| 100% | DIV | 3 | Subsidiary grp. in many sports leagues |
| 66% | MVPS | 4 | Postseason awards in many sports leagues: Abbr. |
| 52% | STEROIDS | 8 | Substances banned by most sports leagues |
| 49% | ING | 3 | Suffix in many sports names |
| 49% | MESH | 4 | Material in many sports jerseys |
| 49% | HALFTIME | 8 | Midway break in many sports |
| 49% | MOSTVALUABLEPLAYER | 18 | Postseason award in many sports |
| 49% | ACL | 3 | Trouble spot in many sports |
| 49% | REF | 3 | Figure in many sports arguments |
| 49% | BALL | 4 | Round item in many sports |
| 49% | MONTAGES | 8 | Training sequences in many sports movies |
| 48% | HDTV | 4 | Screen found in many sports bars: Abbr. |
| 47% | EAST | 4 | Division in many leagues |
| 46% | NFL | 3 | Sports league that Tom Brady plays in |
| 45% | NHL | 3 | Sports league founded in Montreal in 1917 (Abbr.) |
| 45% | LOG | 3 | Wood piece in many lumberjack sports |
| 45% | NBA | 3 | Sports league featured in the movie "Space Jam": Abbr. |
| 44% | SLOMO | 5 | What many sports replays are seen in |
| 43% | RUGBY | 5 | Most popular sport in New Zealand |
| 43% | OUTCOACH | 8 | Win more, in sports |
| 43% | NBA | 3 | Sports league for the players in 17a, 29a and 39a: Abbr. |
| 43% | TRADEBAIT | 9 | Player offered in many potential deals, in sports lingo |
| 43% | OPEC | 4 | Grp. in which many of the leaders wear robes |
| 42% | CRICKET | 7 | Sport played in the Indian Premier League |
| 42% | NBA | 3 | Sports league with athletes featured in "Space Jam: A New Legacy": Abbr. |
| 41% | VALUABLE | 8 | MVP in sports stands for Most __ Player |
| 41% | BULLSEYE | 8 | Target with concentric circles in many sports... and the theme connecting 16a, 33a, 25d, and 39d |
| 39% | MVP | 3 | US sports accolade for best player in a league |
| 39% | COED | 4 | Like many intramural sports leagues |
| 39% | SOCCER | 6 | Sport called "football" in most places |