July 11, 2026

Title: DEEP DIVE

Constructors: Wendy L. Brandes & Sally Hoelscher

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• GLUTEN-FREE I10D: Like penne made from lentils)
• PIE IN THE SKY (17D: Unrealistic expectation)
• WON BY A NOSE (29D: Just barely prevailed)

DEEP DIVE: The last (DEEPest) word of each vertical theme answer can be paired with the word DIVE to form a new phrase: FREE DIVE, SKY DIVE, and NOSE DIVE.

And now a word from our constructors:

Wendy: It is always great to work with Sally. We had fun making this one.  

My favorite clues were for 32-Across [What's black and white and cute all over] and 47-Down ["__ White in the Hall with the rope" (possible Clue accusation)].  Both of these made me smile.

I also love the symmetry (unintentional) between CLIMBS UP and YOSEMITE.

Many thanks to Amanda for her insights, suggestions and great edits [65-Across -- Technicolor ___ (Lucille Ball's nickname)], e.g., came from Amanda and the USA Today team.  As always, we truly appreciate the USA Today team's work on our puzzles.

Sally: We originally pitched this idea as "Dive Right In," with the theme answers as Across entries. It was Amanda's suggestion to do vertical theme answers and use DEEP DIVE as the title. Yet another example of the valuable input from the USA Today editors that we are so thankful for. 

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• TESSIE (65A: Technicolor ___ (Lucille Ball's nickname)) Yes, sometimes I learn things from my own puzzles! As Wendy mentioned, this clue was Amanda's, added during editing. I did not know that Lucille Ball (1911-1989) was given the nickname Technicolor TESSIE. The nickname is a reference to her striking coloring – vivid blue eyes, fair skin, and red hair – that looked so beautiful on the screen.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CEO (4A: Lisa Su's role at AMD) Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a semiconductor company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Lisa Su is a computer scientist and electrical engineer. She has been the president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMD since 2014. The abbreviation of AMD in the clue alerts solvers the answer will be an abbreviation.
• LESLIE (15A: Basketball great Lisa who was the first player to dunk during a WNBA game) Lisa LESLIE played for WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 2009. During that time she was the WNBA MVP three times. I find it a fun fact that she was the first player to dunk during a WNBA game.
• CLIMB UP (16A: Ascends, like a rock wall) and YOSEMITE (63A: El Capitan's park) Since Wendy mentioned the fun coincidence of these answers appearing in symmetrical slots, I thought I'd pair them together. El Capitan, also known as El Cap, is a vertical rock formation located in California's YOSEMITE National Park. It is about 3,000 feet from base to summit. That's a long way to CLIMB UP.
• STEEL (19A: ___ drum (national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago)) A STEEL drum, also known as a steel pan, is an instrument that originated from Trinidad and Tobago. STEEL drums are pitched percussion instruments made from 55 gallon industrial shipping drums. I really like STEEL drum music.
• SIAM (20A: "The King and I" setting) The Southeast Asian country of Thailand was known as SIAM until it was officially changed to Thailand in 1939. The country's name was changed back to SIAM in 1946, and once again change to Thailand in 1948. The King and I is a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that premiered on Broadway in 1951. The musical is based on Margaret Landon's 1944 novel Anna and the King of SIAM. The story of the musical focuses on a British schoolteacher hired by the King of SIAM to be a governess for his children.
• DAWG (27A: Top ___ Entertainment (record label)) Top DAWG Entertainment was founded in 2004 by Anthony "Top DAWG" Tiffith, who is the company's CEO. Its artists include SZA, Jay Rock, Ab Soul, and Schoolboy Q.
• PANDA (32A: What's black-and-white and cute all over) This clue is Wendy's, and it made me say, "Aww!" I'm glad it survived editing.
• SON (38A: Ben Stiller, to Anne Meara) Ben Stiller is the SON of Anne Meara (1929-2015) and Jerry Stiller (1927-2020), who performed as the comedy duo Stiller and Meara.
• AUBREY (42A: Actress Plaza named for a Bread song) AUBREY Plaza is a comedian, writer, and producer. She played the role of April Ludgate on the TV series Parks and Recreation (2009-2015). AUBREY Plaza, who was born in 1984, says she was named after Bread's 1973 song, "AUBREY."
• CABLE (4D: ___-knit sweater) Whenever I think of CABLE-knit sweaters, I think of the one Chris Evans rocked in the 2019 movie Knives Out. You know the one, right?
• ONUS (6D: Burden) ONUS is making back-to-back puzzle appearances. We saw it yesterday clued as ["The ___ is on us" (punny way to say "We're responsible")].
• MEN (8D: "It's Raining ___") "It's Raining MEN" is a 1982 song by the Weather Girls. 
• ISSA RAE (9D: Actress who played President Barbie) We often see ISSA RAE's first or last name in crosswords; they're very crossword-friendly. It was fun to feature her full name in this grid, and I always enjoy an opportunity to refer to her portrayal of President in the 2023 movie Barbie.
• AIN'T (11D: "___ Too Proud" (jukebox musical)) A jukebox musical is one that features songs from popular music – often from one artist or group – rather than an original score. AIN'T Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations is a 2017 musical based on the lives of the Temptations. The title is a nod to the Temptations' 1966 hit, "AIN'T Too Proud to Beg."
• FERRY (24D: Puget Sound transit option) Puget Sound is located along the northwestern coast of the state of Washington. The city of Seattle is located between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. The state of Washington runs a FERRY system that connects the Washington mainland, the Olympic Peninsula, and some of the larger islands of Puget Sound.
• UPON (26D: "Once ___ A Mattress") Once UPON a Mattress is a musical adaptation of the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." There have been three TV adaptations made; the 2005 version starred Carol Burnett, Denis O'Hare, Tom Smothers, Tracey Ullman, Zooey Deschanel, and Matthew Morrison.
• WENDT (37D: "Leaves of the Banyan Tree" author Albert) Albert WENDT is a Samoan poet and writer who currently lives in New Zealand. His debut novel, Sons for the Return Home, published in 1973, has been described as the first example of Pacific Islands Literature, writings created by people of the Pacific. His novel, Leaves of the Banyan Tree, was published in 1979.
• MRS (47D: "___ White in the hall with the rope" (possible Clue accusation)) I'm delighted this clue – referencing the game of Clue – survived the editing process!

Just for kicks, I did a little looking back at the USA Today collaborations Wendy and I have done. This is our eighth USA Today collaboration (we've also had a few in other venues). Interestingly, of those eight puzzles, this is the fifth one to feature vertical theme answers. Apparently we are drawn to ideas that present best in a vertical direction (even if Amanda had to help us get there on this puzzle!). Thanks, Wendy, for the collaboration. Thank you for solving! I hope you enjoyed the puzzle.

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