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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

<p>E.Y. Zhao is a writer and editor from St. Louis. Her debut novel, <a href="https://astrapublishinghouse.com/product/underspin-9781662603266/"><i>Underspin</i></a>, set in the world of competitive table tennis, is out now. She holds a BA in history from Harvard College and an MFA from the University of Michigan.</p>


E.Y. Zhao

Politics

Two Nights Outside ICE’s New Jersey Concentration Camp

Bekah Waalkes

Arts And Culture

Five Self-Obsessed Danes Make For A Surprisingly Fun And Sexy Summer Read


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<div>Hallie Lieberman is a historian and journalist. Her book <em>Gigolos: An Exploration of the Men Who Sell Sex and The Women Who Buy It</em> will be published by Beacon Press in January 2027. She is also the author of <em>Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy</em>. Her writing has appeared in <em>Esquire</em>, <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>The Washington Post</em>, and other outlets. </div>
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Hallie Lieberman

An ICE patch and badge are seen on a Department of Homeland Security agent while US Vice President JD Vance speaks at Royalston Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 22, 2026. The Pentagon has ordered 1,500 US soldiers to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, a state roiled by unrest over an immigration crackdown, US media reported on January 18, 2026. The reported preparations come days after President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which enables use of the military to suppress "armed rebellion" or "domestic violence" -- although a day later he said there was no immediate need for it, following the January 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent. (Photo by Jim WATSON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Life As An Undocumented Trans Sex Worker In The Age Of ICE

Megan C. Reynolds

Looking For A Job Has Become An Alienating Humiliation Ritual

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Interviews

John Early’s Secret Is Total Commitment

<p>Denny Carter is founder, editor, and lead writer for BadFaithTimes.com. He analyzes the NFL on the Rotoworld Football Show, and can be found on Bluesky at @dennycarter.bsky.social.</p>


Denny Carter

Golf

Bryson DeChambeau Will Have To Decide If He’s A Golfer Or A YouTuber

<p>Grace Byron is a critic, reporter, and novelist based in Queens. Her writing has appeared in <em>The New Yorker</em>, <em>Granta</em>, <em>Bookforum</em>, and elsewhere. Her debut novel <em>Herculine</em> is out now.</p>


Grace Byron

Neatly Arranged Scalpels Repetition Pattern on Purple Background Directly Above View.

‘New Skin’ Offers A Fresh Take On Body Horror


<p>Patrick T. Dorsey is the writer of and a producer on the feature film FUTURE DATE, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Comedy Feature. You can hear him Thursdays on Defector Trivia, whenever Diana Moskovitz shouts, “Baaaaaaabe!”</p>


Patrick T. Dorsey

Nelly Korda Is Really Good At This

<p>John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and <em>Maclean’s</em>.</p>


John Loeppky

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 05: Zhiqiang Yan of Team People's Republic of China competes with teammates Zhijian Lan and Qi Zhang (not in frame) in the Mixed Team - BC1/BC2 Gold Medal Match #294 against Muhamad Syafa, Felix Ardi Yudha and Gischa Zayana of Team Indonesia on day eight of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at South Paris Arena on September 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Parasports

When Competing Means Being Able To Afford The Right Equipment

<p>Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.</p>


Matt Ufford

A split image: On the left, a beatific Manuel Neuer with his fists raised in triumph; on the right, a feral roaring Gianluigi Buffon with his fists low, also in triumph.

Soccer

Which Type Of Big Weird Guy Is Your Goalkeeper?

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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

Sophia Wilson of United States fights for the ball with Isadora Haas of Brazil during the international friendly match between Brazil and United States on June 06, 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The USWNT And Brazil Stretched The Definition Of “Friendly”

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

‘Off Campus’ Can’t Sell The Hockey Player Fantasy

Aaron Timms

A big inflatable soccer ball fills with air at the houston world cup fan zone.

The World Cup For Nobody Is Almost Here

Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: Bathrooms, Backyards, And DIY Ambitions

<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

Tennis

Marta Kostyuk Will Not Break

‘Backrooms’ Doesn’t Quite Capture The Weirdness Of The Originals

Janine Sonis of the Denver Summit FC celebrateds her second goal of the second half against the Orlando Pride with teammates Kaleigh Kurtz and Eva Gaetino.

The Denver Summit May Not Be Good, But They Sure Are Fun

James Webster

‘The Vivisectors’ Is A Brilliant Novel In Any Reality

How The U.S. Military Rots American Masculinity

The Montreal Victoire celebrate their victory

Women's Hockey

The Montreal Victoire Make A Living As Champions

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<p>Robert Rubsam writes fiction and nonfiction. His work has appeared in the NYT Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Baffler, and Liberties. He is a contributing writer for Commonweal Magazine.</p>
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Robert Rubsam

‘Blue Heron’ Is A Revelation

<p>Sean T. Collins has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Decider, Pitchfork, and many others. He lives with his family on Long Island.</p>


Sean T. Collins

Kill Grogu

<div><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattribel.bsky.social">Matt Ribel</a> writes about the intersection of science, technology, and politics. His features have appeared in WIRED, Washingtonian, and elsewhere.</div>


Matt Ribel

An illustration of a hand taking a circuitous route to a mailbox to send in a tax return, while a number of other hands try to block it.