CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

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

Samer Kalaf

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever is fouled by DiJonai Carrington #7 of the Chicago Sky during the first half

WNBA

Sophie Cunningham Has Quite A Journey To Get Back To Basketball

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Sydney Taylor #12 of the Chicago Sky celebrates with her teammates after a game winning three-point basket during the second half against the Las Vegas Aces on August 1, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Sydney Taylor Is The Undrafted Rookie Making Sky Games Fun

Skylar Diggins #4 of the Chicago Sky warms up prior to the game against the Portland Fire at Wintrust Arena on June 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois

The Long-Awaited Blowup Between Skylar Diggins And The Sky Has Finally Arrived

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 22: Kennedy Burke #25 of the Connecticut Sun goes up for a shot defended by Natasha Cloud #9 of the Chicago Sky in the first quarter at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 22, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The Chicago Sky Have Nothing To Look Forward To

Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings in the third quarter at Target Center on June 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lynx defeated the Wings 100-76.

Olivia Miles Is The Throwback Point Guard Of The Future

Paige Bueckers #5 and Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings confer against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Wintrust Arena on May 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Dallas Wings Can Find A Bucket Anywhere

Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries smiles on the side of the court during the first half of their game against the Chicago Sky at Chase Center on May 13, 2026 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)

Even A Bad Valkyries Game Is A Pretty Great Time

Tom Ley

Angel Reese lays on her back during a game

The Chicago Sky Cost Themselves Angel Reese

Hailey Van Lith #2, Ariel Atkins #7 and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky look on from the bench in the third quarter of their game against the Las Vegas Aces at T-Mobile Arena on September 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sky 80-66.

Angel Reese And The Sky Are Ready To End This Dismal Season

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.

Dominique Malonga Gets It Done In Small Doses

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.

Yes, The Sky Is Falling For The Sky

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.

All The Dallas Wings Have Left Is A Prayer

Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon of the Chicago Sky complains about a call against her team during the fourth quarter of a home basketball game against the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena on August 28, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

What Happened To All The WNBA Coaches?

Chicago Sky fans celebrates during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on June 27, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

WNBA Ticket Prices Are Going Up, But It Wasn’t Inevitable

<p>Matthew Coller covers the Minnesota Vikings for <a href="https://purpleinsider.com/">Purple Insider</a> and is author of the book <a href="https://www.triumphbooks.com/football-is-a-numbers-game-products-9781637272183.php"><em>Football is a Numbers Game</em></a>. He moonlights as a writer for the <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/">Her Hoop Stats</a> newsletter and dominates as a rec league spot-up shooter.</p>


Matthew Coller

WASHINGTON, DC -  JUNE 6: Chennedy Carter #7 of the Chicago Sky drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Mystics on June 6, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

How Chennedy Carter Reclaimed Her Superstar Pedigree

Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Dallas Wings celebrates after a play against the Indiana Fever at the College Park Center on July 17, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Wings Week

How Did The Dallas Wings Ever Win A Trade?

Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky and NaLyssa Smith #1 of the Indiana Fever react during the second half on June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Angel Reese Is Not, In Fact, Too Small

Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky grabs the rebound during he first half of a WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun

Angel Reese Has Genius In Her Fingertips

Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) is whistled for a flagrant foul for knocking Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) to the ground on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Caitlin Clark And The Fever Are Going Through It

Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks reacts after receiving her fourth foul against the Minnesota Lynx during the second quarter of Game One of the WNBA finals at Williams Arena on September 24, 2017 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Candace Parker Remade The Game In Her Image

Dana Evans #11 of the Chicago Sky reacts against the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena on May 26, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Chicago Sky Taught Me It Was OK To Win Now

UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 6: Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky looks on during the game against the Connecticut Sun during Round 2 Game 4 of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs on September 6, 2022 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Candace Parker Stacks The Deck

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 08: Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker (3) looks on during the second half in game 5 of the WNBA Semifinals between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky on September 8, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

The Sky Fall

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 31: Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun during the first half in Game Two of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Wintrust Arena on August 31, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.