The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition (Puzzle #427, released November 24th), is now available. This version of the daily word game, published by The Athletic, challenges players to group sixteen words into four categories with a shared theme.
If you’re stuck, here’s a breakdown of the solutions, progressing from the easiest to the most difficult groups:
Category Breakdown
The puzzle is designed to test both sports knowledge and pattern recognition. The groups are structured with increasing difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest).
Yellow Group: Shorts Styles
The theme here is different types of shorts. The four words you need to group are basketball, bike, compression, and gym.
Green Group: Stadium Anthems
This group spotlights popular songs played in sports arenas. The correct answers are Eye of the Tiger, Jump Around, Sandstorm, and Thunderstruck. These tracks are staples at games and create an energetic atmosphere.
Blue Group: Football Players Named Drew
This category requires deeper sports knowledge. The four football players with the first name “Drew” are Bledsoe, Brees, Lock, and Pearson.
Purple Group: Sports Rules
The most challenging group revolves around specific rules in sports. The correct answers are infield fly, mercy, tuck, and unwritten. These rules vary across sports and can be obscure.
Where to Play
The Sports Edition of Connections is accessible through The Athletic app (for subscribers) or online for free. It’s separate from the standard NYT Games app.
The puzzle’s difficulty varies; some groups are straightforward, while others require deeper sports knowledge. This edition highlights the intersection of sports culture, terminology, and trivia.
