The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition, tested players with a mix of chess, gymnastics, soccer, and… oddly, water-related terms. Published by The Athletic, this daily brain teaser challenges players to group sixteen seemingly random words into four categories based on shared themes.
For those who prefer a hint before diving into the solution, here’s a breakdown of each category. Otherwise, skip to the answers below.
Puzzle Breakdown: Hints and Categories
The difficulty of this puzzle varied considerably. The yellow category was relatively straightforward, while the purple category required a lateral leap in thinking. Here are the hints, ranked from easiest to hardest:
- Yellow: Relates to strategy and board games.
- Green: Involves athletic grace and Olympic-level skills.
- Blue: Honors top performers in a popular global league.
- Purple: A bit of a head-scratcher… think common phrases tied to water.
Today’s Solutions: All Four Categories Revealed
If you’re ready to see the answers, here’s the complete breakdown of each category:
- Yellow (Chess Pieces): Bishop, Pawn, Queen, Rook. The connection is clear: these are all pieces used in the game of chess.
- Green (Gymnastics Terms): Handspring, Round-Off, Salto, Twist. These are all fundamental maneuvers performed in gymnastic routines.
- Blue (Premier League Golden Boot Winners): The puzzle lists several players who have won the prestigious Premier League Golden Boot award.
- Purple (Water _____): Bottle, Boy, Hazard, Polo. This category is the most obscure, with each word completing the phrase “Water […]:” water bottle, water boy, water hazard, and water polo.
The Sports Edition continues to provide a daily mental workout for those who enjoy word puzzles. The mix of sports knowledge and lateral thinking makes it a unique addition to the NYT Games lineup.
