New York Times adds another daily challenge for word-game fans with Connections Sports Edition
Word-game enthusiasts who already enjoy Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword now have a fresh challenge to tackle: Connections Sports Edition. The daily puzzle, updated at midnight EST, presents 16 terms arranged into four groups, each sharing a common sports-related thread.
What to know about Connections Sports Edition
– It operates like the standard Connections puzzle, but with a sports focus, created through a collaboration between The New York Times and The Athletic.
– Players must group four words that belong to the same category across four color-coded categories.
Today’s hints and categories for Thursday, August 28, 2025
– Yellow: Basketball violations
– Green: Roles on a broadcast team
– Blue: Last four US Open women’s singles winners
– Purple: Preceded by “LA”
The actual categories for today
– Basketball violations: BACKCOURT, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL
– Roles on a broadcast team: COLOR, PLAY-BY-PLAY, SIDELINE, STUDIO
– Last four US Open women’s singles winners: GAUFF, RADUCANU, SABALENKA, SWIATEK
– Preceded by “LA”: CLIPPERS, COLISEUM, GALAXY, LIGA
If you didn’t crack it this time, you’re in good company—these daily puzzles are designed to be challenging, and keeping up with the latest NYT and sports terms is all part of the fun.
Why this edition matters
– The Sports Edition underscores the growing collaboration between major outlets to bring sport-specific wordplay to fans who love a mental workout alongside their sports news.
– It’s a quick daily mental exercise that blends sports vocabulary with classic word-grouping puzzles, offering a different flavor from other NYT games.
Additional notes and context
– The Sports Edition follows the same daily reset pattern as other NYT puzzle games, giving players a new set of 16 words to sort into four meaningful groups each day.
– If you’re catching up on recent puzzles, you can bridge from today’s Sports Edition to the latest Wordle results or other NYT games for a full day of brain-teasers.
A little encouragement
– For fans of sports trivia and wordplay alike, this edition offers a satisfying challenge that can be completed in short sessions, making it a great daily habit for mental warm-up.
Summary
Today’s Connections Sports Edition delivers four sports-themed word groups, with solutions centered on basketball violations, broadcast team roles, recent US Open women’s singles champions, and terms that come before “LA.” It’s a fun, sports-forward addition to the NYT puzzle lineup and a playful way to kick off any sports fan’s day. If you enjoyed the challenge, consider making it part of your daily routine for a quick mental workout and a little competitive snack of sports knowledge.