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Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Victor Wembanyama celebrates while headed to the bench.

Wait, Whoa, The Spurs Are Way Ahead Of Schedule

Barry Petchesky

LIVIGNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 15: Ikuma Horishima of Team Japan crosses the finish line backwards after a fall as he competes in the Men's Dual Moguls 1/8 Finals against Nick Page of Team United States (not pictured) on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Air Park on February 15, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Olympics

This Backward Guy Medaled

Dave McKenna

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after an NFL Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers

The Bears Live For The Fourth Quarter

Lauren Theisen

Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena on January 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California

Here’s The Latest Cool Thing That Macklin Celebrini Did

EDMONTON, CANADA - DECEMBER 21: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers shields the puck from Jeremy Lauzon #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of the game at Rogers Place on December 21, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images)

Connor McDavid, Speed Demon

Defector Staff

Fans cheer as Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Year In Review

Our Favorite Sports Moments Of 2025

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes a shot as Layla Hays #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes blocks in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 10, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

College Basketball

Audi Crooks Makes Every Minute Count

Deni Avdija Kicks Mondo Ass Now

Giri Nathan

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks attempts a layup against John Collins #20 and Nicolas Batum #33 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Intuit Dome on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Cooper Flagg Makes History Against The Ancient Clippers

Can Anything Make The Hornets Make Sense?

Even By His Lofty Standards, Nikola Jokic Is On One

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers carries the puck in the offensive zone

Connor McDavid Broke The Blue Jackets

Luis Paez-Pumar

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball in overtime to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on November 10, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

The Heat And Cavs Played The Wildest Eight Seconds Of The Season

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

Dan McQuade

CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 02: Chase Brown #30 of the Cincinnati Bengals leaps over Kevin Byard III #31 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter in the game at Paycor Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brown is completely upside down, back to the camera, legs in the air, looking like his flip will continue to land him on his back. Both Bears players are looking at him. One is on the ground, behind him, looking up. The other is reaching toward Brown. In the background is a full stadium of people, and from the orange it's clear it's the Bengals stadium.

Move Over World Series, The Bears And Bengals Are Playing

Ray Ratto

Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the 18th inning during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

If You Went To Sleep, Sorry But You Are Not Forgiven

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 01: Freddy Fermin #54 and Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres interact during Game Two of the National League Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

This Is As Close To Unhittable As A Pitch Gets

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Victor Robles #10 of the Seattle Mariners makes a diving catch to end the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Victor Robles To The Rescue!

Kelsey McKinney

Fernando Tatis Jr. extends up over the right field wall to steal a home run.

The Robbin’ Padres Are On A Crime Spree!

Tom Ley

Heckler Achieves Impossible Task Of Making Shohei Ohtani Even Cooler Than He Already Was

Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings celebrates reacts to a Wings three pointer during an 81-80 Los Angeles Sparks win over the Dallas Wings at Crypto.com Arena on August 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

WNBA

Now Imagine What Paige Bueckers Could Do With Better Teammates

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates while running the bases after hitting a two run home run

Mason Miller’s Balls Were Fast, But Lourdes Gurriel’s Dong Was Faster

Brandon Lockridge and Julio Borbon of the Brewers laugh together.

Fifty-Six Hits Is Too Damn Many

Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres makes a jumping catch in the fourth inning of the game against New York Mets

The Robbin’ Padres Took Away A Home Run Before Anyone Knew What Happened

jackson merril leaps up over the outfield fence to grab a ball

The Robbin’ Padres Are At It Again

Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox dives into home on an inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, June 30, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.