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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

Sohini Desai

A wide shot of the campus of Texas Tech University.

Politics

Here’s What Texas Tech’s Leadership Is Being Sued For Censoring

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Down judge Robin DeLorenzo #134 during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.

Female Ref Sues NFL For Discrimination, Says She Was Told To “Shut Your Fucking Mouth” By Another Official

Israel Daramola

Life's Rich Pageant

Let’s Catch Up On The Hilarious Afroman Defamation Trial

Patrick Redford

The Ticketmaster logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration. Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, currently faces a major antitrust trial in the United States, where regulators accuse the live-events giant of monopolizing the concert ticketing and promotion market, allegations the company denies, in Brussels, Belgium, on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto)

Capital

Live Nation Gets To Keep Its Monopoly Thanks To Trump’s Department Of Justice

Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.

Lesley Ryder

A detail of the NWSL logo on a game ball prior to the NWSL match between the Houston Dash and the Angel City FC at Shell Energy Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

NWSL

The NWSL Received 43 Complaints In 2024, And Five In The First Half Of This Year, Public Records Show

Giri Nathan

Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates his three-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter at Target Center on March 30, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

Malik Beasley Had His Wages Garnished By His Former Dentist

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans plays the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in the fourth quarter February 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Zion Williamson Accused Of Rape, Domestic Violence In Lawsuit

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

Dan McQuade

Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis look on during the main event of Money in the Bank 2011.

Pro Wrestling

John Laurinaitis Says He Will Testify Against Vince McMahon

Samer Kalaf

Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless on Undisputed

Media Meltdowns

Seal Up The Pit That Contains Fox Sports 1

Tom Ley

Shannon Sharpe Stepping Away From ESPN Following Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A FanDuel gambling advertisement on the exterior of a building prior to Super Bowl LIX on February 08, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will face each other on Sunday.

Gambling

Baltimore Sues DraftKings And FanDuel For Exploiting Gamblers

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Novak Djokovic of Serbia waits for the trophy presentation after his defeat by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the final of the men's singles, during day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)

Tennis

Novak Djokovic’s Loose Players Union Files Huge Lawsuit Against Tennis Power Structure

Detail of the Bedazzled NWSL ball prior to the NWSL match between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave at BMO Stadium on March 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

NWSL Soccer Is Back, But The Scandals Haven’t Gone Away

The digital signage shows the NWSL logo on it before the National Women's Soccer League match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Houston Dash at Red Bull Arena on July 31, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey.

NWSL To Pay $5 Million To Abused Players As Part Of Settlement

Dave McKenna

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Skip Bayless is seen on October 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA.

Lawsuit Claims Skip Bayless Tried To Pay FS1 Hairstylist For Sex

San Diego Wave FC signage is displayed before the game between San Diego Wave FC and North Carolina Courage at Snapdragon Stadium on September 08, 2024 in San Diego, California.

Soccer

Sixth Ex-Wave Employee Joins Lawsuit, Alleges Supervisor Sent Her Dick Pics

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Detail view of a DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement

How Much Protection Do Online Sportsbooks Owe Their Patrons?

Justin Ellis

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

NFL Quietly Drops Latest Investigation Into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Deshaun Watson

San Diego Wave flags during the NWSL match between the San Diego Wave FC and the Portland Thorns on May 26, 2023, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA.

San Diego Wave, NWSL Sued For Team’s “Abusive And Hostile Work Environment”

A general view of the DraftKings logo in the outfield during the Major League baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on June 22, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphis, PA.

MLB Players Association Sues Sportsbooks For NIL Thievery

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 08: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns looks on after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Browns 33-17. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

New Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Deshaun Watson

DraftKings Sued By NFL Players Association Over Reignmakers Rug-Pull

DETROIT,MI - APRIL 25: Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. poses for portraits with his father, and former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison after being selected fourth overall in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals during the 2024 NFL draft on April 25, 2024 in Detroit Michigan. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Fanatics Refiles, Adds New Marvin Harrison To Marvin Harrison Lawsuit

A Disney World Pervert’s Take On: Wrongful Death At A Themed Irish Pub

Maitreyi Anantharaman

L.A. Sparks’ Dearica Hamby takes photos with her 8-week-old son Legend Scandrick during media day at El Camino College in Torrance on May 4, 2023.