Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle wasn’t as tough as past puzzles, I thought. I did get fooled into thinking one of the groups was going to be Olympic sports, or things connected with the Olympics, but it’s never that easy. Read on for hints and the answers.

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group hint: Mano a mano.

Green group hint: Monikers for hoopsters.

Blue group hint: No charge.

Purple group hint: After four, but before six.

Read more: We Need to Talk About That One Doggone Connections Puzzle

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: One-vs.-one sports.

Green group: Nicknames of famous Lakers.

Blue group: Free ____.

Purple group: Groups of five people or things.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is one-vs.-one sports.

The four answers are boxing, fencing, mixed martial arts and wrestling.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is nicknames of famous Lakers.

The four answers are Big Game James (James Worthy), Magic (Earvin “Magic” Johnson), Mr. Basketball (George Mikan) and The Logo (Jerry West).

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is free ____.

The four answers are agent, kick, safety and throw.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is groups of five people or things.

The four answers are LPGA majors, modern pentathlon, offensive line and Olympic rings.

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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