Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle looks pretty crowded, with every answer including two words. If you’re struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group hint: Are you ready for some football?

Green group hint: Golden State places.

Blue group hint: Hurricanes.

Purple group hint: Olympia Dukakis would be another one.

Read more: We Need to Talk About Wednesday’s Doggone Connections Puzzle

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Events before a football kickoff.

Green group: California sporting venues.

Blue group: Miami (FL) alumni.

Purple group: Starts with a state capital.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is events before a football kickoff.

The four answers are coin toss, national anthem, team arrivals and warmups.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is California sporting venues.

The four answers are Intuit Dome, Levi’s Stadium, Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Miami (FL) alumni.

The four answers are Devin Hester, Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne and Vinny Testaverde.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is starts with a state capital.

The four answers are Augusta National, Austin Reaves, Madison Keys and Pierre Garçon.

Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories

The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.

That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing.

#1: Serie A Clubs. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.

#2: WNBA MVPs. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.

#3: Premier League team nicknames. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.

#4: Homophones of NBA player names. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

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