| JKIDD | Nickname of the player who is second all-time in career NBA assists |
| JASON | Kidd who's second all-time in assists and steals in the NBA |
| RAIDER | In kabaddi, the player who is in the rival team's side of the court. (6) |
| EALES | Surname of the player who captained Australia to victory in the 1999 Rugby World Cup (5) |
| MARADONA | Surname of the player who famously scored Argentina's 'Hand of God' goal! (8) |
| RESERVE | The limitation of the player who may substitute? (7) |
| MARKMESSIER | Hockey player nicknamed The Messiah who is second to Wayne Gretzky in all-time playoff points: 2 wds. |
| COPILOT | Person who is second in charge in operating the controls of an aircraft (7) |
| CONWAY | Winner of the 'Player of the Match' award in the IPL 2023 finals. (6) |
| GARETH | Welsh rugby union player declared the greatest player of all time in a poll by Rugby World magazine in 2003 (6,7) |
| EDWARDS | Welsh rugby union player declared the greatest player of all time in a poll by Rugby World magazine in 2003 (6,7) |
| ROOT | Joe _, Englishman who is the fifth highest run-scorer of all time in Test cricket (4) |
| MARIOLEMIEUX | Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Famer who is second to Wayne Gretzky in all-time points per game: 2 wds. |
| PHILMICKELSON | Three-time Masters champion who is second on the PGA Tour career money list: 2 wds. |
| JAROMIRJAGR | Czech hockey great who is second to Wayne Gretzky in all-time total points: 2 wds. |
| KOWALSKI | Fictional penguin who is second-in-command to Skipper in the animated Madagascar film series (8) |
| NIM | Ancient game of obscure origin in which two players alternate in removing objects from different piles. The player who removes the last object wins. (3) |
| MICHAELJORDAN | Former player who is described on the NBA's website as 'the greatest basketball player of all time' (7,6) |
| PITCHER | In baseball, the player who throws the baseball towards the catcher to begin each play |
| CALIFORNIA | Home of the player at the ends of the answers to starred clues |
