*Connections: Sports Edition* is an updated iteration of the beloved *New York Times* word puzzle that challenges the knowledge of sports enthusiasts. Like its predecessor, *Connections*, the game is centered around identifying “common threads among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, *Connections* renews daily at midnight, and each new assortment of words presents a greater level of difficulty—hence, we have compiled some hints and tips to assist you in overcoming the challenge.
If you seek today’s puzzle solution, scroll to the end of this article for the most recent *Connections* answer. If you’d rather attempt to solve it independently, keep reading for clues, advice, and strategies to aid you.
**SEE ALSO:** [Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable](https://games.mashable.com/)
**What is Connections Sports Edition?**
The *NYT*’s newest daily word game has been launched in partnership with *The Athletic*, the New York Times’s division for sports journalism. *Connections* can be enjoyed on web browsers and mobile devices, requiring players to collect four words that are related.
Each puzzle consists of 16 words, categorized into four groups. These groups can encompass a variety of subjects, including book titles, software, country names, and more. While several words might appear to fit together, there is only one correct grouping.
If a player successfully identifies all four words in a group, those words are taken off the board. A wrong guess counts as a mistake—players are allowed up to four mistakes before the game concludes.
Players can rearrange and manipulate the board to help identify connections more easily. Each group is assigned a color-code, with yellow being the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, you can share your results on social media with friends.
**SEE ALSO:** [NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for September 12, 2025](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-mini-crossword-answers-hints-september-12-2025)
**Here’s a hint for today’s Connections Sports Edition categories**
Want a hint about the categories without the specifics? Consider these:
– **Yellow:** Racket maneuvers
– **Green:** Sports films
– **Blue:** University affiliations
– **Purple:** Identical second word
**Here are today’s Connections Sports Edition categories**
Need additional help? Today’s connections are categorized as follows:
– **Yellow:** Tennis strikes
– **Green:** Hockey films
– **Blue:** Active college mascots
– **Purple:** ___ baseball
*Looking for Wordle answers today? [Here’s the solution to today’s Wordle.](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-september-13-2025)*
Prepared for the answers? This is your final opportunity to back out and tackle today’s puzzle before we unveil the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s *Connections Sports Edition* #355 is…
**What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today**
– Tennis strikes – **BACKHAND, DROP, SLICE, SMASH**
– Hockey films – **MIRACLE, MYSTERY, ALASKA, SLAP SHOT, THE MIGHTY DUCKS**
– Active college mascots – **BEVO, SIR BIG SPUR, SMOKEY, UGA**
– ____ baseball – **BACKYARD, FANTASY, INSIDE, MAJOR LEAGUE**
Don’t feel disappointed if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. New *Connections* puzzles will be available tomorrow for you to challenge your mind, and we will return once more to offer additional helpful hints.
*Are you also engaged in NYT Strands? [Check hints and answers for today’s Strands](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-september-13-2025).*
[If you’re searching for more puzzles, Mashable has games now!](https://games.mashable.com/) Visit our [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
**Not the day you want?** [Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-september-13-2025)