Connections: Sports Edition is a fun, challenging, and highly addictive daily word puzzle game developed by The Athletic (the sports division of The New York Times) in partnership with NYT Games. It is the sports-themed spin-off of the massively popular original NYT Connections game. While the core gameplay remains the same—grouping 16 words into four categories of four based on shared connections—the Sports Edition focuses exclusively on sports terminology, players, teams, rules, history, trivia, and cross-sport links. It tests not only your pattern-recognition skills but also your knowledge of various sports like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, Olympics, tennis, and more.
Launched officially on February 9, 2025 (Super Bowl Sunday), it quickly became a favorite among sports fans looking for a quick mental workout alongside their daily sports news.
History and Launch
The original Connections game debuted in beta in June 2023 and became one of NYT’s most-played titles after Wordle. Inspired by its success, The Athletic introduced a sports version in beta on September 24, 2024. After months of player feedback, the full official launch occurred on February 9, 2025, perfectly timed with the biggest day in American football.
Mark Cooper, The Athletic’s managing editor for news and the puzzle editor, creates the daily puzzles. He designed the Sports Edition to lean more heavily on trivia and domain-specific sports knowledge compared to the original game’s stronger emphasis on wordplay and linguistic tricks. One category per puzzle is often purely trivia-based, while the hardest (purple) category usually includes clever wordplay.
The game updates every day at midnight in your local time zone and is completely free to play, with optional NYT or Athletic subscription features for extra stats and archives.
How to Play: Rules and Gameplay
The gameplay is straightforward yet deceptively difficult:
- You see a 4×4 grid containing 16 sports-related words, names, terms, or phrases.
- Your goal is to identify four groups of four items that share a common theme or connection.
- Categories are color-coded by difficulty:
- Yellow: Easiest
- Green: Medium
- Blue: Hard
- Purple: Hardest (often involves puns or clever twists)
Key Rules:
- Select four words and hit “Submit.”
- You can make only four mistakes total. On the fourth mistake, the game ends.
- Once a correct group is found, it is removed from the grid and its color is revealed.
- There is a built-in timer to track how quickly you solve it.
- Shuffle button and deselect options help when you get stuck.
- Each puzzle has exactly one unique solution.
Examples of Categories:
- “Sports ____”: Fan, Car, Bar, Radio
- U.S. Summer Olympians: Biles, Phelps, Ledecky, Lyles
- Types of hockey goals: Empty Net, Even Strength, Power Play, Short-Handed
- NHL arena names or hockey terms that double as food items (Apple, Biscuit, Grinder, Icing)
Special editions include NFL team-themed puzzles for all 32 franchises, allowing fans to test deep knowledge of their favorite teams.
Differences from Original NYT Connections
While the mechanics are identical, several key differences make the Sports Edition unique:
- Theme: 100% sports-focused (no general pop culture or everyday words).
- Knowledge Required: Heavier on sports trivia, statistics, history, nicknames, equipment, rules, and venues.
- Timer: Prominently featured for competitive play.
- Visuals: Sports imagery and a darker, sportier interface.
- Creator: Mark Cooper (Sports) vs. Wyna Liu (Original).
Many players find the Sports Edition slightly harder if their sports knowledge is limited in certain areas, but it feels more rewarding for dedicated fans.
Why It’s So Popular
Connections: Sports Edition has exploded in popularity for several reasons:
- Daily Ritual: Like Wordle or the original Connections, it’s a quick 5–15 minute brain teaser you can play every morning.
- Community Engagement: Players discuss puzzles on Reddit (r/NYTConnections), X, and The Athletic’s “Connections Coach” forum, sharing hints and strategies.
- Skill Development: It improves sports literacy, pattern recognition, and quick thinking while keeping you updated on obscure facts.
- Accessibility: Playable on web (theathletic.com/connections), The Athletic app, and NYT platforms—no installation required for basic play.
- Inclusivity: Appeals to casual fans and hardcore sports nerds alike, covering global sports.
The mix of straightforward categories and mind-bending purple ones creates the perfect balance of satisfaction and frustration.
Pro Tips and Strategies
- Start with obvious clusters: player names, team nicknames, positions, brands, or numbers.
- Look for proper nouns and specific sports first.
- Use the process of elimination—sometimes figuring out what doesn’t belong helps.
- Save the purple category for last.
- Ignore the timer during early practice sessions to build confidence.
- If stuck, take a break or shuffle the grid for a fresh perspective.
- Track your stats (win streak, average time, mistakes) to measure improvement.
Advanced players often compete with friends or try to solve in under 60 seconds.
The Future of the Game
The Athletic and NYT continue to expand the game with special event puzzles (Olympics, playoffs, anniversaries) and more league-specific editions. There’s potential for user-generated content or additional sports categories in the future. It represents a new trend in sports media: interactive, gamified engagement that keeps fans connected even during off-seasons.
Conclusion: Should You Play It?
If you love sports—whether it’s cricket, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, or the Olympics—Connections: Sports Edition is an absolute must-try. It’s more than just a game; it’s a daily celebration of sports knowledge that sharpens your mind while entertaining you.
Play it here: The Athletic Connections: Sports Edition
Once you start, you’ll likely get hooked. Many players report it has become part of their morning routine alongside coffee and sports highlights. Whether you’re a beginner or a sports encyclopedia, there’s a puzzle waiting to challenge and delight you every single day.
