Looking for the most recent NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle answers? CNET publishes daily answers and hints for Wordle, The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles. Connections: Sports Edition might not be as popular as the regular Connections puzzle, but it’s a fun game that challenges sports fans since the categories are all over the map. You’re as likely to find an Olympics category as you are to find one on the NFL, the WNBA or Premier League soccer.

Here’s a weird thing: I found the purple category which is usually insanely hard, to be the easiest in today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle. Three of the words just seemed like they couldn’t do anything else but go together, and they did. 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: Hockey champs.

Green group hint: Hoops groups.

Blue group hint: Sir Purr.

Purple group hint: Batter, batter, swing!

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

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Last four franchises to win Stanley Cup.

Green group: NBA divisions.

Blue group: Carolina Panthers.

Purple group: ____ hitter.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is last four franchises to win Stanley Cup.

The four answers are Carolina, Colorado, Florida and Vegas.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is NBA divisions.

The four answers are Atlantic, Central, Pacific and Southwest.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Carolina Panthers.

The four answers are Horn, Hubbard, Tremble and Young.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ hitter.

The four answers are leadoff, outside, pinch and switch.

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.

See full bio