| CAITLIN | With 1-Down, Iowa Hawkeyes player who recently became the NCAA's all-time scoring leader |
| CLARK | NCAA basketball star Caitlin, whose No. 22 will be retired by the Iowa Hawkeyes |
| ASHWIN | Indian Premier League player who recently became the third-highest wicket-taker with 185 wickets, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar.(Last Name) (6) |
| LANDONOVAN | All-time scoring leader for the U.S. men's soccer team |
| JENWELTER | Veteran women's football player who recently became the NFL's first female coach: 2 wds. |
| KOBE | First name of the Lakers' all-time scoring leader |
| ALDA | Hawkeye's player on "M*A*S*H" |
| RACHELREEVES | Who recently became the first woman to hold the position of UK chancellor of the exchequer? (6,6) |
| ZHAO | Who recently became the first Chinese player to win the world snooker championship? (4) |
| NITISH | Who recently became the first Indian player to score 70+ runs and take two wickets in the same T20 international match? (6) |
| VINCECARTER | Atlanta Hawks forward who recently became the first to play in the NBA in four different decades: 2 wds. |
| CASEY | South Korea's ... Phair, who recently became the youngest ever World Cup football player. (5) |
| KARL | ... Malone, "the Mailman" who is between Abdul-jabbar and James in the all-time scoring list. (4) |
| MARIAHCAREY | Fantasy singer who recently became the first person to top the Billboard Hot 100 in four different decades: 2 wds. |
| MANNYPACQUIAO | Filipino boxer who recently became the first person to hold a world title in four different decades: 2 wds. |
| EMMA | Raducanu who recently became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles final |
| YASHASVIJAISVAL | Indian cricketer who recently became the third youngest man to make double hundreds in successive Tests (8,7) |
| XINTONG | Who recently became the first Asian to become World Snooker Champion? (4,7) |
| CAITLINCLARK | Basketball player who became the all-time NCAA scoring leader in 2024 |
| TEN | Rank that Kevin Durant recently reached on the N.B.A.'s all-time scoring list |
