Sports knowledge meets wordplay in a fresh new way. The Athletic has introduced Connections: Sports Edition, a daily puzzle game designed to challenge even the most dedicated sports fans. Created in partnership with The New York Times, this game tests logic and sports expertise by requiring players to categorize 16 sports-related terms into four themed groups.
The game was officially launched on February 9, 2025, the game is free to play online or through The Athletic's app. A new puzzle is released daily at midnight local time, ensuring a fresh challenge every day. The game rewards both deep sports knowledge and quick thinking.
Each round consists of a set of 16 words related to various sports categories. The objective is to identify four correct groups of four words. Every category reflects a common theme, making the challenge both engaging and educational.
Unlike traditional word games, this edition is built around sports trivia. Past puzzles have included groups such as NBA No. 1 draft picks, fantasy league types, swimming strokes, and NFL quarterbacks with missing letters.
To add to the challenge, there is a limit of four mistakes before the game ends. Finding the right connections requires attention to detail and strategic thinking.
On March 24, 2025, the puzzle featured diverse categories:
Yellow Group: Four main swimming strokes (back, breast, fly, free)
Green Group: Fantasy league types (dynasty, keeper, redraft, rotisserie)
Blue Group: NBA No. 1 picks (Brand, Towns, Wall, Worthy)
Purple Group: NFL quarterbacks with a missing letter (Cousin, Field, Hurt, May)
Every puzzle presents an opportunity to test sports knowledge in a fun and interactive way.
Connections: Sports Edition is more than just a game. It creates a shared experience among fans, encouraging friendly debates and discussions. The game’s format allows casual and hardcore sports followers to test their understanding while enjoying a daily dose of competition.
Its launch during major sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, has already sparked interest among fans. The game’s ability to combine wordplay with sports expertise makes it a unique addition to The Athletic’s offerings.
Connections: Sports Edition is available on The Athletic’s website and app, offering free and easy access to all players. It does not require a subscription, making it widely accessible to sports enthusiasts worldwide.
This daily puzzle game evolves with new categories and themes to entertain its players. Whether it be all about famous players, legendary teams, or sports words, there are so many different ways of testing oneself.
Unlike static trivia games, Connections: Sports Edition injects element time-which encourages spontaneous mental gymnastics. Here, players must recognize patterns, trends, and even idiosyncratic relationships within the sports lexicon while solving the puzzle.
The Connections: Sports Edition Coach even has hints for those tricky puzzles where it gives subtle nudges when even tight at the chest.
This game, quite simply, heralds a new way for sports media to engage its audience. Blending the idea of sporting knowledge with exciting gameplay, The Athletic is taking advantage of a burgeoning appetite for fan experiences that exist first and foremost in the digital realm.
It promises to continue developing with future releases possibly including historical moments, player stats, and references from sports around the globe.
Now officially outside beta and developing interest, it should soon become another day in the life of a sports fan. The sharpening of the skills of players will only end up adding to the excitement of the challenge.
Connections: Sports Edition has been turned on and is ready to play. Join the challenge and see if you can crack the most recent puzzle. Whether a typical sports buff or just addicted to trivia, this game has introduced a refreshing new element every day to check sport knowledge.