The New York Times has expanded its popular word puzzle offerings with Connections: Sports Edition, a specialized version developed in partnership with The Athletic. This sports-focused variant maintains the core gameplay of the original puzzle while centering on athletic knowledge and trivia.
In Connections: Sports Edition, players encounter 16 words that must be sorted into four distinct categories of four words each. The challenge lies in identifying the precise common thread linking each group, as multiple seemingly related words often appear on the board. Players have up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends. Each category is color-coded by difficulty level, with yellow representing the easiest grouping, progressing through green and blue to purple as the most challenging.
Today’s puzzle, numbered 716 and released on September 9, 2026, features four distinct categories. Players must identify items needed for pre-game festivities, legendary championship performers, historical venue names for a major league franchise, and word rearrangements of professional football team names. Like the original Connections game, this version resets daily with new word combinations, allowing players to share their results on social media platforms.
The puzzle can be accessed through web browsers and mobile devices, making it accessible to sports enthusiasts seeking a daily mental challenge centered on athletic themes and memorabilia.
Originally reported by Mashable →
About the Author
