SPORTS NICKNAMES
Quake, puny mortal, & utter this rhyming nickname of Ilia Malinin, who can rotate 4 full times before landing on the ice
The Quad God
In 2025, Rory McIlroy became the first man since Tiger Woods in 2000 to complete the golf version of this 4-tournament career triumph
Grand Slam
"Down for the count"
Boxing
The cover of the video game NHL 2026 from EA Sports features Matthew Tkachuk of this Florida team raising the Stanley Cup
The Panthers
Originating in the world of racing at the turn of the 20th century, it means to false-start
Jump the gun
The oldest U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team in decades, the 2024 team went by this but didn't star in a sitcom after winning
The Golden Girls
In May 2025, NiJaree Canady became the first female college athlete to sign an NIL deal valued at over $1 million, after transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech. What sport did she play?
Softball
"Buzzer beater"
Basketball
2025 was a big year for this man; he was named the NFL's MVP for the previous year, & he married Hailee Steinfeld
Josh Allen
Wearing a tinfoil hat to protect against mind control may be an idea "out of" this baseball location
Left field
Oh, soccer! Ronaldo is "Il Fenomeno", Ronaldo de Assis Moreira is "Ronaldinho" & Cristiano Ronaldo goes by this three letter/digit alphanumeric nickname
CR7
In a 2025 aquatics championships showdown, she split 2 races with almost-10-years-younger Canadian Summer McIntosh
Katie Ledecky
"Call an audible"
Football
This tennis star & 2018 U.S. Open winner shares her last name with one of the most populous cities in Asia
Naomi Osaka
In boxing, before this more familiar phrase, the boxer's team was "chucking up the sponge"
Throwing in the towel
In baseball, "A-Rod" is Alex Rodriguez; in tennis, it's this retired American star who won the 2003 US Open
Andy Roddick
In a 2024 Bills-49ers game, he became the first-ever NFL QB with passing, rushing & receiving touchdowns in a single game
Josh Allen
"Knock for six"
(to shock or upset)
Cricket
Now with A.C. Milan, this U.S. Men's National Soccer Team star got to play in Europe at 16 on his Croatian passport
Andrew
This 4-word phrase meaning "last minute" comes from stretching a cable across the finish lines in horse racing
Just under the wire OR down to the wire
In the 1946 World Series, the Cardinals & Stan "the Man" Musial triumphed over the Red Sox & "Teddy Ballgame", him
Ted Williams
"Avengers" fans know this keen-sighted electronic system that completely replaced human line calling in tennis at the 2022 U.S. Open
Hawkeye
"Making the cut"
After winning the WNBA Finals MVP in 2025, this center invited Beyoncé to the Las Vegas Aces championship parade
Aja Wilson
This duration that's exceptional for slam dunk artists can also mean how long it takes for grapes on the vine to ripen
Hang Time