**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Aficionados**
*Connections: Sports Edition* is the newest variation of the popular [*New York Times* word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), aimed at assessing the knowledge of sports fans.
Much like the original *Connections*, this game invites players to discover “common links among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-28-2024) updates every day at midnight, with puzzles that become increasingly challenging. If you find yourself stumped, we have hints and tips available to assist you.
For those who simply want the answer, feel free to scroll down to the end of this article. But if you’d rather tackle the puzzle on your own, continue reading for valuable clues, methods, and insights.
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### What is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
The *New York Times* has teamed up with *The Athletic*, its sports-centric publication, to develop this new daily word game. Available through web browsers and mobile devices, *Connections: Sports Edition* challenges players to categorize four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle consists of 16 words, organized into four groups. These groups can encompass a range of topics, including sports terms, athlete names, equipment, and more. While some words may appear suitable for multiple categories, only one correct grouping exists.
When players correctly identify a set, those words are eliminated from the board. However, incorrect attempts are counted as mistakes, and players have a limit of four mistakes per game. To ease gameplay, players can shuffle the board to find connections more effectively.
The game also incorporates a color-coded difficulty system: yellow indicates the simplest level, followed by green, blue, and purple. Moreover, just like *Wordle*, players can share their outcomes via social media.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a little guidance? Here are some hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Strategy
– **Green:** Essential for catching
– **Blue:** NBA stars
– **Purple:** Identical first word
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
If you’re still having trouble, here’s a summary of today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** X’s and O’s
– **Green:** Components of a Baseball Glove
– **Blue:** WNBA MVPs
– **Purple:** Game ___
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Solution
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to solve the puzzle before we unveil the solutions. Drumroll, please!
Here is the solution to today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* puzzle:
1. **X’s and O’s** – *PLAYBOOK, SCHEME, STRATEGY, TACTICS*
2. **Components of a Baseball Glove** – *FINGERS, HEEL, POCKET, WEBBING*
3. **WNBA MVPs** – *CATCHINGS, DELLE DONNE, FOWLES, STEWART*
4. **Game ___** – *BREAKER, DAY, PLAN, WINNER*
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### Don’t Be Discouraged if You Missed It
If you weren’t able to solve today’s puzzle, don’t feel down! A fresh *Connections* puzzle will appear tomorrow, and we’ll be here with more hints and tips to support you.
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### Want More Games?
If you enjoy puzzles, visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword puzzles, and more. And if you’re also engaging with *NYT Strands*, [here are today’s hints and answers](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-january-21).
Looking to catch up on yesterday’s *Connections*? [Here’s the solution](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-january-21-2025).
Happy puzzling!