defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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-no-empty-space

Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

headshot1

Patrick Redford

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Switzerland v China PR – International Womens Friendly

Soccer

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Signe Bruun of Denmark (C) celebrating her goal with her teammates during the international Women's friendly match between Switzerland and Denmark at Wefox Arena on November 11, 2022 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Switzerland v Denmark – Women’s International Friendly

Denmark’s Ready To Make Their Return To The World Cup Count

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

Haiti celebrate qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after their victory in the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Chile and Haiti at North Harbour Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Chile v Haiti – 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Play Off Tournament

Haiti’s The Underdog With The Biggest Dog

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Lucy Bronze of England pointing during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium MK on July 01, 2023 in Milton Keynes, England.

England v Portugal – Women’s International Friendly

England’s Last Step Will Be The Hardest

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL - APRIL 7: Yui Hasegawa of Japan Women, Fatima Pinto of Portugal Women during the International Friendly Women match between Portugal Women v Japan Women at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques on April 7, 2023 in Guimaraes Portugal

Portugal Women v Japan Women -International Friendly Women

Japan Climbed The Mountain Once, And Now They Need To Do It Again

RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia leads their side out prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Zambia Is Here For A Good Time, And Maybe Even A Long Time

IMG_6025-800

Albert Burneko

The Spain women's national team huddles on the field after losing to Italy in the UEFA Euros

spain women team

Spain Is A Big Ugly Mess With Some Extremely Cool Players

Screenshot 2023-06-14 at 10.34.24 AM

Abigail Segel

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States with the ball during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images).

Ireland v USWNT

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Kristie Mewis

Nigeria's female national football team Super Falcons pose for a group photo before the final of Aisha Buhari Invitational tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos state, Nigeria Sept. 21, 2021. South Africa's female national football team Banyana Banyana on Tuesday night emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women's Tournament after defeating the Super Falcons of Nigeria 4-2 in the last game.

NIGERIA-LAGOS-FOOTBALL-AISHA BUHARI INVITATIONAL WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT-FINAL

Nigeria Could Be Headed For World Cup Disaster

Members of the Canadian womens national soccer team wear "Enough Is Enough" shirts in protest for equal pay ahead of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup soccer match between Canada and Japan at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on February 22, 2023.

FBL-CAN-JPN-SHEBELIEVES-CUP

Canada Needs A Win, And They Might Just Get One

Irish players pictured at the warm up on the field ahead of a friendly women's soccer game between Belgium's national team the Red Flames and the Republic of Ireland, Sunday 11 April 2021 in Brussels. BELGA PHOTO DAVID CATRY (

SOCCER FRIENDLY BELGIUM VS IRELAND

Ireland Is Ready To Keep Singing At Their First World Cup

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mary Fowler of the Matildas celebrates scoring a goal with Sam Kerr of the Matildas during the Women's International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and Brazil at CommBank Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Sydney, Australia

GettyImages-1348205768

The Matildas Have Australia’s Hopes On Their Shoulders

The Philippine National Women’s Football Team celebrates after winning the championship match against Thailand for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines on 17 July 2022.

Philippines v Thailand – AFF Women’s Championship Final

The Philippines Have A Little Something Going On Here

Ramona Bachmann of Switzerland celebrates scoring their side's first goal with teammates Noelle Maritz and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup play-off round 2 match between Switzerland and Wales at Stadion Letzigrund on October 11, 2022 in Zurich, Zurich

GettyImages-1432607046

Switzerland Is Back At The World Cup, But For How Long?

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Ada Hegerberg celebrates after their sides victory with Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 group A match between Norway and Northern Ireland at St Mary's Stadium on July 07, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Maddie Meyer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Norway v Northern Ireland: Group A – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

Norway’s Quest For Redemption Starts Now

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 21: Football Ferns player Grace Jale during a New Zealand Football Ferns training session at North Harbour Stadium on June 21, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand Football Ferns Training Session

New Zealand Can’t Blow This Chance To Break Its World Cup Losing Streak

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States runs on the field during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sophia Smith

CARSON, CA - FEBRUARY 20: United States players celebrate a second own goal in their favor during a match between New Zealand and United States as part of SheBelieves Cup 2022 at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 20, 2022 in Carson, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

2022 SheBelieves Cup – New Zealand v United States

The USWNT World Cup Roster Doesn’t Answer All My Questions

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Naomi Girma #27 of the United States warming up before a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images).

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Naomi Girma

Lynn Williams #6 of the United States controls the ball during the SheBelieves Cup game between Brazil and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

2023 SheBelieves Cup – Brazil v United States

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Lynn Williams

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States dribbles the ball during a game between Brazil and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Lindsey Horan

justin

Justin Ellis

Wendie Renard of France during the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 Semi Final match between Germany and France at Stadium mk on July 27, 2022 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Germany v France: Semi Final – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

Three French Stars Step Away From Women’s National Team, Call For Changes

TOPSHOT - United States forward Alex Morgan (C) raises the SheBelieves Cup trophy as the United States Womens National Soccer Team celebrates following the 2023 SheBelieves Cup soccer match between the United States and Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on February 22, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT-FBL-USA-BRA-SHEBELIEVES-CUP

Alex Morgan Is All The Way Back

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 19: Mallory Swanson #9 of the United States is marked by Fuka Nagano #8 and Risa Shimizu #2 of Japan during a game between Japan and USWNT at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

2023 SheBelieves Cup – Japan v United States

The USWNT Is Still Coming Together Slowly

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 18: Mallory Swanson of USA celebrates after scoring a goal during the International friendly fixture match between the New Zealand Football Ferns and the United States at Sky Stadium on January 18, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

2023 world cup