New Sports Connections Game Challenges Players with Daily Puzzles

San Francisco, CA – The New York Times has launched a new version of its popular word game, Connections: Sports Edition, aimed at challenging sports enthusiasts. The game debuted on April 10, 2025, offering daily puzzles that test players’ knowledge of various sports-related terms.

Players engage with a grid of 16 words, tasked with identifying four categories that group similar words together. Each successfully identified group removes those words from the board, while incorrect guesses count as a strike against the player. A maximum of four mistakes can be made before the game ends.

“Connections: Sports Edition adds a new layer of complexity to our already popular game, demanding not just skill but also extensive sports knowledge,” said Ian Moore, a spokesperson for the New York Times gaming team. “Like its predecessor, the game resets daily, ensuring that players can continually test themselves with new challenges.”

The game features a color-coded system that ranks the difficulty of each word group. The easiest words are marked in yellow, while the hardest are in purple. This color system helps players gauge their progress and strategize their guesses.

In its inaugural edition, players found themselves connecting terms linked to themes such as ‘items you can click’ and ‘words preceded by a body part.’ This complex structure mirrors that of other popular word games, making it appealing to fans of both sports and word puzzles.

For those seeking assistance, the New York Times provides tips and hints alongside the daily puzzles. Players can also share their results on social media platforms, fostering a competitive spirit among friends.

“This has been an exciting addition to the gaming landscape, especially for those who enjoy a daily mental challenge,” said Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, an editor at CNET. “It keeps players coming back for more, eager to improve their skills and rack up wins.”

To attract a wider audience, the game is accessible on both web browsers and mobile devices. Players are encouraged to rearrange and shuffle the word grid to identify patterns more easily.

With Connections’ unique blend of sports trivia and wordplay, it promises to keep players entertained and engaged. Gamers can look forward to tomorrow’s challenge as the New York Times continues to enrich its gaming offerings.