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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

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Lauren Theisen

Naomi Girma #4 of Team United States celebrates victory in the Women's Gold Medal match

Brazil v United States: Gold Medal Match: Women’s Football – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 15

Olympics

The USWNT Is As Golden As Ever

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Kerolin #7 of Team Brazil celebrates scoring her team's fourth goal during the Women's semifinal match between Brazil and Spain during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Marseille on August 06, 2024 in Marseille, France.

Brazil v Spain: Women’s Football Semifinal – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 11

Soccer

Brazil Was Fearless

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Billy Haisley

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (3L) celebrates scoring the opening goal in the women's group A football match between the USA and Zambia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Nice Stadium in Nice, on July 25, 2024.

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The USWNT Still Has Questions To Answer

A specially trained police officer demonstrates a controlled landing of a drone using a drone jammer during the presentation of the Munich security concept for the 2024 European Football Championship at the Munich soccer stadium.

Presentation of the Munich security concept

Canada, Untrustworthy Nation To The North, Accused Of Massive Soccer Cheating Plot

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Tom Ley

Aitana Bonmati of Spain scores her team's first goal whilst under pressure from Sakina Karchaoui and Amandine Henry of France as Pauline Peyraud-Magnin looks on during the UEFA Women's Nations League 2024 Final match between Spain and France at Estadio La Cartuja on February 28, 2024 in Seville, Spain.

Spain v France – UEFA Women’s Nations League 2024 Final

Everything You Need To Know About The Women’s Olympic Soccer Tournament, While It’s Still Worth Knowing About

Jennifer Hermoso, Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes of Spain celebrate with the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy after the team's victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia.

Spain v England: Final – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

It’s The Light That Lasts

Abigail Segel is a writer based in Montreal.

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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

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

SOCCER: OCT 29 2022 NWSL Championship – Portland Thorns vs Kansas City Current

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

A map of Oceania, where Australia and New Zealand have World Cup ball patterns. Over it are three tickets to GO FUND ME AIRLINES, where Gal Pal Sports, Shea Butter FC and Diaspora United are all going to from USA to the World Cup

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How A Fan Community United To Send Indie Women’s Soccer Media To The World Cup

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Albert Burneko

The Italy women's national team poses for a team photograph at the Euro 2022 tournament.

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Italy’s Getting There, Slowly, Maybe

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Patrick Redford

LEIGH, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Stina Blackstenius of Sweden celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal which was later disallowed by VAR for an offside during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final match between Sweden and Belgium at Leigh Sports Village on July 22, 2022 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

Sweden v Belgium: Quarter Final – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

This Could Finally Be Sweden’s Year

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 23: Marta Cox and Wendy Natis of Panama celebrate with team member Raiza Gutierrez during the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Paraguay and Panama at Waikato Stadium on February 23, 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Paraguay v Panama – 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament

Panama Has Done Its Job Simply By Making The World Cup

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.

France v USA: Quarter Final  – 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France

Megan Rapinoe Couldn’t Have Done It Any Better

Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States warms up

USWNT Training

The USWNT Is Under Pressure, And That’s Bad News For The Rest Of The World

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Trinity Rodman #25 of the United States runs for the ball during an international friendly game between Ireland and the USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ireland v USWNT

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Trinity Rodman

Mapi Leon of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg match between FC Barcelona and AS Roma at Spotify Camp Nou on March 29, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v AS Roma: Quarter-Final 2nd Leg – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Barcelona Femeni Opened The Floodgates

Emile is a freelance writer, originally from the U.S., now living in Barcelona. He writes about Spanish soccer, namely FC Barcelona and Barça Femeni, on Substack, at <a href="https://barcafemeni.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://barcafemeni.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw14bYDiXeApFrdtb0hLPnFE">La Barça Soc Supporter</a> and appears regularly on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3pyv2PojdPBZ1Gkv3_aN-S">The Barcelona Podcast</a>. His work has previously featured at outlets including The Blizzard, <a href="https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0I4zygG7AmIDTzwXlPE2u_">Urban Pitch</a>, The Squall, Barça Blaugranes, and <a href="https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3g0kv0jxafpvL520xVCsVU">Sports Collectors Daily</a>.
Emile also writes about the NBA, at his new outpost League Pass in L’Eixample. His previous work can be found at Forum Blue and Gold and his own site, a living relic of the basketblog era, <a href="https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753085000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2U949Uf-KXcPwkDPCbW129">Hardwood Hype</a>.

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Emile Avanessian

STADIO OLIMPICO , ROME, ITALY - 2023/03/21: Salma Paralluelo of FCB Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the goal of 0-1 during the Women Uefa Champions League quarter finals football match between AS Roma and FCB Barcelona. Barcelona won 1-0 over AS Roma.

Salma Paralluelo of FCB Barcelona celebrates with teammates

Barcelona Femeni Is Ready To Make The Climb

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Laura Wagner

ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 23: Corinne Diacre Head coach of France reacts prior to kick off in the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 Quarter Final match between France and Netherlands at The New York Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Rotherham, England.

France v Netherlands: Quarter Final – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

French National Team Coach Fired Because Players Hated Her So Much They Quit The Team

Toronto FC v CF Montreal: 2021 Canadian Championship Final

Head Of Canada Soccer Forced Out Following Player Protests, No-Confidence Letter

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Justin Ellis

Wendie Renard of France during the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 Semi Final match between Germany and France at Stadium mk on July 27, 2022 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Germany v France: Semi Final – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

Three French Stars Step Away From Women’s National Team, Call For Changes

Canada team group as the players wear purple t shirts with enough is enough written on them during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup match between Canada and Brazil at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee

2023 SheBelieves Cup – Canada v Brazil

U.S. Soccer Has Nothing To Say About Canadian Women’s Protest

Team Canada stands at mid-field with their Olympic Gold Medals before the first of the Canadian Women's National Team Olympic Gold Medal Celebration Tour games against the New Zealand Womens Football Ferns national team.

Canada Women’s Soccer

Canadian Women’s National Team Forced To Play In Women’s Empowerment Soccer Tournament

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States scores a goal and celebrates during a game between Germany and USWNT at Red Bull Arena on November 13, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey.

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USWNT Beats Germany For Much-Needed Win

PAMPLONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 11: Megan Rapinoe of USA reacts during the Women's International Friendly match between Spain and USA at El Sadar Stadium on October 11, 2022 in Pamplona, Spain

women's soccer