| 100% | REFORM | 6 | — Club, association founded in Pall Mall in 1836 that in 1981 became the first of the old London clubs to admit ladies as members |
| 27% | OURGANG | 7 | Old group of movie kids that, in a way, the answers to starred clues could be a member of |
| 27% | ALABAMA | 7 | Montgomery's state that was the first US state to recognize Christmas as a holiday in 1836 |
| 25% | OBERLIN | 7 | Ohio college that was the first in the U.S. to admit women |
| 25% | MWA | 3 | Fraternal org. founded in 1883, now with over 740,000 members, that was to protect families after the death of a breadwinner. (abbr.) |
| 25% | ATHENAEUM | 9 | The —, London private members' club founded in 1824 |
| 25% | BRECKS | 6 | One of the oldest gardening companies that was founded in 1818 |
| 24% | LEASALONGA | 10 | As Kim in “Miss Saigon,” she became the first Asian woman to win a Tony |
| 24% | INC | 3 | Business magazine that, in 1981, was the first to feature Steve Jobs on its cover |
| 24% | SARAHPALIN | 10 | In 2006, she became the first woman to be elected governor of Alaska: 2 wds. |
| 24% | ARMENIAN | 8 | Member of the first state to adopt Christianity as its religion |
| 24% | ALTHEAGIBSON | 12 | In 1957, she became the first person of color to win a Wimbledon championship (2 wds.) |
| 24% | SHERYL | 6 | I wrote "Lean In" and became the first woman to join Facebook's board of directors |
| 24% | SUSANAMARTINEZ | 14 | In 2010, she became the first woman to be elected governor of New Mexico: 2 wds. |
| 24% | NIKKIHALEY | 10 | In 2010, she became the first woman to be elected governor of South Carolina: 2 wds. |
| 24% | PALLMALL | 8 | Street in the City of Westminster, London, known for its many clubs |
| 24% | KING | 4 | The ___ Arthur Baking Company, one of the oldest flour and baking companies that was founded in 1790 |
| 24% | GIRL | 4 | ___ Named Tom, musical group that became the first trio to win "The Voice" in 2021 |
| 24% | WHICH | 5 | Publication of the Consumers' Association that first appeared in October 1957 |
| 24% | CUB | 3 | Member of the ball club that plays home games in Chicago's Wrigley Field |
| 24% | PALMSPRINGS | 11 | California city that, in 2018, became the first U.S. city to have an all-L.G.B.T. city council |
| 24% | DIANASPENCER | 12 | Former kindergarten assistant who married Prince Charles to become the Princess of Wales in 1981: 2 wds. |
| 23% | MICHELLEOBAMA | 13 | First African-American woman to serve as First Lady of the United States (2 wds.) |
| 23% | MODUSOPERANDI | 13 | Plan of action, as "initially" found in the answers to the starred clues? |
| 23% | ASTOR | 5 | Nancy —, first woman to sit as an MP in the House of Commons |
| 23% | ROALDAMUNDSEN | 13 | Norwegian explorer who in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole, one month ahead of 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 23% | ITO | 3 | In 1981, she became the first woman to land a triple-triple jump combination in competition |
| 23% | ONTHELINE | 9 | In jeopardy ... and where the first words of the answers to starred clues can be found |
| 23% | LINACRE | 7 | Thomas —, chief founder and first president of the Royal College of Physicians in London |