The New York Times ’ daily Connections puzzle, in its Sports Edition published by The Athletic, tested players today with a challenging set of groupings centered around NCAA basketball. For those seeking help with today’s #538 edition, here’s a breakdown of the hints and answers.
Understanding the Puzzle
Connections challenges players to identify four groups of four words linked by a common theme. The difficulty varies, with categories ranging from straightforward to obscure. Today’s edition leveraged the timing of Selection Sunday, focusing on the NCAA tournament.
Hints for Each Category
The puzzle’s categories were designed with increasing difficulty in mind:
- Yellow (Easiest): Think violations within a basketball game.
- Green: These words all appear at the beginning of stages in the tournament.
- Blue: These are prominent figures in women’s college basketball.
- Purple (Hardest): These teams have earned a spot in the 2026 Men’s NCAA tournament.
The Solutions Revealed
Here’s how the groupings break down:
- Yellow Group: Basketball Fouls: The words block, charge, hold, and reach-in all describe common fouls in basketball.
- Green Group: First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds: The terms elite, final, second, and sweet refer to the opening words of rounds in the men’s NCAA tournament (Sweet Sixteen, Final Four, Second Round, Elite Eight).
- Blue Group: Women’s College Basketball Coaches: The names Auriemma, Close, Ivey, and Staley represent well-known coaches in women’s college basketball (Geno Auriemma, Lisa Bluder, Kim Ivey, Dawn Staley).
- Purple Group: Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament: The teams Gonzaga, High Point, Queens, and Troy are among the first to secure bids for the 2026 tournament.
The Sports Edition of Connections, unlike the standard game, is published by The Athletic and can be played directly through their app or online for free.
The puzzle demonstrates a solid understanding of college basketball terminology and current tournament qualifications. Solving it requires a mix of sports knowledge and pattern recognition, making it a fun challenge for fans.
