**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Lovers**
*Connections: Sports Edition* is the newest twist on the beloved [*New York Times* word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), crafted to challenge the knowledge of sports fans.
Much like the classic *Connections*, this game invites players to discover “common themes among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-november-23-2024) resets daily at midnight, with each subsequent puzzle presenting a greater challenge. To assist you in tackling these complex puzzles, we’ve gathered some hints, suggestions, and strategies.
If you’re searching for today’s answer, feel free to jump to the conclusion of this article. But if you’d rather solve it independently, continue reading for useful clues and guidance.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
The *New York Times* has partnered with *The Athletic*, its sports-centric platform, to introduce this daily word game. [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-february-21-2024) is available on web browsers and mobile devices, with a straightforward aim: group four words that embody a shared theme.
Each puzzle offers 16 words, which players are tasked with sorting into four unique categories. These categories can cover anything from book titles to country names, software, or in this instance, sports-related subjects. While certain words may appear to align, there is only one correct grouping.
When a player successfully identifies a cluster of four related words, those words are taken off the board. However, incorrect guesses are counted as errors, and players can make up to four mistakes before the game concludes.
To enhance the game’s accessibility, players can shuffle the board to rearrange the words, making connections easier to identify. Furthermore, each group is color-coded according to difficulty: yellow (easiest), followed by green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, players can share their outcomes with friends on social media.
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### Tips for Playing *Connections: Sports Edition*
If you find yourself at an impasse, here’s a hint for today’s categories without disclosing the answers entirely:
– **Yellow**: Notable shoes
– **Green**: Equipment for Olympic events
– **Blue**: Renowned racers
– **Purple**: Featured guests
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a little more assistance? Today’s puzzle categories include:
– **Yellow**: *Athletic shoe brands*
– **Green**: *Initial words of gymnastics equipment*
– **Blue**: *Formula 1 Champions*
– **Purple**: *Cameos in “Seinfeld” related to sports*
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Solution
Prepared for the answers? Here’s your final opportunity to turn back and solve the puzzle independently before we unveil the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* #61 is:
– **Athletic shoe brands**: *ADIDAS, ASICS, NIKE, SAUCONY*
– **Initial words of gymnastics equipment**: *BALANCE, PARALLEL, POMMEL, UNEVEN*
– **Formula 1 Champions**: *ALONSO, HAMILTON, VERSTAPPEN, VETTEL*
– **Cameos in “Seinfeld” related to sports**: *HERNANDEZ, JETER, O’NEILL, SHOWALTER*
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Don’t fret if you didn’t solve today’s puzzle—tomorrow brings a new opportunity! A fresh *Connections* puzzle will await you, and we’ll return with additional hints and solutions to assist you.
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### Looking for More Games?
If puzzles are your passion, explore [Mashable’s games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for options like Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and beyond. And if you’re also engaged with *NYT Strands*, [here are today’s hints and solutions](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-november-23).
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Locate the solution here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-november-23).