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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

Tom Ley

Chelsea Gray celebrates her game-winning three-pointer

WNBA

Chelsea Gray Punished Caitlin Clark’s Mistakes

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

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Which Version Of The Indiana Fever Is The Real One?

Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces handles the ball during the WNBA game between Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun on May 15, 2026, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Who Can Keep Up With Chennedy Carter?

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Cameron Brink #22 of the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half of their game at Crypto.com Arena on May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Cameron Brink Is All Tangled Up

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Carolyn Swords Sees The WNBA Becoming The League She Hoped For

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Aces Made Their Season From The Muck

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after her made basket against the Phoenix Mercury with .1 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 08, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Who Can Stop A’ja Wilson?

Patrick Redford

Podcasts

Cathy Vs. Phee In The Basketball Court Of Public Opinion, With Jordan Robinson And Maitreyi Anantharaman

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 05: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball between Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kathryn Westbeld #24 of the Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter of Game Two of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Aces Like It When The Game Gets Uncomfortable

Chelsea Gray #12, A'ja Wilson #22, Megan Gustafson #17 and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces react as they are interviewed after the team's 107-98 overtime victory over the Indiana Fever in Game Five of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Michelob ULTRA Arena Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 30, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces won the series three games to two.

The Aces’ Superstar Trio Is The Reason To Watch

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on September 16, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

A’ja Wilson Is The Smoothest Operator

Aliyah Boston #7 and Lexie Hull #10 of the Indiana Fever celebrate during the second half against the Atlanta Dream in game two of the first round of WNBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 16, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The WNBA Won Won Won With 1-1-1

Head coach Becky Hammon of Las Vegas Aces draws a play during a game between the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream

Eight Teams, Eight Questions: A Guide To The 2025 WNBA Playoffs

A'ja Wilson #22 and head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces laugh as Wilson waits to check in during the fourth quarter of a game against the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Wings 106-87.

The Aces Agenda Is Back In Full Swing

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

Dan McQuade

Three images, stills from a baby race on a basketball court at a Las Vegas Aces WNBA game. The first one is the baby, clad in pink, crawling. The second is the baby taking her first steps! The third is the baby hugging her mom as she reaches the finish line walking. The crowd is going wild the whole time.

Baby Racer Stunts On Competitors By Standing Up And Walking

Jackie Young #0 and Jewell Loyd #24 of the Las Vegas Aces talk as they wait for an Indiana Fever player to shoot a free throw in the fourth quarter of their game at T-Mobile Arena on June 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Fever 89-81.

Can You Count Out The Aces?

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and Napheesa Collier #24 talk with referee Tim Greene after a foul call in the fourth quarter against the New York Liberty during Game Five of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime to win the championship.

An Old Grudge, A New Team, A Swole Caitlin: The 2025 WNBA Season Preview

Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.

Maya Goldberg-Safir

History

How The Japanese-American Basketball Leagues Built Natalie Nakase

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces and Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm look on during the fourth quarter at Climate Pledge Arena on July 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

We Got A Real WNBA Trade, With Stars And Everything

Ray Ratto

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty shoots a layup against Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces in the fourth quarter of Game Four of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 06, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Liberty defeated the Aces 76-62 to win the series three games to one. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Liberty Get To Talk The Crap Now

Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after assisting Alysha Clark #7 of the Aces on a basket against the Seattle Storm in the second quarter of Game One of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 22, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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.

The Aces Come From Every Direction

Sydney Colson #51 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Cecilia Zandalasini #9 of the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A Guide To The Future Bench Heroes Of The 2024 WNBA Playoffs

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 21: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after being called for a foul against the Minnesota Lynx in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ian Maule/Getty Images)

A’ja Wilson’s Game Is Joyfully Precise

Bridget Carleton #6 of the Minnesota Lynx goes up for a basket past Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces during the first quarter at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas Aces