The New York Times has released its daily Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for . This iteration of the popular word game, published by The Athletic, challenges players to identify groupings of four words based on shared themes. Unlike the standard Connections game, this version focuses specifically on sports-related terminology and knowledge.
Understanding Connections: Sports Edition
Connections tasks players with sorting sixteen words into four groups of four, where each group shares a common connection. The game is designed with varying levels of difficulty, indicated by color-coding: yellow represents the easiest groupings, followed by green, blue, and the most challenging, purple. Players are allowed up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends. The game offers options to shuffle the board, aiding in the discovery of connections. It’s accessible through The Athletic’s app or directly online, and is separate from the main NYT Games app.
Hints for Today’s Puzzle
For those finding today’s puzzle particularly challenging, here are hints, progressing from the easier yellow category to the more difficult purple:
- Yellow Group Hint: Think about what signals the end of play in various sports.
- Green Group Hint: This category relates to a spectacular basketball move.
- Blue Group Hint: These are individuals who have excelled in a specific NBA competition.
- Purple Group Hint: Consider the mascots representing various universities.
The Answers Revealed
If you’d prefer to know the solutions directly, here’s a breakdown of each category:
Yellow: Signals to Stop Play
The words in this group all represent signals used to halt play during a sporting event. The answers are: buzzer, horn, siren, and whistle.
Green: Dunks
This grouping focuses on different types of basketball dunks. The solutions are: 360, between-the-legs, reverse, and windmill.
Blue: NBA 3-Point Contest Winners
The words in this category represent past champions of the NBA’s 3-point contest. The answers are: Herro, Hield, Love, and Pierce.
Purple: College Mascots
This is the most challenging category, requiring knowledge of college sports mascots. The solutions are: Big Al, Brutus, Otto, and Rameses.
Connections: Sports Edition continues to provide a daily mental challenge for sports enthusiasts, testing their knowledge across a variety of athletic disciplines. The game’s format encourages strategic thinking and pattern recognition, making it a popular addition to the New York Times’ suite of daily puzzles.
