**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Perspective on the Popular NYT Word Game**
*Connections: Sports Edition* presents a novel interpretation of the cherished [New York Times word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), aimed at testing the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original *Connections*, players must discover “common threads among words.” Much akin to *Wordle*, this game resets every day at midnight, with each new puzzle increasing in difficulty. If you find yourself in a bind, we have hints and strategies available—or you can jump straight to today’s solution.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
This new edition from the *New York Times* results from a partnership with *The Athletic*, the publication’s sports-centered platform. Accessible on both web and mobile platforms, the game invites players to cluster four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle features 16 words, which need to be arranged into four distinct categories. These categories can include anything from sports teams to book titles, software, and even country names. While some words may appear to connect, there is a single correct solution.
When a player successfully groups four words, those words disappear from the board. However, incorrect guesses are considered mistakes, and players can only make four mistakes throughout the game. To assist, players can shuffle the board to better recognize the connections. Each category is color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), then green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, players can share their results on social media.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a little guidance? Here are hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Women’s basketball franchises
– **Green:** Teams from the same MLB division
– **Blue:** Teams located in Las Vegas
– **Purple:** Teams with a specific color in their title
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories and Answers
If you’re prepared for the answers, here’s the breakdown for today’s puzzle:
– **Yellow:** WNBA franchises – *LIBERTY, MERCURY, SPARKS, WINGS*
– **Green:** AL Central franchises – *GUARDIANS, ROYALS, TWINS, WHITE SOX*
– **Blue:** Las Vegas franchises – *ACES, GOLDEN KNIGHTS, RAIDERS, UNLV*
– **Purple:** “Red” franchises – *RED RAIDERS, RED SOX, RED WINGS, REDS*
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### Tips for Playing *Connections: Sports Edition*
1. **Identify clear groups first:** Begin with categories that are obvious, such as team names or colors.
2. **Utilize the shuffle option:** Rearranging the words can assist in uncovering connections you might have overlooked.
3. **Think creatively:** Some connections may not be apparent at first, so consider broader associations.
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### No Need to Stress If You Missed It
Didn’t solve today’s puzzle? Don’t worry—there will be a new *Connections* challenge for you tomorrow. We’ll return with more hints and answers to keep your mind engaged.
Enthusiastic about more puzzles? Explore [Mashable’s games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more. If you enjoy *Wordle* or *Strands*, we also provide hints and answers for those games.
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Discover the solution here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-january-1-2025).
Enjoy puzzling!