defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

10-minute-quarters-3-2-fix (1)

Live Event

Dave McKenna

ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 6: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Wayne Gretzky and Gary Bettman after scoring his 895th career goal, passing Gretzky for the all-time scoring record, during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/NHLI via Getty Images)

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

I’m The Idiot Who Bet Against Ovechkin

Lindsey Adler is a writer based in Brooklyn. She exclusively covered sports for a decade but has other interests, too.

Lindsey Adler

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 28: Jesse Lacey of Brand New performs during the 2017 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience at City Park on October 28, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2017 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience – Day 2

Arts And Culture

Brand New Tour, Same Old Question

headshot

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks v New York Yankees

If You’re Going To Get Food Poisoning, At Least Visit Flavortown First

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

Luka crying

You Would Cry Too If It Happened To You

headshot1

Patrick Redford

Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves leaves the court after a game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on February 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Minnesota Timberwolves v Houston Rockets

The Timberwolves Collapsed In The Worst Way At The Worst Time

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Typing

Sabrina Imbler

A photo of Jules Reynolds, a fired USDA program coordinator, sitting near a valley of farmland

Jules 1

Interviews

An Interview With A Fired USDA Program Coordinator

image

Kathryn Xu

Side-by-side photos of Luis M. Castillo and Luis F. Castillo, both Mariners pitchers.

luis-castillos-mariners

The Definitive Guide To Mariners Pitchers Named Luis Castillo

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira headshot

Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

Normal_Gossip_16-9_V2

Podcasts

Season 8 Kicks Off With A Couch And A Fuckboy

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

DFmBbTQF_400x400

Dan McQuade

Topps baseball cards featuring the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, are seen during the Washington Nationals media preview day at Nationals Park on Friday, March 21, 2025.

Nationals Media Day 2025

That’s Too Many Baseball Cards!

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

drewkid-1-e1599592436888

Drew Magary

U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as “Liberation Day”, Trump is expected to announce additional tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S.

President Trump Holds “Make America Wealthy Again Event” In White House Rose Garden

Politics

Oh, Shut The Fuck Up

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 08: Victor Mancini #90 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by his bench after scoring a goal during the third period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on April 08, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Vancouver Canucks v Dallas Stars

Canucks Forget They’re The Canucks For One Historic Minute

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Arsenal Stadium on April 8, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Real Madrid C.F. – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg

Soccer

Arsenal Stepped On Real Madrid’s Neck

IMG_3819

Tom Ley

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth speak during the teams training camp at the UCSD campus in La Jolla, California on Thursday, September 28, 2022.

DENVER NUGGETS TRAINING CAMP

Michael Malone And Calvin Booth Lose Their War Over The Soul Of The Nuggets

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

James Harden shoots against Kai Jones of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of a game in April 5, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Clippers

The Western Conference Is Heading Into A Week Of Glorious Chaos

Lyons staff store, Cadby Hall, West Kensington, London. The self service grocery department. Women peruse the neatly stacked shelves of tinned food and bottled drinks.

Lyons staff store, Cadby Hall, West Kensington, London.

Funbag

Grocery Shopping Is Meditation

Rocco Baldelli, Nic Lentz

Stumbling Minnesota Twins Struggle With Clocks, Gizmos, Rules, And Authority

Dan Brooks writes essays and fiction from Missoula, Montana.

Dan Brooks

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (L) shoots with U.S. Marines at a gun range during a visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico

Vice President Vance Visits Marine Corps Base Quantico

American Freedom

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

The front of a U.S. Department of Education building.

US Dept of ED

Title IX Is Now A Weapon In The Trump Administration’s Culture War

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

Still image of MC Ktrine and DJ Saze from the music video for "Bonde da Ó."

mc ktrine logo mania

Music

MC Ktrine’s Rapping Is A Gift To Brazilian Funk

Will Richard of the Florida Gators celebrates after second half in the National Championship of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Houston Cougars at the Alamodome on April 7, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

Florida v Houston

College Basketball

Florida Didn’t Lose The National Championship

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Screen Shot 2025-04-07 at 3.28.46 PM

It Is Time To Close Down The White Lotus

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 06: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on February 06, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 127-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Minnesota Timberwolves

Amen Thompson Breaks The Game

Swerve Strickland delivers a stomp off a ladder to Jon Moxley at AEW Dynasty.

aew_dynasty

Pro Wrestling

Wrestling Shows Don’t All Have To Aim For “Epic”

Screenshot 2025-04-04 at 11.53.47 AM

My Friend Has Been Naming Shitty TV Characters After Me For 20 Years

Victor Robles hurt

Victor Robles Demonstrates What Trying Can Get You

Posts