Connections: Sports Edition Answers & Hints Revealed

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The New York Times' Athletic division released its daily 'Connections: Sports Edition' puzzle on Monday, March 23, 2026, presenting a challenge centered around NBA players and sports terminology. The puzzle, a variation of the popular 'Connections' game, requires players to group four words together based on shared themes across categories like offensive football formations, collegiate sports mascots, and NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Why it matters

The 'Connections: Sports Edition' puzzle is a popular daily offering from The Athletic, a subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The New York Times. The puzzle tests players' knowledge of various sports topics and provides an engaging way for fans to interact with the latest news and trends in the world of athletics.

The details

Today's puzzle featured four categories. The 'yellow' grouping revolved around methods used to break ties in sports, with answers including 'extra end,' 'extra innings,' 'overtime,' and 'shootout.' The 'green' category focused on offensive formations in American football, comprising 'I,' 'shotgun,' 'wildcat,' and 'wishbone.' The 'blue' grouping proved to be a test of collegiate sports knowledge, requiring players to identify different universities associated with the mascot 'Cardinals': Arizona, Ball State, Louisville, and St. Louis. The most challenging category, 'purple,' centered around NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with answers being '2' (referencing his jersey number), 'Kentucky' (his college alma mater), 'MVP' (a potential accolade), and 'Thunder' (his current NBA team).

• The 'Connections: Sports Edition' puzzle was released on Monday, March 23, 2026.