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Defector

Ray Ratto

Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on April 6, 2026.

College Basketball

Michigan Met Connecticut In The Muck And Won

David Roth

Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of a NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game on April 3, 2026.

South Carolina Upset Connecticut, But Not As Much As Dawn Staley Upset Geno Auriemma

Lauren Theisen

Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after shooting the game-winning three point basket

The UConn Buzzer-Beater Was A Flawless Short Film

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Braylon Mullins of the UConn Huskies celebrates after hitting the game-winner against Duke.

Two Dazed Freshmen Authored The Tournament’s Immortal Moment

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman women's basketball team in the gymnasium of Ladies Hall (now Chadbourne Hall), Madison, Wisconsin, 1900.

Podcasts

Please, Mr. Pibb Is My Father, With Emma Baccellieri

Syracuse Coach After 53-Point Loss: Please Don’t Make Us Play UConn Again

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Mikayla Blakes #1 and head coach Shea Ralph of the Vanderbilt Commodores react on the sideline against the Furman Paladins in the first half at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium on November 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Tournament’s Best Subplot Is Shea Ralph Vs. Her Old Coach

Head coach Rick Pitino of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the first half at Fiserv Forum on February 18, 2026.

St. John’s Delivered A Truly Unholy Second Half Of Basketball

Azzi Fudd #35 of the UConn Huskies celebrates during the trophy ceremony after beating the South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 to win the National Championship of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Azzi Fudd And The Huskies Finally Got Their Crowning Moment

Sarah Strong #21 and Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies react on the bench against the UCLA Bruins during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Sarah Strong Doesn’t Act Her Age

Dan Hurley making a skeptical face with his glasses pushed up onto his forehead during UConn's loss to Florida in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Dan Hurley Is The Last Angry Man

JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans is defended by Paige Bueckers #5 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second half of an NCAA women's basketball game at the XL Center on December 21, 2024 in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Case For And Against Every Contender In The Women’s Tournament

Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts during the first quarter against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 04, 2024 in Seattle, Washington

WNBA

Who Had Diana?

Tennessee Lady Vols forward Zee Spearman (11) celebrates during the women's college basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the UConn Huskies on February 6, 2025, at Food City Center in Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee Tried Something New And Beat An Old Rival

Hannah Hidalgo Plays Like A Woman Possessed


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

College Football

UConn And UMass Created And Abandoned College Football’s Goofiest Rivalry Trophy

Jaloni Cambridge #22 of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the court during the game against the Cleveland State Vikings at Value City Arena on November 5, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

Get Ahead Of The Curve And Watch These Exciting New Freshmen

Tom Ley

The Connecticut Huskies celebrate with the trophy after beating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60 to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.

Nobody’s In UConn’s League

Paige Bueckers #5 of the Connecticut Huskies and JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans looks on during the second half in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on April 01, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

See The Subject Beyond The Frame

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

UConn center Donovan Clingan celebrates during the team's Elite Eight win in Boston during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

UConn Is Exhaustingly, Relentlessly Great

Cam Spencer #12, Alex Karaban #11, Donovan Clingan #32 and Hassan Diarra #10 of the Connecticut Huskies

Invincibility Only Lasts Until It All Goes Wrong

UConn’s Donovan Clingan high-fives a teammate after scoring as the UConn crowd behind him goes wild

UConn Might Be Unbeatable When Locked In On Defense

AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 03: Texas Longhorns guard Shaylee Gonzalez (2) drives past UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) during game featuring the Connecticut Huskies and Texas Longhorns on December 3, 2023, at the Moody Center in Austin, TX.

UConn’s Curse Is Never-Ending

Dave McKenna

High School Sports

In Praise Of Andre Jackson, A Dunker From The Gods

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts as he cuts down the net after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas.