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Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is just always tough for me these days. You too? If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Hoops errors.
Green group hint: Get the mic.
Blue group hint: Tennis triumphs.
Purple group hint: A note to follow so.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Basketball violations.
Green group: Roles on a broadcast team.
Blue group: Last four US Open women’s singles winners.
Purple group: Preceded by “LA.”
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Aug. 28, 2025.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is basketball violations. The four answers are backcourt, double-dribble, goaltend and travel.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is roles on a broadcast team. The four answers are color, play-by-play, sideline and studio.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is last four US Open women’s singles winners. The four answers are Gauff, Raducanu, Sabalenka and Swiatek.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is preceded by “LA.” The four answers are Clippers, Coliseum, Galaxy and Liga.
Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories
The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.
That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing recently.
#1: Series A Clubs, Jan. 11. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.
#2: WNBA MVPs, Jan. 21. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.
#3: Premier League team nicknames, Jan. 17. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.
#4: Homophones of NBA player names, Jan. 26. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.
