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Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is pretty tricky, with some words that could fit in a couple of categories. If you’re struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Spotted at a game.
Green group hint: Charlie Brown’s baseball home.
Blue group hint: Snow sport.
Purple group hint: Queen City teams.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Seen at a college sporting event.
Green group: Pitching mound.
Blue group: Alpine skiing disciplines.
Purple group: Charlotte ____.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for May 21, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is seen at a college sporting event. The four answers are band, cheerleaders, dance team and student section.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is pitching mound. The four answers are bump, hill, mount and rubber.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is Alpine skiing disciplines. The four answers are combined, downhill, slalom and Super-G.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is Charlotte ____. The four answers are 49ers, FC, Hornets and North.
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.