| 100% | GOAT | 4 | Title bestowed upon a legendary athlete ... or reserved for an athlete who blew the game |
| 35% | MVP | 3 | Award for the best athlete in a game or season: Abbr. |
| 34% | THEGOAT | 7 | Acronymic title for a legendary athlete |
| 34% | OLYMPIAN | 8 | An athlete who has competed in the Olympic Games |
| 33% | AGENT | 5 | Person who negotiates for an athlete or actor |
| 33% | BRAD | 4 | ___ Pitt, actor who won an award for the Best Supporting Actor for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" at the 92nd Academy Awards |
| 32% | PENALTY | 7 | Free kick or shot for an offense during a game |
| 32% | PETERFONDA | 10 | Actor who is the son of legendary actor Henry, famous for playing the villain in "Once Upon a Time in the West": 2 wds. |
| 32% | SIR | 3 | A title bestowed upon one who has been knighted, such as ___ Ian McKellen |
| 30% | GIANNIS | 7 | ___ Antetokounmpo, Greek athlete who is an NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks |
| 30% | JAKE | 4 | ___ Tsakalidis, Greek athlete who was an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies |
| 30% | REF | 3 | Person on a football field who isn't an athlete, for short |
| 30% | TURNTHETIDE | 11 | Stage a comeback, or an apt title for this puzzle |
| 30% | CHAMBERLAIN | 11 | Wilt ___, former basketballer who holds the record for the most points in a NBA game |
| 30% | GUST | 4 | ___ Zarnas, Greek athlete who was an NFL player for the Green Bay Packers |
| 30% | PITT | 4 | Brad ___ who won an Academy Award for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" |
| 30% | NIKO | 4 | ___ Koutouvides, Greek athlete who was a former NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks |
| 30% | KOSTAS | 6 | ___ Antetokounmpo, Greek athlete who was a former NBA player for the LA Lakers |
| 30% | EVELYNASHFORD | 13 | The first track and field athlete to run 100 meters under 11 seconds in an Olympic Games and who has won a total of 5 Olympic medals: 2 wds. |
| 30% | MVP | 3 | Award for the best athlete in a game: Abbr. |
| 29% | TOMAKEALONGSTORYSHORT | 21 | "In a nutshell" … or an alternative title for this puzzle? |
| 29% | REEBOK | 6 | Brand that was a title sponsor for the CrossFit Games |
| 29% | GALA | 4 | Fancy event for the A-list, or an apple variety |
| 29% | IVYLEAGUER | 10 | Brown girl or a guy who plays for the Tigers |
| 29% | DAVID | 5 | ___ Rudisha, athlete who set a record for the 800 meters at the 2012 London Olympics |
| 29% | MARKBRUNELL | 11 | Lefty NFL quarterback who shares the record for consecutive completions in a game: 2 wds. |
| 29% | GOSIDEWAYS | 10 | Completely fall apart, as a deal, or an apt title for this puzzle? |
| 29% | HUMPDAY | 7 | Middle of the week ... or an appropriate title for this puzzle |
| 29% | WOLF | 4 | Lone ___, title for a person who is independent like a particular canine who leaves the pack |
| 29% | AUSTINBUTLER | 12 | "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" actor who plays the title role in "Elvis" (2 wds.) |