**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Aficionados**
*Connections: Sports Edition* is the newest extension of the renowned [*New York Times* word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), crafted to assess the knowledge of sports fans. Similar to the original *Connections*, this version prompts players to identify “common links among words.” Like *Wordle*, the game refreshes daily at midnight, with every new puzzle becoming increasingly difficult. If you’re feeling lost, we’ve got clues and strategies to assist you—or you can skip ahead to find today’s answer.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
This innovative daily word game from *The New York Times* is developed in partnership with *The Athletic*, the publication’s sports-centric division. *Connections: Sports Edition* can be played on web browsers and mobile devices. The goal? Organize four words that share a unified theme.
Each puzzle features 16 words, categorized into four groups. These groups can encompass anything from sports terminology to brand names, athlete names, or even tactics. While various words may appear to fit together, only one correct arrangement is viable for each set.
When players successfully organize four words, those words are taken off the board. However, incorrect attempts are counted as errors, and players have a limit of four mistakes before the game concludes. To aid in solving, the board can be shuffled to assist players in recognizing connections more readily.
Each category is color-coded according to difficulty: yellow (easiest), followed by green, blue, and purple. Like *Wordle*, players have the option to share their results on social media to compare scores with friends.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Could you use a little guidance? Here are some clues for today’s groups:
– **Yellow:** Various terms for throwing a ball
– **Green:** Moves to make with the football
– **Blue:** Women who have excelled in the Olympic pool
– **Purple:** Brands linked to baseball gear
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Still having trouble? Here’s a rundown of today’s groups:
– **Yellow:** *Throw*
– **Green:** *Football offensive plays*
– **Blue:** *Female swimmers who won gold medals*
– **Purple:** *Manufacturers of baseball gear*
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### The Solution to Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Puzzle
Ready for the answers? Here’s the resolution to *Connections: Sports Edition* #87:
– **Throw:** FIRE, FLING, HEAVE, LAUNCH
– **Football offensive plays:** OPTION, PISTOL, SPREAD, WEST COAST
– **Female swimmers who won gold medals:** FRANKLIN, KING, LEDECKY, MANUEL
– **Manufacturers of baseball gear:** DEMARINI, EASTON, LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, RAWLINGS
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Don’t fret if you didn’t solve today’s puzzle—tomorrow offers another opportunity to try again! We’ll return with additional hints and answers to assist you in overcoming the next challenge.
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### Seeking More Games?
If you’re having fun with *Connections: Sports Edition*, consider exploring other puzzles! Visit [Mashable’s games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, and more. Or, if you’re tackling *Wordle*, [here’s today’s answer](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-december-19-2024).
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Locate the answer here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-18).