NYT Connections Sports Version: Clues and Solutions for November 16, 2025

This edition of Connections: Sports Edition is a breeze for followers of Carolina athletics.

A adapted version of the well-known New York Times word puzzle aims to engage sports aficionados.

Much like the initial Connections, the objective of the game is to discover “shared themes among words.” Similar to Wordle, Connections refreshes at midnight, with each batch of words becoming progressively tougher — hence, we have offered some hints and tips to assist you.

If you’re seeking today’s puzzle answer, jump to the article’s conclusion. If you would rather work on it independently, keep reading for hints, advice, and tactics.

SEE ALSO:

Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Enjoy games on Mashable

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT‘s newest daily word puzzle, in partnership with The Athletic, assesses sports awareness. Connections is accessible on web browsers and mobile devices, asking players to categorize four words with a shared connection.

Each challenge features 16 words split into four groups. These categories might encompass anything from book titles to software or names of countries. Although numerous words may appear to belong together, only one correct combination is present.

If a player accurately identifies all four words in a group, those words are eliminated from the board. Wrong guesses are registered as errors — players are allowed up to four errors before the game concludes.

Players can move and shuffle the board to find connections more effortlessly. Each group is designated by color: yellow is the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, results can be shared across social media platforms.