**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Aficionados**
*Connections: Sports Edition* is the newest take on the beloved [*New York Times* word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections), crafted to challenge sports fans. Just like the original *Connections*, this variant prompts players to uncover “shared themes among words.” Moreover, in a manner akin to *Wordle*, the game resets every day at midnight, with each new puzzle becoming more difficult. If you find yourself at an impasse, don’t fret—we’ve compiled hints and tips to assist you.
If you’re solely interested in today’s solution, scroll down to the conclusion of this article. However, if you prefer to solve the puzzle independently, continue reading for advice and clues to aid your efforts.
—
### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
The *New York Times* has collaborated with *The Athletic*, its sports-centric publication, to unveil this daily word challenge. Accessible on both web browsers and mobile devices, *Connections: Sports Edition* requires players to categorize four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle features 16 words split into four categories. These categories can include everything from book titles to software names, countries, and beyond. While some words may appear to be related, there’s only one accurate solution for each grouping.
Once players successfully identify a set of four words, those words are eliminated from the board. However, incorrect guesses are counted as errors, with players permitted up to four mistakes before the game concludes. To simplify matters, players can rearrange the board to more easily identify connections.
Categories are color-coded based on difficulty: yellow is the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, players can share their results with friends via social media.
—
### Hints for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Need a little direction without giving away the categories? Here are some hints to guide you:
– **Yellow:** Pertains to boosting a score or advantage
– **Green:** Films centered around ice
– **Blue:** Iconic NFL quarterbacks
– **Purple:** Shortened forms of college football mascots
—
### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Still unsure? Here’s a rundown of today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** *Boost a lead*
– **Green:** *Ice hockey films*
– **Blue:** *Hall of Fame quarterbacks*
– **Purple:** *Initial four letters of SEC nicknames*
—
### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Solution
Ready for the answers? This is your final opportunity to look away before we disclose today’s solution. Drumroll, please!
Here’s the resolution to *Connections: Sports Edition* #99:
– **Boost a lead:** BALLOON, EXTEND, GROW, SWELL
– **Ice hockey films:** GOON, MIRACLE, SLAP SHOT, THE MIGHTY DUCKS
– **Hall of Fame quarterbacks:** MANNING, MOON, TITTLE, UNITAS
– **Initial four letters of SEC nicknames:** BULL, GAME, LONG, SOON
—
Don’t be concerned if you didn’t solve today’s puzzle—tomorrow holds new opportunities! A fresh *Connections* puzzle will await your attention, and we’ll return with additional hints and answers to support you.
—
### Seeking More Games?
If you enjoy puzzles, visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more. And if you’re also engaging with *NYT Strands*, [here are today’s hints and solutions](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-december-31).
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Discover the solution here.](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-31)