Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks

Crossword Answer — August 05, 2026

This WNBA guard brings quick handles and confident playmaking to Los Angeles. 🏀

WSJ Answers

WSJ Crossword

Wednesday, August 05, 2026

By Shmuel Schmell · Edited by Mike Shenk

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Maker of Primavera scooters
  2. 6Book containing the Believers’ Prayer
  3. 10“Honey, Honey” singers
  4. 14Situation at the start of a regular-season extra inning
  5. 15Left on a cruise?
  6. 16Hit on the head
  7. 17Proceed without effort
  8. 18Sad
  9. 19Make a touchdown
  10. 2039-Across foes in the 1940s
  11. 22Brunch order
  12. 24Acid’s opposite
  13. 25Prose descriptor
  14. 27Thing to join for a spell
  15. 30Wise guy
  16. 32Lady of La Mancha
  17. 34Femur-tibia connector, for short
  18. 37Defeatist’s words
  19. 3920-Across foes in the 1940s
  20. 40What a true hero may be paid
  21. 44Billy with a beard
  22. 45Stood out favorably
  23. 46Dorm VIPs
  24. 47Flip
  25. 50Pentathletes’ needs
  26. 52Hurricane center
  27. 53Cowardly
  28. 55Proctor’s call
  29. 59Opening on Broadway
  30. 61Twain with a twang
  31. 63Developer’s area
  32. 65“Raise Your Glass” singer
  33. 67Ready for the operation, maybe
  34. 68It may be happy or be witching
  35. 69Slurpee alternative
  36. 70Immune system part
  37. 71Like JFK or SFO
  38. 72“The Martian” org.
  39. 73Sides in a classic battle

Down

  1. 1SAT prep study
  2. 2Sherlock’s sister in a series of Millie Bobby Brown movies
  3. 3Elite fighting group
  4. 4Pocketful in a nursery rhyme
  5. 5Pay to play
  6. 6BOLO kin
  7. 7Suggestion to a crayon-wielding child, and a hint to four rows of this puzzle
  8. 8Strong suit
  9. 9Strengthens
  10. 10Qualified for the job
  11. 11Percussionist without an instrument
  12. 12Outlaw
  13. 13“Your point being?”
  14. 21Character from a bar
  15. 23Ang with Oscars
  16. 26Sam the Minuteman’s sch.
  17. 28Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks
  18. 29Bridge positions
  19. 31Comic quality
  20. 33Rejuvenating break
  21. 34Texas A&M athlete
  22. 35Buddy
  23. 36Excludes
  24. 38Change: Prefix
  25. 41Took in
  26. 42Show covering Hollywood from 1991 to 2025
  27. 43Take in
  28. 48Pocketful in a nursery rhyme
  29. 49Bowling variety
  30. 51Batter’s position
  31. 54German camera maker
  32. 56Dow, e.g.
  33. 57German appliance maker
  34. 58Viscounts’ superiors
  35. 60Lower left PC key
  36. 62Crude quarters
  37. 6321st of 24 letters
  38. 64Chaney of horror films
  39. 66Mauna ___

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Maker of Primavera scooters — Answer: VESPA. Hint: This Italian brand is famous for its stylish two-wheeled rides. 🛵
  2. 6. Book containing the Believers’ Prayer — Answer: ACTS. Hint: Look to the New Testament book chronicling the apostles’ early church and including this prayer. 📖
  3. 10. “Honey, Honey” singers — Answer: ABBA. Hint: This Swedish pop quartet sang the catchy tune featured in the musical Mamma Mia! 🎶
  4. 14. Situation at the start of a regular-season extra inning — Answer: ONEON. Hint: Think of the baserunner waiting in scoring position when bonus baseball begins. ⚾
  5. 15. Left on a cruise? — Answer: PORT. Hint: Think of the ship’s left-hand side, named for the harbor it visits. ⚓
  6. 16. Hit on the head — Answer: BEAN. Hint: A playful verb for striking someone on the noggin. 🥊
  7. 17. Proceed without effort — Answer: COAST. Hint: Move along smoothly with little effort, as though carried by a gentle current 🌊
  8. 18. Sad — Answer: BLUE. Hint: Feeling down in the dumps is one way to describe this mood. 😔
  9. 19. Make a touchdown — Answer: LAND. Hint: What a plane does when it reaches the ground 🛬
  10. 20. 39-Across foes in the 1940s — Answer: ALLIES. Hint: Think of the World War II coalition opposing the Axis powers. ⚔️
  11. 22. Brunch order — Answer: OMELET. Hint: A fluffy egg dish filled with your favorite savory ingredients is a classic brunch choice. 🍳
  12. 24. Acid’s opposite — Answer: BASE. Hint: Think of a substance with a pH above neutral, often found in soap. 🧼
  13. 25. Prose descriptor — Answer: PURPLE. Hint: A writing style that’s lavishly ornate and a little over-the-top gets this colorful label. ✍️
  14. 27. Thing to join for a spell — Answer: BEE. Hint: Think of a friendly contest where participants gather to show off their spelling skills 🐝
  15. 30. Wise guy — Answer: SWAMI. Hint: Think of a spiritual teacher known for offering sage advice. 🧘
  16. 32. Lady of La Mancha — Answer: SENORA. Hint: Think of the Spanish honorific for a lady from Cervantes’ famous region 🇪🇸
  17. 34. Femur-tibia connector, for short — Answer: ACL. Hint: Think of the knee ligament often mentioned in sports injuries 🦵
  18. 37. Defeatist’s words — Answer: ICANT. Hint: A gloomy way to say you see no chance of success 😔
  19. 39. 20-Across foes in the 1940s — Answer: AXIS. Hint: These World War II powers were led by Germany, Italy, and Japan. ⚔️
  20. 40. What a true hero may be paid — Answer: GREATESTRESPECT. Hint: A genuine champion may earn the highest honor and admiration from others. 🏅
  21. 44. Billy with a beard — Answer: GOAT. Hint: Think of the farmyard animal whose males are famous for their chin whiskers. 🐐
  22. 45. Stood out favorably — Answer: SHONE. Hint: Earned praise by being especially impressive ✨
  23. 46. Dorm VIPs — Answer: RAS. Hint: They’re the student staffers who help keep residence-hall life running smoothly. 🏫
  24. 47. Flip — Answer: INVERT. Hint: Think of turning something upside down or reversing its position. 🔄
  25. 50. Pentathletes’ needs — Answer: EPEES. Hint: Think of the fencing gear used in one event of the modern pentathlon ⚔️
  26. 52. Hurricane center — Answer: EYE. Hint: Look for the calm spot at the heart of a tropical cyclone. 🌀
  27. 53. Cowardly — Answer: YELLOW. Hint: Someone lacking courage might be described this way when bravery goes missing. 🦁
  28. 55. Proctor’s call — Answer: TIME. Hint: It’s what a test supervisor announces when the clock runs out. ⏰
  29. 59. Opening on Broadway — Answer: SCENEI. Hint: Think of the first marked section in a stage production. 🎭
  30. 61. Twain with a twang — Answer: SHANIA. Hint: Think of the country-pop superstar whose surname is shared with Mark Twain. 🎤
  31. 63. Developer’s area — Answer: PLOT. Hint: A developer might work with this piece of land before construction begins 🏗️
  32. 65. “Raise Your Glass” singer — Answer: PINK. Hint: Think of the pop star behind this celebratory anthem and many colorful hits. 🎤
  33. 67. Ready for the operation, maybe — Answer: UNDER. Hint: A patient might be in this state before surgery begins. 🏥
  34. 68. It may be happy or be witching — Answer: HOUR. Hint: Think of a time period that can follow both “happy” and “bewitching.” ⏰
  35. 69. Slurpee alternative — Answer: ICEE. Hint: A fizzy frozen drink brand you might grab at a convenience store when you want something icy and sweet 🥤
  36. 70. Immune system part — Answer: TCELL. Hint: This lymphocyte helps identify and fight infected cells 🛡️
  37. 71. Like JFK or SFO — Answer: INTL. Hint: These airport codes point to hubs with overseas connections. ✈️
  38. 72. “The Martian” org. — Answer: NASA. Hint: This space agency is closely tied to Mark Watney’s survival story. 🚀
  39. 73. Sides in a classic battle — Answer: SEXES. Hint: Think of the two opposing groups traditionally contrasted in discussions of gender. ⚔️

Down

  1. 1. SAT prep study — Answer: VOCAB. Hint: Reviewing word meanings is a smart way to prepare for this college entrance exam 📚
  2. 2. Sherlock’s sister in a series of Millie Bobby Brown movies — Answer: ENOLA. Hint: Think of the spirited young detective who carries the Holmes surname into her own movie adventures. 🔎
  3. 3. Elite fighting group — Answer: SEALS. Hint: These highly trained U.S. commandos are known for missions on land, sea, and air. 🪖
  4. 4. Pocketful in a nursery rhyme — Answer: POSIES. Hint: Think of the little flowers tucked into a pocket in the familiar “Ring Around the Rosie” rhyme. 🌼
  5. 5. Pay to play — Answer: ANTE. Hint: It’s the stake you put into the pot before the game begins 🃏
  6. 6. BOLO kin — Answer: APB. Hint: It’s a police alert sent out to help locate a person of interest. 🚓
  7. 7. Suggestion to a crayon-wielding child, and a hint to four rows of this puzzle — Answer: COLORINTHELINES. Hint: A gentle reminder to keep your artwork—and these puzzle entries—within their boundaries 🎨
  8. 8. Strong suit — Answer: TRUMP. Hint: In a card game, it’s the suit that outranks all the others. 🃏
  9. 9. Strengthens — Answer: STEELS. Hint: Makes something tougher and more resilient 💪
  10. 10. Qualified for the job — Answer: ABLE. Hint: It describes someone with the skills needed to handle the task. 💼
  11. 11. Percussionist without an instrument — Answer: BEATBOXER. Hint: This performer creates drumlike rhythms using only their mouth and voice. 🎤
  12. 12. Outlaw — Answer: BAN. Hint: To forbid something officially by law is to do this 🚫
  13. 13. “Your point being?” — Answer: AND. Hint: A tiny conjunction can prompt someone to finish their thought. 🤔
  14. 21. Character from a bar — Answer: SPACE. Hint: On a keyboard, it’s the character that separates words and gets its own long key. ⌨️
  15. 23. Ang with Oscars — Answer: LEE. Hint: Think of the Oscar-winning director behind *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* and *Brokeback Mountain*. 🎬
  16. 26. Sam the Minuteman’s sch. — Answer: UMASS. Hint: Sam the Minuteman attends the flagship public university in Amherst, Massachusetts. 🎓
  17. 28. Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks — Answer: ERICA. Hint: This WNBA guard brings quick handles and confident playmaking to Los Angeles. 🏀
  18. 29. Bridge positions — Answer: EASTS. Hint: Think of the players occupying the compass-direction seats at the card table. 🃏
  19. 31. Comic quality — Answer: WIT. Hint: A sharp sense of humor can make every punchline land better. 😄
  20. 33. Rejuvenating break — Answer: NAP. Hint: A short snooze can be just the reset you need. 😴
  21. 34. Texas A&M athlete — Answer: AGGIE. Hint: This athlete proudly represents the nickname of Texas A&M teams. 🏈
  22. 35. Buddy — Answer: CRONY. Hint: Think of a trusted companion who’s always been by your side. 🤝
  23. 36. Excludes — Answer: LEAVESOUT. Hint: Means to omit something or keep it out of the group 🚫
  24. 38. Change: Prefix — Answer: TROPO. Hint: This prefix points to turning or transformation, like a change of form. 🔄
  25. 41. Took in — Answer: ATE. Hint: Enjoyed a meal, perhaps, in the past tense 🍽️
  26. 42. Show covering Hollywood from 1991 to 2025 — Answer: ENEWS. Hint: Think of the long-running celebrity-news show from the network known for its exclamation mark. 📺
  27. 43. Take in — Answer: SEE. Hint: Perceive something visually with your eyes 👀
  28. 48. Pocketful in a nursery rhyme — Answer: RYE. Hint: Think of the grain tucked into a pocket in the classic “Sing a Song of Sixpence.” 🌾
  29. 49. Bowling variety — Answer: TENPIN. Hint: This bowling style features a triangular rack of pins and a heavy ball. 🎳
  30. 51. Batter’s position — Answer: STANCE. Hint: It’s the posture a hitter takes before the pitch arrives ⚾
  31. 54. German camera maker — Answer: LEICA. Hint: This renowned German brand is famous for precision cameras and iconic photography. 📷
  32. 56. Dow, e.g. — Answer: INDEX. Hint: It’s a market barometer that tracks how a group of stocks is performing 📈
  33. 57. German appliance maker — Answer: MIELE. Hint: This German family-run brand is known for premium washers, ovens, and vacuum cleaners. 🧺
  34. 58. Viscounts’ superiors — Answer: EARLS. Hint: Think of noble titles that outrank viscounts! 👑
  35. 60. Lower left PC key — Answer: CTRL. Hint: This bottom-left key teams up with others to issue commands. 🖥️
  36. 62. Crude quarters — Answer: HUTS. Hint: Think of simple, makeshift shelters rather than polished homes 🛖
  37. 63. 21st of 24 letters — Answer: PHI. Hint: Look to the Greek alphabet for the letter that comes just before chi. 🇬🇷
  38. 64. Chaney of horror films — Answer: LON. Hint: This horror-film legend was famously known as the “Man of a Thousand Faces.” 🎭
  39. 66. Mauna ___ — Answer: KEA. Hint: Think of the Hawaiian mountain famed for its world-class observatories and crystal-clear night skies 🔭

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The answer to “Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is ERICA — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 5, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 28-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks” answer

ERICA (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is ERICA.

Why the answer is ERICA

This WNBA guard brings quick handles and confident playmaking to Los Angeles. 🏀

When else has “Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks” appeared?

Wall Street Journal reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

August 5, 2026 (this puzzle) → ERICA. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the WSJ Crossword on August 5, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full Wall Street Journal answer list for August 5, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live WSJ answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the WSJ Crossword

The Wall Street Journal Crossword is a free daily 15×15 (larger for the end-of-week themed grid), edited by Mike Shenk and known for clean, fair cluing with a business and finance streak. This page covers a Wednesday puzzle. The WSJ also runs a contest (meta) crossword whose answer hides inside the finished grid, so its long theme entries tend to carry extra weight. Locking one confirmed mid-length answer usually opens the crossings around it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks”?

The answer is ERICA, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 5, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks”?

5 letters: ERICA.

Where did this clue appear?

In the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 5, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 28-Down.

Can “Wheeler of the WNBA’s Sparks” have a different answer?

Yes — Wall Street Journal sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WSJ answers?

The full grid for August 5, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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