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Defector

Ray Ratto

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: layers of the United States celebrate their side's first goal, an own goal by Damian Bobadilla #16 of Paraguay (not pictured), during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Soccer

The USMNT Won With Flair. Can It Win A Grind?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Islamic Republic of Iran players take part in anthems during the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 match between Korea Republic v Islamic Republic of Iran at Gold Coast Stadium on March 02, 2026 in Gold Coast, Australia.

Iran Women’s Soccer Team Is Feeling The Effects Of The War All The Way In Australia

Patrick Redford

The peloton rides past a kangaroo road sign during the Tour Down Under UCI Men's Cycling in Adelaide on January 25, 2026.

Cycling

Double Kangaroo Chaos Will Reverberate Across The Cycling Season

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

A spectator attempts to complete a newspaper crossword during the Vitality County Championship match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan at College Ground on July 01, 2024 in Cheltenham, England.

Funbag

Oh Shit, I’m A Crossword Dork Now

<p>Former Defector intern, now freelancer.</p>
<p>For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lucy Bloom

Video Games

Aw Shit, My Favorite Genre Just Got Changed Forever

Rafaela Bassili

Nicolas Cage on a beach holding a surfboard.

Arts And Culture

‘The Surfer’ Mostly Sputters And Flails

<p>Vivian Blaxell grew up in rural Australia and co-founded Tiresias House, Australia’s first shelter and resource centre for and by trans people. Her essay &#8220;Nuclear Cats&#8221; was shortlisted for the 2021 Melbourne Prize for Literature. She lives in Naarm/Melbourne, VIC, Australia.</p>


Vivian Blaxell

Coke Sign at corner of William Street and Kings Cross, Sydney

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

“Get The Fuck Off This Corner. It’s Mine.”

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

USA's forward #9 Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the SheBelieves Cup football match between USA and Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on February 26, 2025.

Emma Hayes Shows Us The USWNT She Believes In

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Life Lessons

I Don’t Ever Want My Favorite Things To Change

Kelsey McKinney

Vincent Namatjira (Western Aranda people) with Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour, installation view

Australian Billionaire Not Rich Enough To Control Art

Soraya Roberts

Madeleine Sami as Eddie Redcliffe in Deadloch

Australians Just Have More Fun (On TV)

Sam Kerr of Australia scores the teams first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Semi Final match between Australia and England at Stadium Australia on August 16, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Sam Kerr Struck, But England Squeezed

Australia and France women's national team players react to Australia's win in the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal.

The Matildas Turned My Hair White And They Haven’t Even Faced England Yet

Caitlin Foord of Australia celebrates after scoring her team's first goal with teammates during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Root, Root, Root For The Host Team

Billy Haisley

Mary Fowler of Australia celebrates after scoring a goal with her teammates that was later cancelled as a result of VAR consultation during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on July 31, 2023.

Canada And Spain Ate Shit And Deserved It

Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia.

Nigeria Was Ready For Its Moment

Alanna Kennedy of Australia celebrates the team's 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia.

Australia Beat Ireland And Bought Time

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

The Matildas Have Australia’s Hopes On Their Shoulders


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

A dung-rolling weevil in the genus Tentegia props up a piece of marsupial dung

Creaturefector

Rookie Dung-Roller Is Learning On The Job

Lauren Theisen

Music

Save The Music You Like

An illustration of the absolute unit of a wombat, the extinct Ramsayia, standing next to a puny modern wombat.

This Ancient Wombat Was An Absolute Unit

A dejected Joachim Andersen of Denmark at full time after being knocked out the FIFA World Cup in the group stages during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Australia and Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar

Denmark Was Something Rotten

Australia Has One Cool Old Guy And One Cool Young Guy

Dejected Peru players support each other after being defeated by Australia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff match between Australia Socceroos and Peru at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.