___ Summitt, legendary women's basketball coach

PAT

This coach led the Tennessee Lady Vols to eight NCAA championships and was known for her intense stare and tough love approach. Her first name is short and often associated with a gentle tap.

This clue is looking for the first name of Pat Summitt, the iconic coach who led the University of Tennessee women's basketball team to eight national championships. The blank signals a short, common first name—here, "Pat" fits perfectly as both a nickname and a standalone name. If you're familiar with college basketball history, Summitt's legacy makes this an easy fill, but even without that knowledge, the three-letter space narrows it down. The clue assumes you’ll recognize her last name and just need the missing piece.