The New York Times has a new daily word game, and today’s edition is all about sports. The game is called Connections: Sports Edition, and it is a version of the popular word game that tests sports fans’ knowledge. Each puzzle features 16 words, grouped into four categories, and players must find the common thread between four words in each set.
The game resets after midnight, just like Wordle, and each new set of words gets trickier. The New York Times has published hints and answers for today’s puzzle, dated September 29, 2026. Players who want to solve it themselves can skip ahead for clues, while those who just want the answer can jump straight to the end.
How Connections Works
Connections: Sports Edition is a spinoff of the original Connections game, which asks players to find common threads between words. The sports edition tests knowledge of sports history, athletes, and rivalries through its categories.
The game is available on web browsers and mobile devices. Players are presented with 16 words, arranged in four categories. Each category is color-coded, with yellow being the easiest and purple the hardest. Correctly guessing all four words in a set removes those words from the board. Players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
There is also a shuffle feature that lets players rearrange the board to spot connections more easily. Once a set is solved, the words disappear, and the remaining words become harder to see.
Today’s Categories
The New York Times has released hints for today’s puzzle, giving players a sense of what each category covers without revealing the exact words. The hints are:
- Yellow: Baseball’s first GOAT
- Green: Winter sports stars
- Blue: Movies
- Purple: Midwest rivalries
Those hints are designed to nudge players toward the right direction without giving away the answers. For anyone who wants a little extra help, the full categories are spelled out in more detail below.
The Full Answers
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #736 is revealed in a neat, readable list at the bottom of the article. The categories break down as follows:
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| Babe Ruth Nicknames | BABE, BAMBINO, COLOSSUS OF CLOUT, SULTAN OF SWAT |
| Famous Winter Olympians | ALYSA LIU, APOLO OHNO, MARIT BJØRGEN, PICABO STREET |
| Kevin Costner Sports Films | BULL DURHAM, DRAFT DAY, FIELD OF DREAMS, TIN CUP |
| Big Ten Rivalry Trophies | FLOYD OF ROSEDALE, OLD OAKEN BUCKET, PAUL BUNYAN’S AXE, VICTORY BELL |
The category names are deliberately broad, which means players who read them carefully can narrow down the possibilities. Baseball nicknames, winter Olympians, Kevin Costner films, and Big Ten trophies are all distinct enough to point players in the right direction.
The Color-Coding System
The color-coding system in Connections is designed to make the game accessible to newcomers while still challenging regular players. The yellow category is the easiest, and the purple category is the hardest.
The shuffle feature is a clever addition that lets players rearrange the board to spot connections more easily. Players who get stuck on a set can use the shuffle to reset their perspective.
What This Means for Players
The hints are a useful tool for anyone who wants to approach today’s puzzle with a strategy. Reading the category names first can help narrow down the possible words before even looking at the list. For example, the Babe Ruth category is clearly about nicknames, so players can focus on words that sound like they belong to a famous athlete.
The full answers are also a handy reference for anyone who wants to check their work. The New York Times has made the solution easy to find, which means players who get stuck can look up the answers without spoiling the whole puzzle.
The game is a fun way to test sports knowledge, and the category hints make it accessible to players who might not know every name in the list. The shuffle feature is a clever addition that rewards players who are willing to experiment with the layout.
A Quick Reminder
The New York Times also offers other daily games, including Wordle and Strands. Players who are done with Connections can move on to those for more mental exercise.
For anyone looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s games hub has a range of options, including Mahjong, Sudoku, and crosswords.
The New York Times has also published solutions for previous days’ puzzles, so players who missed an earlier edition can catch up.
Final Thoughts
The New York Times has built a reputation for daily games that are easy to understand and hard to master. Connections: Sports Edition fits that pattern perfectly. The category hints are a nice touch, and the full answers are a fair reward for players who want to solve the puzzle themselves.
The game is a simple idea executed well. It is the kind of game that works on a commute, during a lunch break, or before bed.
For anyone who wants to play, the hints are available now. The answers are waiting at the end of the article. And tomorrow brings a new puzzle.
The New York Times has made the game easy to find, and the Daily Connections: Sports Edition is a welcome addition to the lineup. The hints are a useful tool, and the full answers are a fair reward for players who want to solve the puzzle themselves.
Source material: “NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 29, 2026,” Mashable.
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