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.

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle wasn’t as tricky as it is some days. Even if you don’t quite know the category, you may be able to sort by similarities. 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: Group of athletic groups.

Green group hint: Carry the torch.

Blue group hint: Sports conference siblings.

Purple group hint: Not tiny.

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

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: A collection of teams.

Green group: Last four Summer Olympics hosts.

Blue group: Missouri Valley schools.

Purple group: ____ Giants.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Sept. 17, 2026.NYT/Screenshot by CNET

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is a collection of teams.

The four answers are conference, division, group and league.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is last four Summer Olympics hosts.

The four answers are London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Missouri Valley schools.

The four answers are Belmont, Bradley, Drake and Northern Iowa.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ Giants.

The four answers are Little, New York, San Francisco and Yomiuri.

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