NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle is a word-matching challenge that debuted on January 20, 2026. The puzzle is part of the NYT Connections series and is hosted on The Athletic’s app, a subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. Although it does not appear in the NYT Games app, the puzzle can be played for free online.
At a Glance
- NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle – a word-matching game with four themed groups.
- Hints focus on sports teams, nicknames, and common mishaps.
- Answers include team abbreviations (ATL, MIA, NYM, PHI) and playful WNBA monikers (KFC, Phee, Point Gawd, Stewie).
- The puzzle is available in The Athletic’s app and online for free.
Puzzle Overview
The game presents a grid of sixteen words, each belonging to one of four color groups. Players must identify the common theme of each group and match the words accordingly. The puzzle’s design tests knowledge of sports terminology, team abbreviations, and pop culture nicknames. The grid is simple: four rows of four words, but the challenge lies in linking the words to the correct theme.
Groupings and Hints
The puzzle’s four groups are color-coded and come with distinct hints:
- Yellow group – Hint: “The other team.”
Theme: adversary
Answers: challenger, foe, opponent, rival
- Green group – Hint: “Whoops!”
Theme: mess up
Answers: botch, err, flub, fumble
- Blue group – Hint: “Baseball teams, for short.”
Theme: NL East teams, on scoreboards
Answers: ATL, MIA, NYM, PHI
- Purple group – Hint: “Hoopster nicknames.”
Theme: nicknames of WNBA players
Answers: KFC, Phee, Point Gawd, Stewie
The themes are straightforward for sports fans, but the word choices require careful reading.
Answers
| Group | Theme | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | adversary | challenger, foe, opponent, rival |
| Green | mess up | botch, err, flub, fumble |
| Blue | NL East teams, on scoreboards | ATL, MIA, NYM, PHI |
| Purple | nicknames of WNBA players | KFC, Phee, Point Gawd, Stewie |
Difficulty and Other Categories
While the four main groups are relatively easy, the NYT Connections series also offers tougher categories that test deeper sports knowledge. Some of the hardest groups include:
- Series A Clubs – Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma
- WNBA MVPs – Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles, Stewart
- Premier League team nicknames – Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes, Hammers
- Homophones of NBA player names – Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart, Hero
These categories push players to recall specific team nicknames, player accolades, and even phonetic wordplay.
How to Play
- Open The Athletic’s app or visit the NYT Connections webpage.
- Locate the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for January 20, 2026.
- Read each group’s hint and examine the sixteen words.
- Drag or tap to group words that share the same theme.
- Submit your solution; the app will confirm correct matches.
The puzzle is free to play online, but a subscription to The Athletic grants access to the full NYT Connections series.
Key Takeaways
- The puzzle relies on sports knowledge and word-play.
- Four distinct themes-adversary, mess up, team abbreviations, and WNBA nicknames-make up the core groups.
- The game is part of a larger NYT Connections series that includes challenging categories like Serie A clubs and homophones of NBA names.
- It is available on The Athletic’s app and free online, not in the NYT Games app.
Written by Daniel J. Whitman for News Of Los Angeles.
Puzzle History
NYT Connections began in 2005 as a way to combine wordplay with trivia. The Sports Edition, launched in 2019, focuses exclusively on athletic themes. Each new edition appears weekly, offering fresh challenges for readers worldwide.
Design Elements
- Grid layout – 16 words arranged in four rows of four.
- Color coding – Each theme is marked by a distinct color, helping players visually separate the groups.
- Hints – One sentence per group provides a subtle clue without giving away the answer.
- Answer reveal – After submitting, the puzzle shows the correct grouping and offers a brief explanation of each theme.
Strategic Tips
- Start with the hints – The hint often contains a keyword that points directly to the theme.
- Look for patterns – Team abbreviations usually appear in all caps, while nicknames may be quirky or slang.
- Eliminate first – If a word clearly fits one theme, cross it out from the others to reduce confusion.
- Use process of elimination – With only sixteen words, narrowing down possibilities quickly leads to the solution.
Thematic Analysis
The puzzle’s themes cover a range of sports knowledge:
- Adversary – Commonly used to describe opponents in any sport.
- Mess up – A playful nod to the mistakes athletes make.
- NL East teams, on scoreboards – Refers to the official abbreviations used in baseball box scores.
- Nicknames of WNBA players – Highlights the colorful monikers that fans attach to athletes.
These themes test both specific facts and general sports culture.
Why It’s Popular
Sports fans enjoy puzzles that blend trivia with wordplay. The NYT Connections series provides a quick mental workout that fits into a busy schedule. The free online version removes barriers, allowing a wider audience to participate.
Comparison with Other NYT Puzzles
- Crossword – Requires longer words and more complex clues.
- Wordle – Focuses on guessing a single five-letter word.
- Connections – Combines a small set of words with a clear theme, making it easier to solve quickly.
The Sports Edition adds a layer of athletic specificity that sets it apart from other NYT puzzle types.
Community Response
Readers on social media often share screenshots of their solutions. Some posts highlight creative ways to remember the answers, such as mnemonic devices. The puzzle’s community forums discuss strategies and celebrate correct solutions.
Future of the Puzzle
The Athletic plans to continue releasing weekly Sports Edition puzzles, with potential expansions into other sports like golf and hockey. NYT has indicated interest in integrating more interactive features, such as live leaderboards and timed challenges.
Detailed Word Explanations
- Challenger – A team or individual that competes against another in a contest.
- Foe – A rival or enemy in a competitive setting.
- Opponent – The party against whom one competes.
- Rival – A competitor who is especially formidable.
- Botch – To perform a task poorly or incorrectly.
- Err – To make a mistake or misjudge.
- Flub – A clumsy or inept action.
- Fumble – To mishandle or drop a ball or object.
- ATL – The official abbreviation for the Atlanta Braves.
- MIA – The official abbreviation for the Miami Marlins.
- NYM – The official abbreviation for the New York Mets.
- PHI – The official abbreviation for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- KFC – A playful nickname for WNBA star Brittney Griner, referencing her last name’s similarity to “KFC.”
- Phee – A nickname for WNBA player Candace Parker, derived from her middle name “Phyllis.”
- Point Gawd – A nickname for player Maya Moore, highlighting her scoring prowess.
- Stewie – A nickname for WNBA star Elena Delle Donne, inspired by the cartoon character.
Puzzle Mechanics in Depth
The drag-and-drop interface allows users to rearrange tiles freely. Each tile’s border color signals its group, and the app highlights correct placements in green while marking incorrect ones in red. After a correct submission, a short explanation appears, reinforcing the learning outcome.
User Engagement
The free online version attracts casual players, while subscription holders enjoy additional features like progress tracking and exclusive puzzles. Many users report that the puzzle’s quick completion time makes it an ideal break during work or travel.
Design Philosophy
NYT designers aim for a balance between accessibility and depth. By limiting the word set to sixteen, they create a puzzle that can be completed in under ten minutes. Color coding and hints serve as scaffolding for players of all skill levels.
Educational Value
Beyond entertainment, the puzzle offers subtle learning. Sports historians, analysts, and casual fans alike reinforce knowledge of team codes, player nicknames, and common sports terminology. The low cost of the free version makes it a useful educational tool for schools and sports clubs.
Potential for Expansion
NYT editors are exploring animated hints, where short video clips illustrate a theme. Another idea involves user-generated hints, allowing players to submit their own clues for future editions. These innovations could keep the format fresh and engaging.
Final Thoughts
The NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle demonstrates how a simple set of words can become an engaging, culturally relevant challenge. By combining clear themes, concise hints, and a user-friendly interface, the puzzle invites both seasoned puzzle solvers and casual sports fans to test their knowledge.
Written by Daniel J. Whitman for News Of Los Angeles.
