Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle was a fun one for Midwesterners-turned-Pacific Northwesterners like me, especially the green category. 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: On the mound.

Green group hint: College powers.

Blue group hint: Drop the puck.

Purple group hint: Black and Gold.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Baseball pitching roles.

Green group: Big Ten teams.

Blue group: Second words in NHL team names.

Purple group: Pittsburgh Steelers.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is baseball pitching roles.

The four answers are ace, closer, opener and setup.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Big Ten teams.

The four answers are Badgers, Ducks, Golden Gophers and Huskies.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is second words in NHL team names.

The four answers are (Columbus Blue) Jackets, (Vegas Golden) Knights, (Toronto Maple) Leafs and (Detroit Red) Wings.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is Pittsburgh Steelers.

The four answers are (Alex) Highsmith, (DK) Metcalf, (Patrick) Queen and (T.J.) Watt.

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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