NYT Connections Sports Edition: Clues and Solutions for May 21, 2025


Connections: Sports Edition – Everything You Should Know

Connections: Sports Edition is an exciting twist on the beloved New York Times word game, tailored for sports enthusiasts. Similar to the original Connections, the objective is to pinpoint the shared connection among groups of words. Likewise, the puzzle resets every day at midnight, with each subsequent challenge increasing in difficulty. If you find yourself in a bind, don’t sweat it—we have hints and strategies to assist you.

If you’re solely seeking today’s solution, scroll down to the bottom. However, if you’d rather tackle it on your own, continue reading for clues and tips to aid you in your journey.

What Is Connections: Sports Edition?

This innovative daily word game from The New York Times is a partnership with The Athletic, the Times’ focused sports news platform. Accessible on both desktop and mobile, Connections: Sports Edition invites players to arrange 16 words into four groups of four, with each group revolving around a shared theme.

The twist? Although multiple words might appear to fit together, there’s just one accurate combination for each cluster. Guess a group correctly, and those words are removed from the board. Make an error, and it detracts from your total—you’re permitted up to four mistakes before the game concludes.

To assist players in recognizing patterns, the board can be rearranged. Furthermore, each group is color-coded by level of difficulty: yellow is the simplest, followed by green, blue, and then purple. And yes, similar to Wordle, you can share your results with friends on social media.

Hint for Today’s Categories

Need a little guidance in the right direction without revealing too much? Here are some discreet hints for today’s puzzle:

– Yellow: Time periods in sports
– Green: Football defensive tactics
– Blue: Terms for an excellent pass
– Purple: Iconic basketball sneakers (without the “s”)

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Categories

In need of additional assistance? Here are the specific categories for today’s puzzle:

– Yellow: Phases of a Game
– Green: Football Defensive Terminology
– Blue: Words Used to Depict a Quality Pass
– Purple: Named Basketball Sneakers, Excluding the “S”

Spoiler Alert: Today’s Answers

Still facing challenges? Here’s the solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #240:

– Phases of a Game: HALF, INNING, PERIOD, QUARTER
– Football Defensive Terminology: 4-3, 46, NICKEL, PREVENT
– Words Used to Depict a Quality Pass: APPLE, ASSIST, DIME, DISH
– Named Basketball Sneakers (Excluding the “S”): CHUCK, JORDAN, LEBRON, PENNY

Didn’t figure it out today? No worries—there’s a fresh puzzle waiting for you tomorrow, and we’ll return with more hints to support you.

Looking for additional mind challenges? Visit Mashable’s games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, and beyond.

Also engaging with NYT Strands? We’ve got today’s hints and solutions for that as well.

Missed yesterday’s Connections? You can find the answer here.