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Maitreyi Anantharaman

The cover of Rooting Interest, next to a jump ball in a WNBA game.

Women's Basketball

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? 

<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>


Maya Goldberg-Safir

Cardte Hicks Played Above The Rim And Ahead Of Her Time

Head coach Kim Caldwell of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers looks on in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Colonial Life Arena on February 08, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.

College Basketball

Kim Caldwell Is Running Out Of Hard Truths To Deliver


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

James Pearce Jr. attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on February 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

James Pearce Jr. Arrested, Charged With Aggravated Battery, Stalking

Tom Ley

“Disgusted” Breanna Stewart Holds Up “Abolish ICE” Sign Before Unrivaled Game

Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a basket during the second half of a game against the Texas Longhorns at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 11, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LSU Actually Did Not Eat Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and LSU Tigers, January 4, 2025, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.

LSU Ate Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

If Syla Swords Takes A Shot But The Clock Is Frozen, Did It Actually Happen?

Patrick Redford

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Duren #0 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on November 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Project B For “Basketball”, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with her team after defeating the New York Liberty during Game Four of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 18, 2023 in New York City. The Aces defeated the Liberty 70-69. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Why WNBA Owners Cheated To Help Their Players

Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes a shot as Layla Hays #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes blocks in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 10, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

Audi Crooks Makes Every Minute Count

Bryce Young hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Capital

Whose League Is It Anyway?

Barry Petchesky

The Phoenix Mercury logo and the planet Mercury.

This Is So Stupid

The Phoenix Mercury’s New Logos Vs. The Planet Mercury: An Exhausting Showdown

A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.

The WNBA’s Million-Dollar Offer Is A Misdirection

Hannah Hidalgo #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the court before a game against the Chicago State Cougars at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on November 9, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana.

It Should Be Illegal To Unleash Hannah Hidalgo On The Akron Zips

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Aces Made Their Season From The Muck

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after her made basket against the Phoenix Mercury with .1 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 08, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Who Can Stop A’ja Wilson?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 05: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball between Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kathryn Westbeld #24 of the Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter of Game Two of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Aces Like It When The Game Gets Uncomfortable

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media ahead of Game One of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 03, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Hottest Ticket In Vegas? Cathy Engelbert’s Press Conference

Chelsea Gray #12, A'ja Wilson #22, Megan Gustafson #17 and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces react as they are interviewed after the team's 107-98 overtime victory over the Indiana Fever in Game Five of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Michelob ULTRA Arena Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 30, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces won the series three games to two.

The Aces’ Superstar Trio Is The Reason To Watch

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert poses with MVP Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx following the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Napheesa Collier Put A Face To The Fight

Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever celebrates the win after the game three of the first round of WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on September 18, 2025 in College Park, Georgia. 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 Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

What Aliyah Boston Does Is Simple, But Not Easy

Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx congratulates Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at PHX Arena on September 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Lynx 86-81 to advance to the WNBA finals.

So Much For The Lynx’s Revenge Season

Sami Whitcomb #33 of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter during Game Two of the WNBA Semifinals at Target Center on September 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mercury defeated the Lynx 89-83 in overtime.