For fans of word puzzles, today’s Connections: Sports Edition offers a specialized twist on the popular grouping game. Unlike the standard version found in the New York Times Games app, this iteration is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports news outlet owned by The Times. While it requires using The Athletic’s app or website, it provides a unique challenge by focusing specifically on sports terminology and themes.
If you are currently stuck on the April 7 puzzle, the following guide provides progressive hints and the full solution to help you navigate the categories.
Progressive Hints
If you want to maintain the spirit of the game, avoid looking at the answers below and use these thematic nudges instead. They are ranked from the most straightforward to the most abstract:
- 🟡 Yellow Group: A common exclamation heard on the green (“Fore!” ).
- 🟢 Green Group: A nod to professional hockey in the Great White North.
- 🔵 Blue Group: Terms a meteorologist might use to describe a front.
- 🟣 Purple Group: A frantic moment often seen during baseball games.
Full Solutions and Category Breakdowns
For those who need the direct answers to complete the puzzle, here is the full breakdown of today’s groupings:
🟡 Yellow: Golf Scoring Terms
These terms describe the relationship between a player’s strokes and the standard expected for a hole.
* Birdie
* Bogey
* Eagle
* Par
🟢 Green: Canadian NHL Teams
A collection of professional ice hockey franchises based in Canada.
* Canadiens
* Canucks
* Oilers
* Senators
🔵 Blue: Weather-Themed Teams
A group of professional sports teams whose names are derived from atmospheric phenomena.
* Hurricanes
* Lightning
* Storm
* Thunder
🟣 Purple: Things That Race at MLB Games
This is the most unconventional category, referring to the quirky “races” held during breaks in Major League Baseball broadcasts.
* Pierogis
* Presidents
* Sausages
* The Freeze
Summary: Today’s puzzle transitions from standard sports terminology in golf to specific NHL franchises, weather-inspired team names, and finally, the eccentric mascot races found in baseball stadiums.
