Key Takeaways:
NYT Sports Connections #264 for June 14 blends NHL teams, stadium anthems, Olympic sailing, and Club World Cup teams.
The purple category stands out as the toughest with global football clubs.
The game stays fresh daily via The Athletic platform.
Another day brings another fresh set of codes for puzzle lovers. The NYT Connections: Sports Edition for June 14, 2025, is here with #264—ready to spark curiosity, stir memories, and test sporting knowledge. The daily puzzle continues to carve its own niche since debuting on Super Bowl Sunday. Now out of beta, it runs smoothly through The Athletic’s platform, steadily pulling more fans into its clever format.
Today’s puzzle isn’t the toughest—but it has its moments. While three of the categories play out with some ease, the purple section brings an unexpected twist. That blend of challenge and fun keeps players hooked, day after day.
Each Sports Edition puzzle calls on sharp pattern spotting and a decent grip on all things sports. This edition sticks to that style while sneaking in a few curveballs.
Theme: NHL teams, minus the “S”
The yellow group opens with an NHL angle—but not quite how it seems at first. The trick is in noticing what’s missing. The theme focuses on NHL teams, but each name drops the final “S.” That subtle twist turns team names into something that looks unusual yet still recognizable. Think “Flame” instead of “Flames” and “Flyer” without the “s.”
Answers: Blue Jacket, Flame, Flyer, Hurricane
Theme: Stadium anthems
The green group echoes across stadiums. It brings together anthems known to stir crowds and lift energy before or during a match. This set feels more like a playlist of sports anthems rather than a group of words—packed with tunes like “Chelsea Dagger” and “We Will Rock You.” Songs that need no introduction once they start playing.
Answers: Chelsea Dagger, Sandstorm, Seven Nation Army, We Will Rock You
Theme: Olympic sailing events
Blue dives into the water. This set focuses on Olympic sailing events. It’s a clever nod to sports that don’t always grab headlines but demand intense skill. From the light speed of a skiff to the wind-harnessing moves of windsurfing, this category taps into precision-based events of the Summer Games.
Answers: Dinghy, Kite, Skiff, Windsurfing
Theme: Teams in the Club World Cup
The purple group, easily the toughest of the day, crosses borders and leagues. It highlights clubs that have played in the Club World Cup—a rare but elite group. These aren’t just any teams; they’re recognized globally. Manchester City, Inter Miami, River Plate, and Juventus—each brings a unique story, style, and following to the pitch.
Answers: Inter Miami, Juventus, Manchester City, River Plate
This kind of mix keeps NYT Connections: Sports Edition fresh. One moment calls for music memory, another leans on Olympic trivia, then suddenly a quick sports geography lesson jumps in.
The game itself offers sixteen words. The goal: sort them into four correct groups of four, each tied by a single uniting theme. While that sounds simple, the catch lies in how these words often relate to more than one thing. Guessing wrong chips away at the limited tries, so quick thinking and sharper instincts are rewarded.
Players often shift, shuffle, and rearrange the grid. The change in layout often brings new clarity. With color-coded difficulty—yellow being the easiest, then green, blue, and purple—it’s clear where confidence builds and where guessing might sneak in.
Connections: Sports Edition doesn’t appear on the NYT Games app but continues through The Athletic and its website. It remains free to play, allowing anyone to test their word grouping skills without a subscription. Its focus on sports-specific themes gives it a unique spot in the NYT Games lineup.
Beyond the puzzle, the social side is strong. Fans often compare times, share results, or debate categories online. That sense of shared challenge helps build a loyal community, much like the early Wordle wave.
June 14’s edition proves once again that sports can meet wordplay in surprising ways. From NHL nods to Olympic winds, from soundtracks to elite clubs, it’s a full-field puzzle that entertains and stretches the brain.
Those ready for tomorrow’s puzzle can expect another batch of sports-laced wordplay. Whether it's strategy or sheer guesswork, each edition brings a brand-new code to crack.