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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

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm blocks a shot by Elizabeth Williams #1 of the Chicago Sky during the second half at Wintrust Arena on July 24, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Seattle Storm v Chicago Sky

WNBA

Dominique Malonga Gets It Done In Small Doses

Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics holds a "Pay the Players" sign following the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA All-Star Game 2025

WNBA Players Want To Share In The League’s “Hypergrowth”

Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever talks to the media during a press conference before the match-up against the Brazil National Team, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 4, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Brazil National Team v Indiana Fever

Christine Brennan’s Caitlin Clark Book Is More About Gripes Than Greatness

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Ray Ratto

UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 18: Red Panda performs during halftime of a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun on May 18, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

WNBA: MAY 18 Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun

Get Well Soon, Red Panda

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to the crowd before the game between the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx at Carefirst Arena on June 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Minnesota Lynx v Washington Mystics

The WNBA And Its Expansion Fees Are Getting Bigger

Jackie Young #0 and Jewell Loyd #24 of the Las Vegas Aces talk as they wait for an Indiana Fever player to shoot a free throw in the fourth quarter of their game at T-Mobile Arena on June 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Fever 89-81.

Indiana Fever v Las Vegas Aces

Can You Count Out The Aces?

Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase (left) talks with guard Carla Leite (right) during the second quarter of a WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at College Park Center in Arlington, TX.

WNBA: JUN 17 Golden State Valkyries at Dallas Wings

The WNBA Had Too Much Going On Last Night

Isabelle Harrison #21 of the New York Liberty goes to the basket as Michaela Onyenwere #12, Angel Reese #5, and Kamilla Cardoso #10 of the Chicago Sky defend during the second half at Barclays Center on June 10, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Liberty won 85-66.

Chicago Sky v New York Liberty

Yes, The Sky Is Falling For The Sky

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Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Veronica Burton (center) #22 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrates with her team after the Valkyries beat the Washington Mystics at Chase Center on May 21, 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)

Washington Mystics v Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries Are Beloved And Ahead Of Schedule

The Dallas Wings bench reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 3, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Dallas Wings v Seattle Storm

All The Dallas Wings Have Left Is A Prayer

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Lauren Theisen

Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty mascot, performs before the game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun

Connecticut Sun v New York Liberty

The Liberty Are Godzilla And The WNBA Is A Bunch Of Tall Buildings

Kathryn Westbeld #24 (L) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with Alyssa Thomas #25 after defeating the Chicago Sky 94-89 in the WNBA game at PHX Arena on May 27, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Chicago Sky v Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury Are Getting Plenty Of Help From Their Intriguing Randos

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Samer Kalaf

Caitlin Clark reacts after a turnover in a game against the Liberty.

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Media Meltdowns

Christine Brennan Won’t Rest Until Caitlin Clark’s Muscle Strain Is Treated As A National Crisis

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) drives past Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25) and goes in for two during a WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on May 24, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.

WNBA: MAY 24 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever

Natasha Cloud Is A Kid In New York’s Candy Store

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and Napheesa Collier #24 talk with referee Tim Greene after a foul call in the fourth quarter against the New York Liberty during Game Five of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime to win the championship.

2024 WNBA Finals – Game Five

An Old Grudge, A New Team, A Swole Caitlin: The 2025 WNBA Season Preview

<p>Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.</p>


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Maya Goldberg-Safir

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History

How The Japanese-American Basketball Leagues Built Natalie Nakase

French player Dominique Malonga speaks to the press during the 2025 WNBA Draft at the Shed in New York City on April 14, 2025.

BASKET-US-DRAFT

Dominique Malonga Is Ready To Light Up The WNBA

Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts during the first quarter against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 04, 2024 in Seattle, Washington

Phoenix Mercury v Seattle Storm

Who Had Diana?

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Giri Nathan

Diana Taurasi bites her sixth Olympic gold.

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Diana Taurasi Retires After Winning Everything There Is To Win

Marina Mabrey #4 of the Connecticut Sun reacts against the Minnesota Lynx in the third quarter of Game One of the Semi-Finals during the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 29, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Sun defeated the Lynx 73-70

Connecticut Sun v Minnesota Lynx – Game One

Marina Mabrey Does Not See Her Future In Connecticut

Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun at Crypto.com Arena on September 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Connecticut Sun v Los Angeles Sparks

The Sun And Mercury Join The WNBA Trade Fun

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces and Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm look on during the fourth quarter at Climate Pledge Arena on July 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Las Vegas Aces v Seattle Storm

We Got A Real WNBA Trade, With Stars And Everything

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Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Could Be A New Solution To The WNBA’s Old Problems

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase during the expansion draft party in San Francisco on Friday, Dec. 06, 2024.

Golden State Valkyries Draft

The Valkyries’ Expansion Draft Is Prep For Next Year’s Free-For-All

A screengrab of the Toronto Tempo's new logo as seen on a Canadian news program.

TorontoTempoCP24

They’re Really Going With “Toronto Tempo”