**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Aficionados**
*Connections: Sports Edition* offers a new perspective on the widely loved [*New York Times* word puzzle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), specifically crafted to assess the prowess of sports fans.
Similar to the original *Connections*, the goal is to discover the “shared themes among words.” Like *Wordle*, [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-28-2024) resets every day at midnight, with each puzzle increasing in difficulty. To assist you, we have included hints and strategies for navigating today’s challenge.
If you’re after today’s answer, you can jump to the conclusion of this piece. However, if you prefer solving it on your own, continue on for some useful clues and tips.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
The *New York Times* has introduced this daily word challenge in partnership with *The Athletic*, its dedicated sports outlet. [*Connections*](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-february-24-2024) is accessible via both web browsers and mobile platforms, daring players to categorize four words that align with a theme.
Each round features 16 words, spread across four unique categories. These categories can encompass anything from literary titles to software titles, nations, and beyond. While many words might appear to correlate, there’s only one accurate grouping.
When a player successfully identifies a cluster of four words, they are cleared from the board. However, wrong guesses are counted as errors, with players being limited to four mistakes before the game concludes.
To ease gameplay, players can reshuffle the board to find connections more readily. Each category is distinguished by color, with yellow being the most straightforward, followed by green, blue, and purple. Much like *Wordle*, players can publicize their results on social platforms.
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### Hint for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a slight push without disclosing the answers? Here are some hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Different types of injuries
– **Green:** Poolside toys
– **Blue:** Nicknames in hockey
– **Purple:** Baseball-related imagery
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Still seeking assistance? Here are today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Frequent sports injuries
– **Green:** Equipment from billiards
– **Blue:** NHL teams, their colloquial names
– **Purple:** Elements found in MLB logos
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Answers
Prepared for the solutions? This is your final opportunity to crack the puzzle before we disclose the answers.
**Here comes the drumroll!**
The answers for *Connections: Sports Edition* #170 are:
– **Frequent sports injuries** – **BREAK, SPRAIN, STRAIN, TEAR**
– **Equipment from billiards** – **BALLS, CHALK, CUE, TABLE**
– **NHL teams, their colloquial names** – **CAPS, HABS, ISLES, PENS**
– **Elements found in MLB logos** – **COMPASS ROSE, CROWN, HALO, MAPLE LEAF**
If you didn’t catch them all this time, don’t fret—there will be a new *Connections* puzzle coming tomorrow! We’ll return with additional hints and answers to support you.
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### Seeking More Word Games?
If you are engaged with *NYT Strands*, [explore today’s hints and solutions](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-march-12-2025).
Looking for even more challenges? [Mashable’s game hub](https://games.mashable.com/) features Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, and beyond!
Missed out on yesterday’s *Connections*? [Discover the solution here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-march-12-2025).