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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

Leicy Santos's teammates dowse her in water while celebrating

Soccer

Leicy Santos Is In The Right Spot

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

Laura Harvey looks perplexed while receiving a yellow card

The Cascadia Rivalry Was Totally Bonkers

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Rose Lavelle #16 of NY/NJ Gotham FC celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammates during the 2025 NWSL championship game between Washington Spirit and NJ|NY Gotham City FC at PayPal Park on November 22, 2025, in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Elysia Su/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Gotham Grabs The Crown Of An NWSL At A Tipping Point

<p>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.</p>


Lesley Ryder


<p>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</p>


Diana Moskovitz

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

Chicago Stars FC fans chant Trans Rights are Human Rights while holding up a Transgender flag behind Alyssa Naeher #1 of Chicago Stars FC during the first half during a game between San Diego Wave FC and Chicago Stars FC at Seatgeek Stadium on April 26, 2025, in Bridgeview, Illinois.

The Anti-Trans Grifters Are Coming For The NWSL

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

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.

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

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”

Luis Paez-Pumar

Presentation by two secretaries of the typing robot at the exhibition 'Happiness in the office', in Paris, France, on October 13, 1960.

The Machines

ESPN Masks Cynical AI Pivot As Benevolent Coverage Of “Underserved” Sports

Mallory Swanson poses with her arms in the air during a USWNT portrait studio session on February 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Mal Swanson Is Back! And So Are The Red Stars

Lo'eau LaBonta and Sam Coffey face off in the 2022 NWSL Championship match.

Even During A World Cup Summer, There’s A Lot Of Fun To Be Found In The NWSL

Tom Ley

Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States celebrates her goal in the first half against France during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France.

Megan Rapinoe Couldn’t Have Done It Any Better

Kelsey McKinney

Crystal Dunn #19 of the Washington Spirit celebrates with her teammates after her goal against the Western New York Flash during the first half of the 2016 NWSL Championship at BBVA Compass Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas.