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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

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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Billy Haisley

Portugal's players celebrate scoring during a group A play-off tournament match between Portugal and Cameroon for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, Feb. 22, 2023.

NEW ZEALAND-HAMILTON-FOOTBALL-WOMEN-PLAYOFF-POR VS CMR

Soccer

Portugal Is Finally Where It Ought To Be

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Abigail Segel

A statue of Alex Morgan of the United States dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

USWNT Press Conference

What is this USWNT Player’s Deal: Alex Morgan

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Lieke Martens of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring her teams first goal, Danielle van de Donk of the Netherlands during the International Women's Friendly match between Netherlands and Belgium at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion on July 2, 2023 in Kerkrade, Netherlands

Netherlands v Belgium – International Women’s Friendly

The Netherlands Will Find Life At The World Cup Much Harder This Time Around

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Patrick Redford

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (L) celebrates with Vietnam's captain Huynh Nhu (R) after a goal during the women's football match between Vietnam and Philippines at RSN Stadium during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Phnom Penh on May 9, 2023. (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN / AFP) (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)

FBL-SEAGAMES-2023-CAM

Vietnam’s World Cup Debut Could Be Short And Sweet

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

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Switzerland v China PR – International Womens Friendly

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

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Ray Ratto

SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Signe Bruun of Denmark (C) celebrating her goal with her teammates during the international Women's friendly match between Switzerland and Denmark at Wefox Arena on November 11, 2022 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Switzerland v Denmark – Women’s International Friendly

Denmark’s Ready To Make Their Return To The World Cup Count

Haiti celebrate qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after their victory in the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Chile and Haiti at North Harbour Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Chile v Haiti – 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Play Off Tournament

Haiti’s The Underdog With The Biggest Dog

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Lucy Bronze of England pointing during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium MK on July 01, 2023 in Milton Keynes, England.

England v Portugal – Women’s International Friendly

England’s Last Step Will Be The Hardest

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Tom Ley

GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL - APRIL 7: Yui Hasegawa of Japan Women, Fatima Pinto of Portugal Women during the International Friendly Women match between Portugal Women v Japan Women at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques on April 7, 2023 in Guimaraes Portugal

Portugal Women v Japan Women -International Friendly Women

Japan Climbed The Mountain Once, And Now They Need To Do It Again

RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia leads their side out prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Zambia Is Here For A Good Time, And Maybe Even A Long Time

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Albert Burneko

The Spain women's national team huddles on the field after losing to Italy in the UEFA Euros

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Spain Is A Big Ugly Mess With Some Extremely Cool Players

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 31: Raquel Rodríguez #11 of Costa Rica celebrates her goal against Haiti during the second half during a Group A - 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying at BBVA Stadium on January 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Haiti v Costa Rica: Group A – 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying

Can Costa Rica Sneak Up On The World Again?

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States with the ball during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images).

Ireland v USWNT

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Kristie Mewis

Nigeria's female national football team Super Falcons pose for a group photo before the final of Aisha Buhari Invitational tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos state, Nigeria Sept. 21, 2021. South Africa's female national football team Banyana Banyana on Tuesday night emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women's Tournament after defeating the Super Falcons of Nigeria 4-2 in the last game.

NIGERIA-LAGOS-FOOTBALL-AISHA BUHARI INVITATIONAL WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT-FINAL

Nigeria Could Be Headed For World Cup Disaster

Members of the Canadian womens national soccer team wear "Enough Is Enough" shirts in protest for equal pay ahead of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup soccer match between Canada and Japan at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on February 22, 2023.

FBL-CAN-JPN-SHEBELIEVES-CUP

Canada Needs A Win, And They Might Just Get One

Irish players pictured at the warm up on the field ahead of a friendly women's soccer game between Belgium's national team the Red Flames and the Republic of Ireland, Sunday 11 April 2021 in Brussels. BELGA PHOTO DAVID CATRY (

SOCCER FRIENDLY BELGIUM VS IRELAND

Ireland Is Ready To Keep Singing At Their First World Cup

Mary Fowler of the Matildas celebrates scoring a goal with Sam Kerr of the Matildas during the Women's International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and Brazil at CommBank Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Sydney, Australia

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The Matildas Have Australia’s Hopes On Their Shoulders

The Philippine National Women’s Football Team celebrates after winning the championship match against Thailand for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines on 17 July 2022.

Philippines v Thailand – AFF Women’s Championship Final

The Philippines Have A Little Something Going On Here

Ramona Bachmann of Switzerland celebrates scoring their side's first goal with teammates Noelle Maritz and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup play-off round 2 match between Switzerland and Wales at Stadion Letzigrund on October 11, 2022 in Zurich, Zurich

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Switzerland Is Back At The World Cup, But For How Long?

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The NWSL Is Terrorizing Rookies With This Dubious Treatment For Cramps

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Ada Hegerberg celebrates after their sides victory with Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 group A match between Norway and Northern Ireland at St Mary's Stadium on July 07, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Maddie Meyer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Norway v Northern Ireland: Group A – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

Norway’s Quest For Redemption Starts Now

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 21: Football Ferns player Grace Jale during a New Zealand Football Ferns training session at North Harbour Stadium on June 21, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand Football Ferns Training Session

New Zealand Can’t Blow This Chance To Break Its World Cup Losing Streak

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Samer Kalaf

A closeup of the Qatar World Cup gold medal

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Capital

Qatar’s Interest In The Washington Wizards Is The Next Step

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States runs on the field during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sophia Smith