The latest edition of The New York Times ’ Sports Connections puzzle (#439) challenges players to identify four groups of four words linked by a common theme. This version, published by The Athletic, requires careful consideration, as all answers begin with the letter “D”. This detail significantly complicates the solving process.
Puzzle Breakdown: Categories and Answers
The puzzle consists of four difficulty-ranked categories: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (most challenging). Here’s a breakdown of each group:
- Yellow: The theme is professional sports teams with names starting with “D.” The correct answers are Devils, Diamondbacks, Dolphins, and Dream.
- Green: This category centers on Division I colleges. The solutions are Dartmouth, Dayton, DePaul, and Duke.
- Blue: The focus here is on Basketball Hall of Famers. The answers are Divac, Donovan, Drexler, and Duncan.
- Purple: The most obscure group revolves around the 2004 sports comedy Dodgeball. The terms are dip, dive, dodge, and duck.
Why This Puzzle Matters
The Athletic ‘s Connections is gaining traction, though it appears outside the main NYT Games app, available through The Athletic ’s platform or online for free. The puzzle’s increasing popularity highlights the growing demand for daily mental challenges. The fact that all solutions start with “D” is a deliberate design choice, forcing players to think beyond initial assumptions.
Challenging Past Puzzles
Some previous editions of Connections: Sports Edition have been notably difficult. Examples include:
- Series A Clubs (Jan. 11): Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.
- WNBA MVPs (Jan. 21): Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles, and Stewart.
- Premier League team nicknames (Jan. 17): Bees, Cherries, Foxes, and Hammers.
- Homophones of NBA player names (Jan. 26): Barns, Connect, Heart, and Hero.
Conclusion
Today’s Sports Connections puzzle emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle patterns. The difficulty lies in navigating the letter “D” constraint and identifying less-obvious connections. The game’s continued success underscores the appeal of concise, daily mental exercises.
