The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition for December 13th (#446), presented a challenging set of word associations. This edition, published through The Athletic (owned by The Times ), tests players’ knowledge across various sports categories. If you’re stuck, here’s a breakdown of hints and the solutions.
Understanding the Puzzle
Connections tasks players with grouping sixteen words into four categories of four. The difficulty varies, with the purple category often requiring the most lateral thinking. This edition is no exception, with clues that demand both sports knowledge and wordplay.
Hints by Difficulty
The puzzle is designed to be solved in stages, from easiest to hardest. Here’s a breakdown of hints for each category:
- Yellow (Easiest): Think about how points are kept in racquet sports.
- Green: Consider what NFL teams do during their downtime.
- Blue: These are the names of award winners in college football.
- Purple (Hardest): The connection is… surprisingly literal. The words begin with NFL team names.
Solutions Revealed
The correct groupings for today’s puzzle are as follows:
- Yellow: 15, 30, 40, deuce (Scoring in tennis)
- Green: combine, draft, OTAs, training camp (NFL offseason events)
- Blue: Love, Mendoza, Pavia, Sayin (Heisman Trophy finalists)
- Purple: beard, billboard, brownie, jettison (Starts with an NFL team in singular form)
Why This Puzzle Matters
The NYT Connections puzzle is a daily test of pattern recognition, vocabulary, and cultural awareness. The Sports Edition specifically draws on knowledge of professional and collegiate athletics. The purple category, in particular, highlights how connections can be unexpectedly straightforward once discovered. These puzzles have grown in popularity as a form of mental exercise and daily challenge for many people.
Most Difficult Past Categories
Some past editions have proven particularly difficult for players. Three standout categories include:
- Series A Clubs (Jan. 11): Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma
- WNBA MVPs (Jan. 21): Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles, Stewart
- Premier League team nicknames (Jan. 17): Bees, Cherries, Foxes, Hammers
These categories require specialized knowledge of international soccer and the WNBA, making them harder for casual sports fans.
