The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition for November 22nd (#425), tested players with a mix of football, soccer, and regional sports terms. Published by The Athletic (a Times -owned subscription service), this daily word puzzle challenges participants to group sixteen words into four categories with four words each.
For those who prefer a challenge but still want to solve it, here’s a breakdown of the puzzle, from the easiest to the most difficult groupings. If you just want the answers, scroll down.
Puzzle Breakdown: Hints by Category
The difficulty levels varied significantly. Here’s how the categories broke down:
- Yellow (Easiest): The theme centers around gridiron numbers. Think football defensive stats.
- Green: This group focuses on teams based in the Garden State.
- Blue: The connection here involves guarding against scores. These are US soccer goalkeepers.
- Purple (Hardest): The most obscure grouping revolves around a geographical connection: Washington ____.
Solutions for Today’s Puzzle
Here’s how the words grouped together:
- Yellow: Hurry, Interception, Sack, Tackle – Football defensive statistics. These are the core metrics used to evaluate defensive performance in American football.
- Green: Devils, Giants, Gotham, Red Bulls – Teams that play in New Jersey. This represents a regional sports cluster, highlighting the variety of professional teams in the state.
- Blue: Howard, Naeher, Scurry, Solo – US soccer goalkeepers. These are all prominent figures in American soccer history, known for their performances at the international level.
- Purple: Capitals, Huskies, Nationals, Spirit – Washington ____. This refers to major sports teams located in Washington, D.C., and Washington State.
The purple category was designed to trick players into thinking about a single state, rather than the broader range of teams across different locations.
The Sports Edition Connections puzzle remains a popular daily challenge for word game enthusiasts, blending sports knowledge with logical deduction.
