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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.

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Defector

Abigail Segel is a writer based in Montreal.

Screenshot 2023-06-14 at 10.34.24 AM

Abigail Segel

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman is seen on the field before a match between Bay FC and Angel City FC in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Bay FC v Angel City FC

NWSL

Jessica Berman Makes Her Priorities Clear

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Ray Ratto

A screenshot from the Boston Legacy's website, black letters on a green background reading "It's a great day to start a new legacy. Boston Legacy FC."

BostonLegacyScreengrab

From The Group That Brought You BOS Nation, It’s An Even Worse Team Name

Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.

Lesley Photo

Lesley Ryder

Detail of the Bedazzled NWSL ball prior to the NWSL match between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave at BMO Stadium on March 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

NWSL sparkle ball

NWSL Soccer Is Back, But The Scandals Haven’t Gone Away

The digital signage shows the NWSL logo on it before the National Women's Soccer League match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Houston Dash at Red Bull Arena on July 31, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey.

NWSL Logo

NWSL To Pay $5 Million To Abused Players As Part Of Settlement

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

Naomi Girma of Chelsea waves to the crowd as she is unveiled as a Chelsea player prior to the Barclays Women's Super League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 26, 2025 in London, England.

Chelsea FC  v Arsenal FC – Barclays Women’s Super League

Soccer

Naomi Girma’s Move To Chelsea Is Ambition Incarnate

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

San Diego Wave FC signage is displayed before the game between San Diego Wave FC and North Carolina Courage at Snapdragon Stadium on September 08, 2024 in San Diego, California.

San Diego Wave Logo

Sixth Ex-Wave Employee Joins Lawsuit, Alleges Supervisor Sent Her Dick Pics

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 22: NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman addresses the media ahead of the NWSL 2024 Championship at CPKC Stadium on November 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Orlando Pride v Washington Spirit – NWSL 2024 Championship Press Conference

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman Keeps Talking Around The San Diego Wave Lawsuit

Marta #10 of the Orlando Pride celebrates after the Pride defeated the Washington Spirit 1-0 to win the NWSL 2024 Championship Game at CPKC Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Orlando Pride v Washington Spirit – NWSL 2024 Championship Game

Orlando Runs Away With The NWSL, And The Rest Will Have To Catch Up

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Tom Ley

Marta #10 of Orlando Pride battles during the NWSL Playoff Semifinals between Orlando City v Kansas City Current at Inter&amp;Co Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando Pride v Kansas City Current – NWSL Playoffs

The Pride Feasted On Kansas City’s Fear

Forward Temwa Chawinga #6 of the Kansas City Current dribbles the ball with defender Abby Dahlkemper #13 of Bay FC defending in the second half during a game between Bay FC and the Kansas City Current at PayPal Park on October 12, 2024 in San Jose, California.

Kansas City Current v Bay FC

Temwa Chawinga Has Conquered The NWSL

An image from the BOS Nation rollout video depicting a goat standing in front of the words Goat Balls

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BOS Nation Apologizes For Ill-Advised Rollout, Not For Being Named BOS Nation

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Defector Up All Night

It’s BOS Nation

San Diego Wave flags during the NWSL match between the San Diego Wave FC and the Portland Thorns on May 26, 2023, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA.

San Diego Wave, NWSL Sued For Team’s “Abusive And Hostile Work Environment”

Then-head coach Rory Dames of Chicago Red Stars looks on against Washington Spirit during the NWSL Championship held at Lynn Family Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (

Rory Dames

Rory Dames Disappeared From The SafeSport Database And SafeSport Isn’t Saying Why

in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Round of 16 match at Commonwealth Stadium on June 22, 2015 in Edmonton, Canada.

United States v Colombia: Round of 16 – FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015

Alex Morgan Knew How To Use The Spotlight

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Alex Morgan #13 of San Diego Wave FC waves to the crowd after the game against the North Carolina Courage at Snapdragon Stadium on September 08, 2024 in San Diego, California. This was Morgan’s final NWSL game before her announced retirement.

North Carolina Courage v San Diego Wave FC

Alex Morgan Conquered The World

The official NWSL game ball sits on top of a pedestal with the NWSL Logo on it with the stadium behind the ball at the start of the National Women's Soccer League match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and North Carolina Courage at Red Bull Arena on May 4, 2024 in Harrison, New Jersey.

North Carolina Courage v NJ/NY Gotham FC

NWSL Throws The Draft In The Trash Where It Belongs

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: APR 14 NWSL NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Kansas City Current

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

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Players give high-fives after the National Anthem before an NWSL match between the Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current on June 23, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

The NWSL Took Me Back

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.

SOCCER: MAY 19 NWSL Seattle Reign FC vs Orlando Pride

The NWSL Is There For Barbra Banda’s Taking

Mallory Swanson poses with her arms in the air during a USWNT portrait studio session on February 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Mal Swanson

Mal Swanson Is Back! And So Are The Red Stars

FC Gotham players hug after scoring a goal in the 2023 NWSL Championship game

fc gotham

Gotham’s Batshit Championship Win Caps NWSL’s Season Of Renewal

Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign reacts after her last home regular-season NWSL match at Lumen Field on October 06, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Washington Spirit v OL Reign

Megan Rapinoe Put Retirement Off A Little Longer

A photo of Christen Press and Tobin Heath as they sit on the set of their show, the RE-CAP show, and discuss the USWNT tie with Portugal.