> At a Glance
> – The four color-coded groups span Washington D.C. athletes, trainer supplies, Unrivaled teams and famous Jerrys
> – Puzzle No. 472 debuted on January 8, 2026
> – Why it matters: Fans can check their answers or learn new sports trivia
The Athletic’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for January 8 challenged players with categories ranging from D.C. franchises to basketball’s newest league and iconic first names.
How the Puzzle Works
Connections: Sports Edition, published by The Athletic, separates 16 clues into four linked quartets. Each set is marked by color-yellow (easiest) through purple (hardest).
Today’s Categories
Yellow group hint: Sports in our nation’s capital
Green group hint: Got any Band-Aids?
Blue group hint: Certain basketball league
Purple hint: Same first name
Solved Answers
Yellow answers (DC athlete)
- Capital
- Commander
- Mystic
- Wizard
Green answers (supplies for an athletic trainer)
- Bandages
- Ice pack
- Scissors
- Tape
Blue answers (Unrivaled teams)
- Breeze
- Laces
- Phantom
- Vinyl
Purple answers (Jerry ____)
- Lucas
- Rice
- Stackhouse
- West
Key Takeaways
- D.C. pro teams use Capital, Commander, Mystic and Wizard as monikers
- Athletic trainers keep bandages, ice packs, scissors and tape on hand
- The Unrivaled women’s basketball league features teams named Breeze, Laces, Phantom and Vinyl
- Sports history fans will recognize four famous Jerrys: Lucas, Rice, Stackhouse and West
Players can try the daily game free online through The Athletic or its app.
