| 100% | EDITHWHARTON | 12 | 13-Across and 25-Across writer who was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in Literature, for her 1920 novel "The Age of Innocence" (2 wds.) |
| 48% | ROBERTFROST | 11 | 17-Across and 26-Across writer who is the only person to win four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (2 wds.) |
| 47% | EDITH | 5 | ___ Wharton, "The Age of Innocence" novelist and the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature |
| 47% | SELMALAGERLOF | 13 | Swedish novelist and short story writer who was the first woman honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 47% | EDITH | 5 | Wharton who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature |
| 47% | EDITH | 5 | Wharton who was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction |
| 44% | CAROLEKING | 10 | "You've Got a Friend" singer/pianist who was the first woman to win a Grammy for Song of the Year (2 wds.) |
| 43% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" author who died August 5, and who was the first African-American woman to win a Nobel Prize: 2 wds. |
| 42% | SINCLAIRLEWIS | 13 | Minnesota novelist and short story writer who was the first American honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 42% | GWENJORGENSEN | 13 | American distance runner and two-time ITU World Champion who was the first to win a triathlon gold for USA in the Olympics: 2 wds. |
| 42% | HARLANCOBEN | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across novelist who is the first writer to win an Anthony Award, a Shamus Award, and an Edgar Award (2 wds.) |
| 41% | ANNE | 4 | Sci-fi writer McCaffrey, who was the first woman to win a Hugo for fiction |
| 40% | MARGARETCOURT | 13 | Australian tennis player who was the first woman to win the Grand Slam in the Open Era: 2 wds. |
| 40% | TINAFEY | 7 | Actress/writer who was the first woman to be head writer of "Saturday Night Live," and the third woman to host five times (2 wds.) |
| 39% | SAMSHEPARD | 10 | Writer, actor, and director who won a Pulitzer Prize for the play "Buried Child" (2 wds.) |
| 39% | HILARYMANTEL | 12 | English writer who has won two Man Booker Prizes for her novels "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up The Bodies": 2 wds. |
| 39% | STEFFIGRAF | 10 | Tennis player who is the only player (man or woman) to win a Grand Slam and Olympic gold medal in one year: 2 wds. |
| 38% | MUHAMMADYUNUS | 13 | Social entrepreneur and economist who was the first Bangladeshi to win the Nobel Peace Prize: 2 wds. |
| 38% | JACKIESTILES | 12 | 2016 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who was the first Division I player to score over 1,000 points in a season: 2 wds. |
| 38% | CHITARIVERA | 11 | She won two Tonys for Best Actress in a Musical, for "The Rink" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman": 2 wds. |
| 38% | AMYPOEHLER | 10 | Actress who played the role of Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation", a role she is best-known for: 2 wds. |
| 38% | ANNPRESTON | 10 | American physician and activist who was the first female dean of a medical school in the world: 2 wds. |
| 38% | CURIE | 5 | Last name of the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and who is credited with the theory of radioactivity |
| 38% | NICOLEKIDMAN | 12 | "Moulin Rouge!" and "The Hours" star who was the first Australian to win an Oscar for Best Actress and the first to be nominated in consecutive years (2 wds.) |
| 38% | EDITHWHARTON | 12 | American writer whose novel "The Age of Innocence" was published in 1920 (2 wds.) |
| 38% | MOTHERTERESA | 12 | Albanian-Indian nun who was the first Asian woman (She adopted Indian citizenship) to win the Nobel Peace Prize: 2 wds. |
| 38% | SOLANGEKNOWLES | 14 | 12-Across and 28-Across singer who was the first recipient of the "Billboard" Women in Music Impact Award (2 wds.) |
| 37% | SIDNEYPOITIER | 13 | 15-Across, 30-Across, and "Lilies of the Field" star who was the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor (2 wds.) |
| 37% | WOLESOYINKA | 11 | Nigerian playwright and novelist who was the first African honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 37% | LISALESLIE | 10 | Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game: 2 wds. |