**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Enthusiasts**
*Connections: Sports Edition* offers a new spin on the widely enjoyed [New York Times word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), aimed at testing the knowledge of sports fans.
Similar to the initial version of *Connections*, the goal is to pinpoint the shared connection among various words. Just like *Wordle*, the game resets nightly at midnight, with each subsequent puzzle presenting increased difficulty. If you find yourself at a standstill, we have some valuable hints and techniques to assist you.
If you’re just looking for today’s solution, scroll down to the bottom. However, if you’d like to work through it on your own, continue reading for some clues and strategies!
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### What is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
This new daily word game from *The New York Times* is developed in partnership with *The Athletic*, the outlet’s sports-centric platform. *Connections: Sports Edition* can be played on web browsers and mobile devices, inviting players to group four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle includes 16 words organized into four categories. These categories can encompass anything from book names to software titles or even nations. While some words may appear related, only one grouping is correct.
When a player successfully identifies a set of four connected words, those words disappear from the board. Conversely, incorrect guesses are counted as errors, and players may make up to four errors before the game concludes.
To facilitate easier gameplay, players have the option to shuffle the board for clearer connections. The difficulty level of each category is indicated by color:
– **Yellow** – Easiest
– **Green** – Moderate
– **Blue** – Tough
– **Purple** – Most challenging
Similar to *Wordle*, players can share their outcomes on social media.
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### Today’s Hints for *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
In need of a little help without disclosing the answers? Consider these hints:
– **Yellow:** Defend
– **Green:** Extreme tricks
– **Blue:** High-flying dunks
– **Purple:** Identical second term
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### Today’s Categories for *Connections: Sports Edition*
Still seeking assistance? Here are the categories for today:
– **Yellow:** Try to block a basketball shot
– **Green:** Skateboarding maneuvers
– **Blue:** Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions
– **Purple:** ___ Line
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### Today’s Answers for *Connections: Sports Edition*
Prepared for the answers? Here they are:
– **Try to block a basketball shot** – **DEFEND, CLOSE OUT, CONTEST, CHALLENGE**
– **Skateboarding maneuvers** – **KICKFLIP, MANUAL, OLLIE, MCTWIST**
– **Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions** – **LAVINE, MCCLUNG, RICHARDSON, MINER**
– **___ Line** – **GOAL, BLUE, 3-POINT, MENDOZA**
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### More Games and Puzzles
Didn’t quite get it this time? No worries—there’s a new *Connections* puzzle arriving tomorrow, and we’ll provide more hints to assist you.
Interested in additional word games? Be sure to check out today’s [Wordle answer](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-february-15-2025) or try [NYT Strands](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-february-15) for another fun challenge.
Looking for even more games? Head over to [Mashable’s game hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, and much more!
Missed out on yesterday’s *Connections*? [Access the solution here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-february-15-2025).