Hints and Answers for NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle No. 227

On, Wisconsin! Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 227, for Thursday, May 8.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta, making its debut on Feb. 9. The game has attracted enough loyal players that The Athletic, the sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. While it doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, it is available in The Athletic’s app or online for free.

Today’s puzzle features four categories, each with hints ranging from easy to difficult. The yellow group hint refers to cheerleaders, the green group hints at a Wisconsin athlete, the blue group centers on Cowboys quarterbacks, and the purple group hints at fictional basketball players.

The answers for the yellow group are crowd, fans, spectators, and supporters. The green answers focus on a Wisconsin athlete, with responses including Badger, Brewer, Buck, and Packer. The blue group highlights Cowboys QBs, featuring Aikman, Prescott, Romo, and Staubach. Lastly, the purple group’s fictional basketball players comprise Air Bud, Chitwood, Moon, and Shuttlesworth.

Many players find the Connections puzzle challenging, but it varies depending on players’ sports knowledge. Playing alongside someone who excels in a particular sport could significantly change the experience.

In a recent highlight, players noted exceptionally tough Connections categories, which can leave even the most seasoned puzzlers scratching their heads. New themes are introduced daily, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.

With a new game every day at midnight, players can collect hints and solutions from various sources, including online platforms and social media. As a community grows around the sport-themed puzzle, more tips and discussions emerge among players.

Stay tuned for future puzzles, as Connections promises to keep players returning for more brain-teasing challenges.