The New York Times’ The Athletic daily puzzle, Connections: Sports Edition, challenges players to group sixteen words into four categories based on shared themes. Today’s edition (#465) features a mix of basketball, college football, Philadelphia Eagles players, and a quirky final category.
If you’re stuck, here’s a breakdown of hints and solutions, designed to help without giving everything away immediately. The game is available through The Athletic app or online for free; it’s distinct from the main NYT Games app.
Category Hints Ranked by Difficulty
Here’s how the categories break down, from easiest to hardest:
- Yellow: A defensive tactic in basketball.
- Green: Locations tied to college football playoff contenders.
- Blue: First names associated with Philadelphia Eagles players.
- Purple: A phrase completed by the number six.
Connections: Sports Edition – Answers Revealed
Here are the solutions for each category:
-
Yellow (Defensive Move in Hoops):
- Challenge
- Close Out
- Contest
- Defend
-
Green (Alma Mater):
- Athens (Georgia)
- Bloomington (Indiana)
- Eugene (Oregon)
- Oxford (Mississippi)
-
Blue (Go Birds):
- Cooper (DeVante Cooper)
- Dallas (Goedert)
- Jalen (Hurts)
- Saquon (Barkley)
-
Purple (____ Six):
- Kick (Kick Six)
- New Year’s (Six Flags New Year’s Eve)
- Original (Six Original)
- Pick (Pick Six)
Solving Connections requires pattern recognition, sports knowledge, and a bit of lateral thinking. If you enjoy word puzzles, the daily edition from The Athletic is a fun way to test your skills.
