The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition released on January 27th (#491), tested players with a particularly tricky set of groupings. For those seeking a quick guide, here’s a breakdown of the hints and solutions. This edition, published by The Athletic, is available through their app or online for free, separate from the main NYT Games platform.
Decoding the Categories
The puzzle features four color-coded categories: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (most difficult). The challenge lies in identifying the subtle connections between seemingly unrelated words.
Yellow Group: The theme is exhaustion. The correct answers are fade, fatigue, tire, and weaken. These terms all relate to growing tired or worn out.
Green Group: This category centers around weightlifting exercises. The solution includes bench, curl, deadlift, and squat.
Blue Group: Here, the puzzle asks about Aaron Rodgers’ teams. The correct words are California, Green Bay, New York, and Pittsburgh, referencing his career stops.
Purple Group: Arguably the most difficult, this group focuses on symbols found in NHL team logos. The answers are Long Island (Islanders), a musical note (Blackhawks), an oil drop (Oilers), and a wheel (Jets).
Why This Puzzle Matters
Connections and other daily puzzles like Wordle have become a cultural phenomenon, offering a mental challenge for millions. The Sports Edition adds another layer of complexity, testing not just vocabulary but also sports knowledge. The difficulty of this particular puzzle highlights the increasing sophistication of The New York Times’ game offerings.
Ultimately, today’s puzzle demonstrated that even simple word associations can be obscure when combined with specialized knowledge. The challenge encourages players to think critically and expand their understanding of sports-related imagery and terminology.
