Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition
If you’re a sports enthusiast, you might have already discovered the exciting new puzzle game from The New York Times, Connections: Sports Edition. As a proud Minnesotan, I felt a special connection to today’s puzzle, seeing several of my favorite teams featured. The Athletic, a subscription-based sports journalism platform now owned by The New York Times, has officially launched this game out of beta, coinciding with Super Bowl Sunday on February 9. This milestone indicates the game has gained a dedicated following, and it will continue to be published regularly. While it won’t appear in the NYT Games app, you can find it in The Athletic’s app or play it for free online. Let’s dive into today’s hints and answers to help you solve the puzzle.
Yellow Group: Strategy
The yellow group in today’s Connections: Sports Edition focuses on the theme of strategy. These are terms often used in planning and executing moves in various sports. The four answers are:
- Gambit – A strategic opening move in a game, often used in chess.
- Maneuver – A planned movement or action to achieve a specific goal.
- Move – An action taken to advance a position or point in a game.
- Tactic – A specific action or plan used to achieve a goal, often smaller in scope than a strategy.
Green Group: Current Minnesota Teams
The green group is all about the current sports teams in Minnesota, where I have deep roots. The four answers are:
- Golden Gophers – The university team of the University of Minnesota, known for their fierce mascot and successful athletic programs.
- Lynx – The professional women’s basketball team of the Minnesota Lynx, part of the WNBA.
- Vikings – The famous NFL team, beloved for their iconic purple and gold colors and a storied history.
- Wild – The NHL team of Minnesota, known for their passionate fan base and consistent performance.
Blue Group: Things One Buys at a Sporting Event
The blue group is a bit more straightforward, dealing with items commonly purchased at sporting events. The four answers are:
- Food – From hot dogs to nachos, the concession stands are always a popular spot.
- Program – These often include game schedules, player biographies, and team statistics.
- Souvenir – T-shirts, hats, and other memorabilia that fans love to collect.
- Ticket – The essential item that gets you through the gates to enjoy the game.
Purple Group: Former NHL Teams
The purple group might be a bit more challenging, as it involves former NHL teams that no longer exist. The four answers are:
- Coyotes – This team, now based in Arizona, was originally the Winnipeg Jets.
- Golden Seals – A former team from Oakland, California, which later became the Cleveland Barons.
- North Stars – The Minnesota North Stars, which eventually moved to Dallas and became the Stars.
- Whalers – The Hartford Whalers, another team that relocated to Carolina and became the Hurricanes.
Solving the Puzzle
For those who might be struggling, here’s a quick breakdown of the hints and answers:
- Yellow Group (Strategy): Gambit, Maneuver, Move, Tactic
- Green Group (Current Minnesota Teams): Golden Gophers, Lynx, Vikings, Wild
- Blue Group (Things One Buys at a Sporting Event): Food, Program, Souvenir, Ticket
- Purple Group (Former NHL Teams): Coyotes, Golden Seals, North Stars, Whalers
Additional Tips and Resources
If you’re looking for more help with today’s puzzle or other word games, consider checking out our Wordle Cheat Sheet, which lists the most popular letters used in English words. This can be particularly useful for narrowing down possibilities in other word puzzles. Remember, the key to solving Connections: Sports Edition is to think about the common threads that link the words in each group. Happy solving!
By following these hints and using the answers provided, you should be well on your way to completing today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just getting into the game, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Keep an eye out for more updates and hints from The Athletic and the New York Times to stay in the loop and enhance your puzzle-solving skills.