**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Aficionados**
*Connections: Sports Edition* is the newest adaptation of the acclaimed [New York Times word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), crafted especially to challenge the expertise of sports fans.
Much like its predecessor *Connections*, this variant invites players to discover “common threads among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-28-2024) refreshes every day at midnight, with each successive puzzle becoming increasingly difficult. If you’re facing a roadblock, don’t fret—we’ve compiled some useful hints and tips to assist you.
If you’re solely interested in today’s solution, navigate to the bottom of this article. But if you prefer to attempt it independently, continue reading for hints, strategies, and insights to aid you in solving the puzzle.
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### What is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
This innovative daily word game from *The New York Times* was developed in partnership with *The Athletic*, the Times’ dedicated sports platform. [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-february-21-2024) can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices, and the goal is straightforward: group four words that have a shared theme.
Each puzzle contains 16 words, which need to be classified into four categories. These categories can vary from book titles to software names, nations, and more. While some words might appear to fit multiple categories, there is only one correct grouping.
When a player successfully identifies a group, those words disappear from the board. Conversely, incorrect guesses are counted as mistakes, and players can make up to four errors before the game concludes. To facilitate gameplay, players have the option to shuffle the board for easier connection spotting.
Each group is designated a color indicating its difficulty: yellow is the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, players can share their achievements on social media to compare results with their friends.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a little encouragement? Here are some hints for today’s categories without revealing the answers:
– **Yellow:** Employed by sports organizations
– **Green:** Ice hockey teams
– **Blue:** Teams located in Florida (excluding Miami)
– **Purple:** Various card types
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Still in a bind? Here’s a summary of today’s categories to provide some assistance:
– **Yellow:** Staff members
– **Green:** NHL teams known for singular nicknames
– **Blue:** Teams from Orlando
– **Purple:** Terms that go with “card”
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Solution
Ready for the answers? This is your final opportunity to turn back before we disclose today’s solution. Drumroll, please!
Here are the solutions for *Connections: Sports Edition* #115:
– **Staff members:** COACH, MANAGER, SCOUT, TRAINER
– **NHL teams known by singular nicknames:** AVALANCHE, KRAKEN, LIGHTNING, UTAH HOCKEY CLUB
– **Teams from Orlando:** MAGIC, ORLANDO CITY, PRIDE, UCF
– **_______ card:** LINEUP, TRADING, WILD, YELLOW
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Don’t be disheartened if you didn’t solve it this time—there’s always a new opportunity tomorrow! A fresh *Connections* puzzle will be ready for you, and we’ll return with more hints and solutions to support you.
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Seeking additional puzzles? Visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more. And if you’re participating in *NYT Strands*, [we have hints and answers for today’s puzzle](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-january-16).
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Here’s the solution](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-january-16-2025).