

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States celebrates scoring during the second half against the Netherlands during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group E match at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

USA v Netherlands: Group E – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Lindsey Horan And The Power Of Rage Saved The USWNT From Itself

Mary Wilombe of Zambia post game despair after the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Zambia at Eden Park on July 26, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Spain v Zambia: Group C – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Zambia Learns How Unforgiving The World Cup Can Be

Sarina Bolden (R) of Philippines celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Philippines at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

New Zealand v Philippines: Group A – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

While You Were (Probably) Sleeping, Group A Got Real Hectic

Linda Lizeth Caicedo Alegria of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Colombia and South Korea at Sydney Football Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Colombia v South Korea: Group H – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Linda Caicedo Is The Future

Bia Zaneratto of Brazil celebrates after scoring her team's third goal during during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Brazil and Panama at Hindmarsh Stadium on July 24, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia.

Brazil v Panama: Group F – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Brazil’s Quintessentially Brazilian Goal Is Soccer At Its Finest

Germany's forward #11 Alexandra Popp (R) celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group H football match between Germany and Morocco at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park, in Melbourne on July 24, 2023.

TOPSHOT-FBL-WC-2023-WOMEN-MATCH15-GER-MAR

Alexandra Popp Is The Dream Crusher

Lucy Bronze of England battles for possession with Melchie Dumornay of Haiti during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group D match between England and Haiti at Brisbane Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Brisbane / Meaanjin, Australia.

England v Haiti: Group D – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

It’s Melchie Dumornay’s World Cup, And We’re Just Watching It

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group E match between USA and Vietnam at Eden Park on July 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

USA v Vietnam: Group E – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Sophia Smith Is The Answer To Every Question

Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Barcelona celebrates after scoring her sides first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Costa Rica at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand.

Spain v Costa Rica: Group C – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Spain Came Just Short Of Perfection

<p>Kim McCauley covers soccer for The Athletic and ESPN, and worked as a data analyst at Angel City FC. You can <a href="https://twitter.com/kimischilling" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/kimischilling&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1690042325485000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3FfPKUcZC9_LzSiHDnR1Ox">follow her on the bird app</a>.</p>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Kim McCauley

Alyssa Thompson #7 of the United States dribbles the ball during the first half of an international friendly against Wales at PayPal Park on July 09, 2023 in San Jose, California.

Wales v United States

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Alyssa Thompson

Alanna Kennedy of Australia celebrates the team's 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia.

Australia v Ireland: Group B – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Australia Beat Ireland And Bought Time

Hannah Wilkinson (2nd R) of New Zealand celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park on July 20, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand v Norway: Group A – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

New Zealand Opened The World Cup With A Victory For The Ages

cropped-defector-circle_avatar512.png

Defector Staff

A general view of the fanfestival in Brisbane, Australia ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 which begins on the 20th July jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Previews – Wednesday 19th July

Contained Within This Post Is A Comprehensive Preview Of Every Goddamn Team In The Women’s World Cup

Mayra Ramirez (R) of Colombia celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of her team during a Group A match between Ecuador and Colombia as part of Women's CONMEBOL Copa America Colombia 2022 at Estadio Pascual Guerrero on July 17, 2022 in Cali, Colombia.

colombia-womens-world-cup

Colombia Is Ready To Shock The World Again

Dave McKenna

Armagh v Monaghan – GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final

Internationals

Monaghan’s Thrill-Filled Quest For An All-Ireland Football Championship Is Sponsored By A Bronx Flooring Company

Morocco team line up during the Women´s International Friendly match between Italy and Morocco at Stadio Paolo Mazza on July 01, 2023 in Ferrara, Italy.

Italy v Morocco – Women¬¥s International Friendly

Morocco Is Serious

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

Carolin Simon of Germany, Klara Buehl of Germany and Alexandra Popp of Germany look on during the Women's international friendly between Germany and Zambia at Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer on July 7, 2023 in Fuerth, Germany.

Germany v Zambia – Women’s International Friendly

It’s All Set Up For Germany To Reclaim World Cup Glory

IMG_6025-800

Albert Burneko

The Italy women's national team poses for a team photograph at the Euro 2022 tournament.

italy women

Italy’s Getting There, Slowly, Maybe

Screenshot 2023-06-14 at 10.34.24 AM

Abigail Segel

Dunedin Stadium is pictured ahead of the FIFA World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 on July 11, 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

GettyImages-1539005705_jpg_75

FIFA Struggling To Fill Stadiums In Remote Soccer-Indifferent Country With Nobody In It

Yamila Tamara Rodriguez (#11) of Argentina celebrates after scoring the second goal of her team during a match between Argentina and Uruguay as part of Women's CONMEBOL Copa America 2022 at Centenario Stadium on July 15, 2022 in Armenia, Colombia

argentina-wwc-preview

Argentina Is Just One Win Away From A New Era