**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Aficionados**
*Connections: Sports Edition* is the newest extension of the well-known [*New York Times* word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), crafted to challenge sports fans.
Much like the original *Connections*, this game tasks players with discovering “common threads among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, it refreshes every day at midnight, with each subsequent puzzle becoming increasingly difficult. If you find yourself in a bind, we have hints, tips, and strategies available to assist you in solving the puzzle.
If you’re only looking for today’s answer, feel free to scroll to the end of this article. However, if you wish to tackle it on your own, keep reading for some useful clues and advice.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
This new daily word puzzle from *The New York Times* is a partnership with *The Athletic*, the publication’s sports-centric platform. Accessible on both web browsers and mobile devices, *Connections: Sports Edition* has a clear goal: connect four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle features 16 words, categorized into four groups. These categories can range from sports terms to broader subjects like book titles or names of countries. While some words might appear to fit into several groups, there is only one correct answer.
Once players successfully group four words, those words are eliminated from the board. However, incorrect selections count as errors, and players can make up to four mistakes before the game concludes.
For added convenience, players can shuffle the board to rearrange the words. The game also utilizes a color-coded system to show difficulty levels: yellow is the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like *Wordle*, players can also share their results on social media to compare scores with friends.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a little encouragement to begin? Here are some hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Gear used in sports
– **Green:** Films centered around sports
– **Blue:** Mascots from Minor League Baseball teams
– **Purple:** Monikers for basketball players
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Still having trouble? Here are today’s categories along with their respective groups:
– **Yellow:** *An athlete’s apparel* – **JERSEY, KIT, SWEATER, UNIFORM**
– **Green:** *Movies related to football* – **DRAFT DAY, INVINCIBLE, LEATHERHEADS, RUDY**
– **Blue:** *Names of Minor-League Baseball teams* – **BISCUITS, JUMBO SHRIMP, TRASH PANDAS, YARD GOATS**
– **Purple:** *Nicknames of NBA players* – **ANT-MAN, JOKER, KAT, SPIDA**
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### How to Play and Succeed
If you’re unfamiliar with *Connections*, here are some recommendations to enhance your experience:
1. **Begin with the obvious:** Identify words that clearly go together, such as sports gear or team names.
2. **Utilize the shuffle option:** Rearranging the board can help you notice patterns you might otherwise overlook.
3. **Consider broadly:** Some connections may not be immediately apparent, so explore alternative meanings or contexts for each word.
4. **Take your time:** There’s no rush, so don’t hasten your guesses.
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### Don’t Worry If You Missed It
If you weren’t able to solve today’s puzzle, don’t fret! A fresh *Connections: Sports Edition* puzzle will be available tomorrow, and we’ll return with more hints and answers to assist you.
Looking for additional puzzles? Visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.
Interested in tackling *Wordle* or *Strands*? [Here’s today’s Wordle answer](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-january-4-2025) and [Strands hints and answers](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-january-4).
Happy puzzling!