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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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

Soccer

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

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USWNT Loses Two In A Row

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Tom Ley

SOCCER: NOV 21 MLS Cup Playoffs – Minnesota United at Portland Timbers

NWSL

NWSL Report Reveals Systemic Abuse, Institutional Failures

Head coach Jorge Vilda of Spain looks on during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Qualifier group B match between Spain and Ukraine at Ciudad del Futbol de Las Rozas on September 06, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Spain v Ukraine: Group B – FIFA Women’s WorldCup 2023 Qualifier

The Spanish Soccer Federation Is Once Again Going To War Against Its Own Players

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Billy Haisley

England players celebrate with fans during the England women's team celebration at Trafalgar Square on August 01, 2022 in London, England. The England Women's football team beat Germany 2-1 in the final of the UEFA European Women's Championship last night at Wembley Stadium.

The Lionesses Lift The UEFA Women’s Euro Trophy In Victory Celebration For Fans

Is Women’s Soccer Leaving Home?

Alessia Russo of England scores her teams third goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Semi Final match between England and Sweden at Bramall Lane on July 26, 2022 in Sheffield, England.

England v Sweden: Semi Final – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

This Is England?

Spain's defender Maria Leon clears the ball during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B football match between Spain and Finland at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, north of London on July 8, 2022.

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Mapi León Is One Of A Kind

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

Goalkeepers DiDi Haracic #13 and Brittany Isenhour #1 of Angel City FC wave to fans after defeating North Carolina Courage at Banc of California Stadium on April 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Angel City FC first win

The Most Revolutionary Thing About Angel City FC Is It’s Fun

Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona (obscured) celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on March 30, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: Quarter Final Second Leg – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Barcelona Showed Off For The Biggest Crowd In Women’s Soccer History

FRISCO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 23: Mallory Pugh #9 of the USA celebrates with Ashley Sanchez #13 and Catarina Macario #20 after scoring against Iceland in the second half during the 2022 SheBelieves Cup at Toyota Stadium on February 23, 2022 in Frisco, Texas.

2022 SheBelieves Cup – Iceland v United States

It’s Time To Get Excited About The USWNT Youngsters

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Ray Ratto

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Mallory Pugh #9 of the United States celebrates her goal against New Zealand with teammates during the SheBelieves Cup 2022 at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 20, 2022 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2022 SheBelieves Cup – New Zealand v United States

U.S. Soccer Got Dragged Kicking And Screaming Into One Good Decision

Meikayla Moore of New Zealand hunches over after scoring her third own goal of the game against the USWNT.

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Poor New Zealand Defender Scores A Devil’s Hat-Trick For The USWNT

Mariona Caldentey of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal WFC at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 05, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Arsenal WFC: Group C – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Barcelona Picked Up Where It Left Off, As The Best Team In The World

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Lauren Theisen

USA v Canada: Women’s Football Semifinal – Olympics: Day 10

Olympics

Canada Finally Got One Over On The USWNT

Olympics Day 10 – Women’s Football S/F – Match 24 – Canada v USA

The Ghosts Of 2012 Haunt This Year’s U.S.-Canada Semifinal

Crystal Dunn #2, Rose Lavelle #16, Christen Press #11, Megan Rapinoe #15 and Alex Morgan #13 of Team United States celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the Women's Quarter Final match between Netherlands and United States on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 30, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Netherlands v United States: Women’s Football Quarterfinal – Olympics: Day 7

The USWNT Struggled, Scrapped, And Survived

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It’s Time For The USWNT To Hit Reset

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Patrick Redford

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Carli Lloyd #10 of the United States celebrates a goal during a match against Argentina in the SheBelieves Cup at Exploria Stadium on February 24, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

2021 SheBelieves Cup – United States v Argentina

The USWNT Is Crushing Everyone

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