Theme: "Squad Goals" - The end of each theme entry is a WNBA team.
23. *Symptom of isolation, perhaps: CABIN FEVER. Indiana Fever.
28. *Leave the nest: SPREAD ONE'S WINGS. Dallas Wings.
48. *No. 1 Katy Perry album featuring the No. 1 song "Firework": TEENAGE DREAM. Atlanta Dream.
56. *Oscar-winning role for Rami Malek: FREDDIE MERCURY. Phoenix Mercury.
82. *One of Sheriff Woody's catchphrases in "Toy Story": REACH FOR THE SKY. Chicago Sky.
91. *Concurrence of many negative possibilities: PERFECT STORM. Seattle Storm.
114. *Lorraine Hansberry play whose title comes from a Langston Hughes poem: A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Connecticut Sun.
121. Championship series where fans hope to find the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: WNBA FINALS.
And something extra: 38. Group seen seven times in this puzzle: TEAM.
Total 12 teams in the WNBA. Missing are the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces & Washington Mystics.
Liked this puzzle. Reminds me of the "Single Ladies" for the Universal a while ago. I had a set of teams with singular nouns.
Congrats on your LAT debut, Miranda! You found a brilliant collaborator.
Across:
7. Tell (on): RAT.
10. Barbershop service: SHAVE.
15. Santa __: home of the Charles M. Schulz Museum: ROSA.
19. Without principles: AMORAL.
20. Word with devil or dog: SLY. Also 22. Extremely bad: EVIL.
21. Patio stone: PAVER.
25. Oahu's __ Stadium: ALOHA.
26. Actress Rowlands: GENA. "The Notebook" is so moving.
27. French novelist Zola: EMILE.
31. Cash collector: TILL.
32. Yearbook superlative: MOST.
33. Distillery tub: VAT.
34. "What was I __ to do?": MEANT.
35. Looking for, in ads: ISO. In Search Of.
37. Jackal cousin: COYOTE.
39. Bring up: RAISE.
42. Contrail makeup: VAPOR.
44. Shape of the three-point line: ARC.
45. Illustrator's tools: PENS.
47. Recipient of a classic shout-out: MOM.
52. Fender bender: ACCIDENT.
55. Itty-bitty kitties: RUNTS.
58. Cup holder spot, perhaps: ARM. This refers to armrest, right?
59. Demeanor: MIEN.
61. Prov. that borders all but one of the Great Lakes: ONT.
62. Scrutinize: EYE.
63. No longer consequential: MOOT.
65. Yearbook gp.: FROSH.
68. Busch Gardens city: TAMPA.
71. Brief quarrel: TIFF.
75. "Let's __!": EAT. Went to my sister-in-law Connie's place on
Christmas eve. She made poached salmon (unpictured: tzatziki sauce),
wild rice salad and roasted Brussels sprouts. That piece of seeded bread
is from a local bakery that stone-mills its own flour. So lucky to have such a great sister-in-law!
77. Gomez's hairy cousin: ITT.
79. Soothing YouTube genre, for short: ASMR. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.
81. "You think I did that!?": MOI.
88. Accompanist?: USHER. Quite a few nice clues in this grid.
90. Mark on a garage floor: OIL STAIN.
93. Rd. with a no.: RTE.
94. Very, in Biarritz: TRES. French city on the Bay of Biscay.
96. "__-hoo!": WOO.
97. Try to swat: HIT AT.
98. Supports on Kickstarter, say: BACKS.
101. Taco truck dips: SALSAS.
103. "Gangnam Style" rapper: PSY.
104. "The Secret History" writer Donna: TARTT.
106. Smallish batteries: AAS.
107. Degrees for corp. execs: MBAS.
110. Cake layer: TIER.
118. Food processor's output: PUREE.
119. Burgles: ROBS.
120. Papa: DADDY. Ba ba, in Chinese.
123. Fit: ABLE.
124. Fireplace hazard: EMBER.
125. Flow back: EBB.
126. Early online forum: USENET.
127. Brewed beverage: BEER. And 64. Brewed beverages: TEAS.
128. Prophets: SEERS.
129. Early broadcasting co.: RCA.
130. Low points: NADIRS.
Down:
2. Parmesan quality: UMAMI. Connie is cheese connoisseur. She lived in Italy for a few years. She still visits Italy and France regularly.
3. Gas giant?: MOBIL. 90. Round figure?: ORB. I like both clues.
5. Track assignment: LANE.
6. Beauty brand whose name stands for three body parts: ELF. Eyes Lips Face.
7. Sends regrets, perhaps: RSVPS.
8. Heads-up: ALERT.
9. Spare in a boot: TYRE.
10. "Me time" option: SPA DAY.
11. Low-calorie ice cream brand: HALO TOP. Boomer liked Breyers No Sugar Added.
12. Maker of Skin So Soft products: AVON.
13. Fervor: VEHEMENCE.
14. Delete: ERASE.
15. "Fidelity" pop artist Spektor: REGINA. Born in Moscow.
16. Kitchen beeper: OVEN TIMER.
17. Snitch: SING.
18. Woeful sigh: ALAS.
24. Spanish "that": ESO.
29. Green smoothie ingredient, perhaps: AVOCADO.
30. Simple card game: WAR.
32. Synthesizer pioneer: MOOG.
36. Involuntary jerk: SPASM.
37. Rep: CRED.
40. JumboTron maker: SONY.
41. First responder, briefly: EMT. And 43. Send to a specialist: REFER.
42. Cash app: VENMO.
44. "Blessed __ ... ": ARE.
46. Say "aaahh!": SCREAM.
48. Disneyland ride: TRAM.
49. Malta money: EURO.
50. James Bond's first movie foe: DR NO.
51. Pristine, as a baseball card: MINT. So easy to get Boomer Christmas gifts. He loved baseball cards.
53. Like some roads in January: ICY. We finally got some snow last night. Odd not to have snow on ground for Christmas.
54. Pair's performance: DUET.
57. "on ur way?": ETA.
60. "Or perhaps less": IF THAT.
66. Chivalrous title: SIR.
67. URL starter: HTTP. More HTTPS these days.
69. Fashion: MAKE.
70. "Kidding!": PSYCH.
72. "Turn on the AC!": I'M HOT.
73. Author Jonathan Safran __: FOER. His founder Joshua Foer co-founded Atlas Obscura.
74. Like some mattresses: FIRM.
76. Fake it: ACT.
78. Dirty laundry destination: THE WASH. And 95. Dirt, so to speak: SLANDER.
80. Oxidizes: RUSTS.
82. Pop singer Ora: RITA.
83. Fit for a seat?: ELECTABLE. Government seat.
84. Birth certificate entry: FIRST NAME.
85. Top classification: ONE A.
86. Bow-wielding god: EROS.
87. Hub near Marin Co.: SFO.
89. "Don't touch that dial": STAY TUNED.
92. Gratuities: TIPS.
99. Crusty roll: KAISER.
100. Yearbook gp.: SRS.
102. Mythical forest flutists: SATYRS.
105. Surfer's concerns: TIDES.
107. "Morning Joe" network: MSNBC. 109. 107-Down anchor Cabrera: ANA.
108. NASCAR racer Wallace: BUBBA.
111. Afghani neighbor: IRANI. More often Iranian.
112. Conger hunter: EELER.
113. Musical breaks: RESTS.
114. Like many North Africans: ARAB.
115. Judicial garb: ROBE.
116. "__ happy to!": I'D BE.
117. Spout sporter: EWER.
118. City with an iconic tower: PISA.
122. Lots of laughs: FUN.
Jaelyn and Harper now have a baby sister. Melissa's third granddaughter was born on December 1, 2023. She sent me these few precious pictures. Melissa will take an extended break from blogging due to personal matters. We'll be thinking of you and looking forward to your return, Melissa!
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| Jaelyn and Harper |
