CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Topics

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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 02: First lady Jill Biden talks with guests during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

College Basketball

Angel Reese And Jill Biden Achieve Detente

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts as he cuts down the net after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Dan Hurley And UConn Put It Together

Lauren Theisen

UConn Imposed Some Normalcy On The Weirdest NCAA Tournament Ever

The sky with an angelic light behind it, the Wilson Evo NXT basketball sits in the middle

Everyone Has An Opinion On The NCAA Tournament’s Bright Orange Basketball

Tom Ley

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Jasmine Carson #2 of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts after a three-point basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

Jasmine Carson Lived A Shooter’s Dream

Wait, They Attach The Net How?

Louisiana State Tigers players celebrate their win over the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

LSU Is The New Kind Of Cinderella

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: (EDITORS NOTE: In this photo taken with a remote camera) Lamont Butler #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs shoots the ball to win the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at NRG Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

Good Things Happen When A Coach Gets Out Of The Way

NCAA Division I Mascot Analysis - Four mascots listed Florida Atlantic: Owlsley Temple: Hooter Kennesaw State: Scrappy Rice: Sammy Also a milk carton with "WHERE IS HOOT?" and a picture of him on it and an OWLFECTOR logo with two little owls perching on it

Owl You Need To Know About Owl Mascots

GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 27: Zia Cooke #1 and Brea Beal #12 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate in the closing minutes of their victory over the Maryland Terrapins during the Elite Eight round of the 2023 NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 27, 2023 in Greenville, South Carolina.

South Carolina’s “Freshies” Have One Last Job In Them

David Roth

Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell shrugs after hitting a big shot in the Wildcats' Elite Eight game at Madison Square Garden.

Podcasts

Live From The Game Of Somebody’s Life, With Dan McQuade

Cotie McMahon #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after being fouled and making the basket during the fourth quarter against the UConn Huskies in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 25, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Ohio State Keeps On Pressing

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts during the fourth quarter against the Louisville Cardinals in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 26, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Iowa Is The Truth

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Markquis Nowell #1 of the Kansas State Wildcats reacts during the second half of the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the Elite Eight round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2023 in New York City.

Markquis Nowell Had Two Incredible Games. It Was Not Enough.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Giancarlo Rosado #3 of the Florida Atlantic Owls celebrates after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats during the Elite Eight round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2023 in New York City.

FAU Stayed Calm All The Way To The Final Four

Jon Solomon (masked) sits in a sea of empty black chairs in Section 113 at Jadwin Gym in Princeton.

Jon Solomon, Princeton’s Number One Fan, Has Made Me Believe In The Tigers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 23: Markquis Nowell #1 of the Kansas State Wildcats reacts during the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2023 in New York City.

Markquis Nowell Returned Home And Put On A Show At MSG

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Julian Strawther pulls up from the logo for the game-winner.

Julian Strawther’s Lunatic Confidence Gave Gonzaga Their Best Shot

Dillon Brooks smiling on the floor during a Grizzlies game against the Philadelphia 76ers in February of 2023.

The Man Who Loved Dillon Brooks, With Rohan Nadkarni

Destiny Harden #3 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts after making the game winning shot against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second round of the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on March 20, 2023 in Bloomington, Indiana.

Fraudiana!

PALO ALTO, CA - MARCH 19: Madison Scott #24 of the Ole Miss Rebels shoots the ball against Haley Jones #30 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second round of the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at the Stanford Maples Pavilion on March 19, 2023 in Palo Alto, California.

Stanfraud!

Markquis Nowell Doesn’t Get Discouraged

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 19: Johnell Davis #1 of the Florida Atlantic Owls dunks the ball against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half in the second round game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 19, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.

FDU Was Trying To Make History. Johnell Davis Did It Instead

Head coach Karl Smesko gets doused by his team as he enters the locker room following the first round of the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Finneran Pavilion on March 18, 2023 in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

FGCU Is The Very Model Of A Modern Mid-Major

DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 15: Ansley Almonor #5 and Jo'el Emanuel #13 of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights celebrate after defeating the Texas Southern Tigers in the First Four game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena on March 15, 2023 in Dayton, Ohio.