If you are trying to track down the most up-to-date set of solutions for *Connections* and don’t want to miss a beat, you have come to the right place. Right here, you will not only find a direct link to today’s hints for the *Connections* puzzle, but you will also gain access to our comprehensive daily coverage of other immensely popular word challenges from *The New York Times*, including the *Mini Crossword*, the viral sensation *Wordle*, and the innovative new puzzle known as *Strands*. In other words, this is your complete hub for keeping pace with the latest word and logic games.

For today’s special twist, we are looking at **Connections: Sports Edition**, a variation of the regular puzzle that takes inspiration from the world of athletics. This edition assumes—perhaps quite boldly—that players possess at least a working knowledge of sports-themed films as well as the tradition of beloved team mascots. Of course, if you happen to find yourself stumped but are still determined to uncover the right answers, you don’t need to worry. We have provided step-by-step hints as well as the fully solved answers to help you work through the trickiest parts of today’s challenge.

It is worth noting that *Connections: Sports Edition* is not officially part of the standard *New York Times Games* application. Instead, this themed puzzle is distributed through **The Athletic**, the subscription-based sports media outlet now owned by the Times. Rather than being tucked inside the usual gaming app, the puzzle makes its appearance in *The Athletic’s* dedicated application. That said, you are not required to be a subscriber in order to join the fun—you can also play it online for free, making it accessible to everyone who enjoys mixing sports trivia with language-based play.

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### Hints for Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle
As with all *Connections* games, the goal is to sort words into four clearly defined groups. To make the process easier—or at least to nudge you in the right direction—here are carefully ranked hints, starting with the relatively straightforward *yellow group* and culminating in the often head-scratching difficulty of the *purple group*.

– **Yellow group hint:** Picture Wimbledon and think about the techniques used during a tennis match.
– **Green group hint:** Consider films that take place on frozen rinks—stories of skates, pucks, and the drama of hockey.
– **Blue group hint:** Focus on well-known, live-animal mascots that represent specific college teams.
– **Purple group hint:** Imagine versions of baseball that aren’t necessarily tied to the professional diamond—variations that substitute or expand the phrase “baseball.”

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### Answers for Today’s Puzzle

– **Yellow group (Tennis shots):** The terms are *backhand*, *drop*, *slice*, and *smash*. These four words each correspond to a particular way of hitting or placing the tennis ball during a rally, ranging from finesse shots such as the drop to the power-packed smash.

– **Green group (Hockey movies):** The cinematic references are *Miracle*, *Mystery, Alaska*, *Slap Shot*, and *The Mighty Ducks*. Each of these films has carved out a special place in hockey culture, whether by dramatizing real events or showcasing fictional underdog teams.

– **Blue group (Live college mascots):** The four answers here are *Bevo*, *Sir Big Spur*, *Smokey*, and *Uga*. Unlike costumed performers, each of these mascots is an actual living animal cherished by its university community and showcased at major athletic events.

– **Purple group (____ baseball):** The set includes *backyard*, *fantasy*, *inside*, and *major league*. Each phrase represents a variation or category of baseball—ranging from casual neighborhood play and digital simulations to the professional big leagues.

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### Final Overview
For September 13, 2025, the *Connections: Sports Edition* puzzle challenged solvers to draw connections across four distinct sporting themes, blending vocabulary, cultural references, and athletic traditions. By identifying tennis maneuvers, popular hockey films, beloved live animal mascots, and multiple derivatives of baseball, solvers could successfully complete the grid. Whether you needed just a gentle hint or the complete answer set, this guide ensures you can appreciate the puzzle’s clever design while sharpening your knowledge of both sports and wordplay.

Sourse: https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-connections-sports-edition-hints-and-answers-for-sept-13-355/#ftag=CAD590a51e