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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

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

The Dallas Wings bench reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 3, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Dallas Wings v Seattle Storm

WNBA

All The Dallas Wings Have Left Is A Prayer

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Lauren Theisen

Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty mascot, performs before the game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun

Connecticut Sun v New York Liberty

The Liberty Are Godzilla And The WNBA Is A Bunch Of Tall Buildings

Kathryn Westbeld #24 (L) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with Alyssa Thomas #25 after defeating the Chicago Sky 94-89 in the WNBA game at PHX Arena on May 27, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Chicago Sky v Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury Are Getting Plenty Of Help From Their Intriguing Randos

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Samer Kalaf

Caitlin Clark reacts after a turnover in a game against the Liberty.

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Media Meltdowns

Christine Brennan Won’t Rest Until Caitlin Clark’s Muscle Strain Is Treated As A National Crisis

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) drives past Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25) and goes in for two during a WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on May 24, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.

WNBA: MAY 24 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever

Natasha Cloud Is A Kid In New York’s Candy Store

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and Napheesa Collier #24 talk with referee Tim Greene after a foul call in the fourth quarter against the New York Liberty during Game Five of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 20, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime to win the championship.

2024 WNBA Finals – Game Five

An Old Grudge, A New Team, A Swole Caitlin: The 2025 WNBA Season Preview

<p>Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.</p>


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Maya Goldberg-Safir

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History

How The Japanese-American Basketball Leagues Built Natalie Nakase

French player Dominique Malonga speaks to the press during the 2025 WNBA Draft at the Shed in New York City on April 14, 2025.

BASKET-US-DRAFT

Dominique Malonga Is Ready To Light Up The WNBA

Azzi Fudd #35 of the UConn Huskies celebrates during the trophy ceremony after beating the South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 to win the National Championship of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Uconn v South Carolina

College Basketball

Azzi Fudd And The Huskies Finally Got Their Crowning Moment

Sarah Strong #21 and Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies react on the bench against the UCLA Bruins during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – Final Four

Sarah Strong Doesn’t Act Her Age

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


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Diana Moskovitz

TCU Horned Frogs forward Sedona Prince (#13) dribbles up court during the Big 12 college basketball game between the TCU Horned Frogs and Baylor Bears on January 26, 2025 at Ed &amp; Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sedona Prince

The Silence Surrounding Sedona Prince Is A Look Into Sports’ Future

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda #32 of the Texas Longhorns reacts in front of Hailey Van Lith #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 31, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.

TCU v Texas

Texas Cut TCU To Pieces

Bree Hall #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 30, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Duke v South Carolina

Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks Are Escape Artists

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Ray Ratto

UCLA Bruins gathers against the LSU Lady Tigers during the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Arena on March 30, 2025 in Spokane, Washington.

UCLA Bruins Final Four

UCLA Finally Finds Its Place

JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans is attended to by team staff after being injured against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Galen Center on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – Second Round – Los Angeles USC

JuJu Watkins’s Season Ends With A Torn ACL

JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans is defended by Paige Bueckers #5 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second half of an NCAA women's basketball game at the XL Center on December 21, 2024 in Hartford, Connecticut.

USC v Connecticut

The Case For And Against Every Contender In The Women’s Tournament

Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts during the first quarter against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 04, 2024 in Seattle, Washington

Phoenix Mercury v Seattle Storm

Who Had Diana?

Head coach Kara Lawson of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates with her team following their victory against the NC State Wolfpack in the championship game of the ACC women's basketball tournament at First Horizon Coliseum on March 9, 2025 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Duke v NC State

Kara Lawson And Duke Get Revenge With A Conference Title

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Giri Nathan

Diana Taurasi bites her sixth Olympic gold.

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Diana Taurasi Retires After Winning Everything There Is To Win

Marina Mabrey #4 of the Connecticut Sun reacts against the Minnesota Lynx in the third quarter of Game One of the Semi-Finals during the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 29, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Sun defeated the Lynx 73-70

Connecticut Sun v Minnesota Lynx – Game One

Marina Mabrey Does Not See Her Future In Connecticut

JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans celebrates a 71-60 win against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at Galen Center on February 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

UCLA v USC

JuJu Watkins Is The Whole Story

Napheesa Collier competes against Katie Lou Samuelson in the first round of the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament

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