NYT Strands Puzzle Hints: Women’s Sports Theme Revealed

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Times has launched a new word puzzle game called Strands, offering a fresh twist on traditional word searches. Players have to connect letters in various directions to uncover words that fit a daily theme. Strands challenges players with its unique gameplay where every letter in the grid is used in an answer, along with a special word known as the ‘spangram.’

This Saturday, May 17, 2025, the theme for today’s Strands puzzle focuses on women’s sports. Today’s spangram is the word ‘BASKETBALL,’ which must extend either horizontally or vertically across the grid. Players are encouraged to dig into the puzzle, searching for words related to the theme.

The game does not provide a list of words upfront, instead offering an opaque hint that can steer players in the right direction. For today’s puzzle, players who are stuck can find clues and tips online to help uncover words related to prominent women’s sports teams.

“If you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will help reveal one of the theme words,” states Gael Cooper, a CNET editor. “Using strategies like tweaking found words or looking for related terms can boost your progress in solving today’s puzzle.”

Cooper highlights that today’s answers tie into notable women’s basketball teams. The clues provided will lead players deeper into the game, which typically takes longer to complete than other NYT games.

“Remember, searching for words and their connections can be just as rewarding as solving the puzzle itself,” Cooper adds. Players looking for further assistance with Strands can find hints and answers on various gaming websites.

As Strands continues to gain popularity, players await new daily puzzles filled with exciting themes and challenges.