California's sporting icon (3)
I believe the answer is:
ali
'sporting icon' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'california's' is the wordplay.
'ALI' is hidden within the letters.
But, I'm not sure how this is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ali that I've seen before include "girl shortly" , "Muhammad --, US boxer" , "Muhammad's son-in-law" , ""The Greatest" boxer" , "Champion of ring" .)