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

WNBA

Women's Basketball

Tom Ley

The Fever Are Good Enough To Get Under Your Skin

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty defends against A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Breanna Stewart And A’ja Wilson Sit At The Grown-Ups Table

Ballhalla Got The Playoff Christening It Deserved

Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries reacts to a play against the Washington Mystics during the second half of the game at CareFirst Arena on July 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Eight Teams, Eight Qualms: A Guide To The 2026 WNBA Playoffs

Frankie de la Cretaz is an award-winning independent journalist whose work sits at the intersection of sports and gender. They are the co-author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League, and their writing has been featured in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and many more publications.

Frankie de la Cretaz

An illustration showing a silhouette of a player in a Miami Sol jersey being grabbed by two silhouette of men in suits

The Miami Sol’s Needless Demise Provided A Familiar Lesson

Kiki Rice #1 of the Toronto Tempo celebrates a basket as the Toronto Tempo play the Indiana Fever at ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto. August 18, 2026.

The Tempo Have To Take Things At Their Own Pace

Olivia Miles celebrates after making a shot

We’re Still Looking For Someone Who Can Guard Olivia Miles

Nina Mandell is a journalist living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who has written for Bustle, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, The New York Daily News, and NBC Regional Sports Networks. She is the former managing editor of USA Today’s For The Win site and the former digital director/managing editor of NBC Sports Washington.

Nina Mandell

Chamique Holdsclaw #23 of the Washington Mystics gets ready to shoot the ball while Mery Andrade #23 of the Cleveland Rockers guards her

Chamique Holdsclaw Made Headlines, Made Mistakes, And Made History

Atlanta Dream And WNBA Embrace Anti-Trans Losers

Angel Reese’s Game Is Too Weird Not To Appreciate

Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm shoots against Serah Williams #25 of the Portland Fire during the first half at Moda Center on August 08, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

The Storm Are The WNBA’s Tank Champions

Patrick Redford

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever reacts to DiJonai Carrington #7 of the Chicago Sky foul during the first half on August 8, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Podcasts

Trans Rights And Lesbian Lefts, With Maya Goldberg-Safir

Kayla McBride #21 of the Minnesota Lynx celebrates a three-point basket with Napheesa Collier #24 and teammates during the second half against the Dallas Wings at Target Center on August 9, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Kayla McBride Keeps It Ethical

Samer Kalaf

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever is fouled by DiJonai Carrington #7 of the Chicago Sky during the first half

Sophie Cunningham Has Quite A Journey To Get Back To Basketball

Chelsea Gray celebrates her game-winning three-pointer

Chelsea Gray Punished Caitlin Clark’s Mistakes

Cotie McMahon #23 of the Washington Mystics celebrates with teammates after the game against the Dallas Wings at CareFirst Arena on August 5, 2026 in Washington, DC.

The Washington Mystics Don’t Act Their Age

A general view of a "Google" logo and a WNBA logo on seats

The Machines

The Mystery Of Google’s Fixation On “The Transwoman In The WNBA”

Lauren Theisen

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever speaks during a press conference before a game against the Portland Fire at Moda Center

The Right Has Created Its Perfect Trans Athlete

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks talks with Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury after the game at Mortgage Matchup Center on June 13, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kelsey Plum Is Back At The Center Of A Head-Scratching Trade

Sydney Taylor #12 of the Chicago Sky celebrates with her teammates after a game winning three-point basket during the second half against the Las Vegas Aces on August 1, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Sydney Taylor Is The Undrafted Rookie Making Sky Games Fun

WNBA Suspends Seattle Storm Minority Owner For Being Rude To Transphobic Shitheads

Sophie Cunningham announces a round in a lightweight fight during the UFC 329 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sophie Cunningham Is About As Edgy As A Beach Ball

Phee’s Back

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Which Version Of The Indiana Fever Is The Real One?

Skylar Diggins #4 of the Chicago Sky warms up prior to the game against the Portland Fire at Wintrust Arena on June 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois