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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.

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Defector

You DID Hear It From Us: There's Normal Gossip Merch

NEW NORMAL GOSSIP MERCH!

Merch v3

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Patrick Redford

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: Alyssa Naeher #1 of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup semifinals at Snapdragon Stadium on March 06, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ben Nichols/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Canada v United States: Semifinals – 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup

Soccer

The USWNT Survived Some All-Time CONCACAF Madness

COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 08: MLS Commissioner Don Garber speaks during his state of the league address ahead of the 2023 MLS Cup at Lower.com Field on December 08, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

2023 MLS Cup – Commissioner Don Garber Press Conference

MLS Tries, Fails To Chart Bold New Frontier In Anti-Competitivity

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Billy Haisley

Emma Hayes, Head Coach of Chelsea FC poses for a portrait during the UEFA Women's Champions League Official Portraits shoot on October 17, 2023 in Cobham, England.

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Emma Hayes Knows What American Soccer Needs

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Abigail Segel

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: USA players react as Sophia Smith of USA misses her team's fifth penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Sweden v USA: Round of 16 – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Sunrise Is Way Too Early To Be Crying For The USWNT

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Sofia Huerta #3 of the United States controls the ball during the second half of an international friendly against Wales at PayPal Park on July 09, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Wales v United States

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sofia Huerta

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Naomi Girma #27 of the United States warming up before a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images).

Ireland v USWNT

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Naomi Girma

AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 8: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States passes the ball during the first half against the Republic of Ireland in a 2023 International Friendly match at Q2 Stadium on April 8, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Ireland v United States

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Crystal Dunn

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Tom Ley

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 3: United States head coach Gregg Berhalter salutes the fans after a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Netherlands v USA: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Investigation Reveals Details Of Berhalter-Reyna Family Feud

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 18: Mallory Swanson of USA celebrates after scoring a goal during the International friendly fixture match between the New Zealand Football Ferns and the United States at Sky Stadium on January 18, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

New Zealand v USA

Mallory Swanson Nudges The USWNT Back On Track

NATAL, BRAZIL - JUNE 16: John Brooks of the United States celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and USA at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Ghana v USA: Group G – 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: John Brooks

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 27: Giovanni Reyna #11 of the United States moves towards the box during a FIFA World Cup qualifier game between Panama and USMNT at Exploria Stadium on March 27, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Panama v USMNT

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Gio Reyna

NORWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Josh Sargent of Norwich City celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship between Norwich City and Millwall at Carrow Road on August 19, 2022 in Norwich, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Norwich City v Millwall – Sky Bet Championship

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Josh Sargent II

ST PAUL, MN - AUGUST 09: Paul Arriola attends a mix zone during a training session ahead of the MLS All Stars and Liga MX All Stars game at National Sports Center on August 9, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

2022 MLS All-Star Game – Training

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Paul Arriola

ST. PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 02: Walker Zimmerman #3 of the United States dribbles the ball against Honduras in the first half of a World Cup Qualifying game at Allianz Field on February 2, 2022 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The United States defeated Honduras 3-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Honduras v United States: 2022 World Cup Qualifying

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Walker Zimmerman

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 09: Malik Tillman of Rangers celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round second leg match between Glasgow Rangers and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox Stadium on August 09, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Glasgow Rangers v Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round first Leg

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Malik Tillman

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic applauds the crowd after the UEFA Europa Conference League Knockout Round Play-Off Leg One match between Celtic FC and FK Bodoe/Glimt at Celtic Park on February 17, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Celtic FC v FK Bodoe/Glimt: Knockout Round Play-Off Leg One – UEFA Europa Conference League

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Cameron Carter-Vickers

USA's Alex Morgan (top) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Canada during their 2022 Concacaf women's championship final football match, at the BBVA Bancomer stadium in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico on July 18, 2022. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)

FBL-CONCACAF-WOMEN-USA-CAN

The USWNT Got Their Revenge

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR JUNE 14: Christian Pulisic of the United States reacts during the match between El Salvador and the United States as part of the CONCACAF Nations League at Cuscatlan Stadium on June 14, 2022 in San Salvador, El Salvador. (Photo by Alex Peña/Getty Images)

El Salvador vs United States

The USMNT Endured Baptism By Mud

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 01: Tim Weah #21of the United States celebrates with Antonee Robinson #5 after scoring a first half goal against Morocco at TQL Stadium on June 01, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Morocco v United States

I Can’t Wait To See The USMNT Get Meaningfully Tested


<p>Claire Watkins is a musician and writer living in Chicago, IL.</p>


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Claire Watkins

The United States celebrate a goal by Trinity Rodman #14 (C-R) during the second half against Uzbekistan at Subaru Park on April 12, 2022 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Uzbekistan v USWNT

Why Equal Pay For Equal Work Finally Became A Reality For The USWNT

The United States celebrate a goal by Trinity Rodman during the second half against Uzbekistan at Subaru Park on April 12, 2022 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Uzbekistan v United States

To Get True Equal Pay, The USWNT And USMNT Had To Break The Mold

BERN, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 20: Jordan Siebatcheu Pefok of BSC Young Boys reacts during the UEFA Champions League group F match between BSC Young Boys and Villarreal CF at Stadion Wankdorf on October 20, 2021 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

BSC Young Boys v Villarreal CF: Group F – UEFA Champions League

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Jordan Pefok

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 24: Gregg Berhalter, head coach of United States greets to the fans during the match between Mexico and The United States as part of the Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Azteca Stadium on March 24, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Mexico v United States – Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

What Is This USMNT Guy’s Deal: Gregg Berhalter

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 12: Weston McKennie #8 of the United States is congratulated by Christian Pulisic #10 and Tyler Adams #4 after scoring a goal during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier match against Mexico at TQL Stadium on November 12, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The United States defeated Mexico 2-0.(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Mexico v United States: 2022 World Cup Qualifying

The USMNT Is Injured As Hell And Has No Margin For Error

ST PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 26: Carli Lloyd #10 of United States warms up before the start of the game against Korea Republic at Allianz Field on October 26, 2021 in St Paul, Minnesota. United States defeated Korea Republic 6-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

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