NYT Sports Edition Connections

Every day brings a fresh challenge for sports fans and word-lovers alike with the NYT’s Connections: Sports Edition. On August 23, 2025, puzzle players were presented with four distinct categories, each featuring four interlinked entries—a test of both vocabulary and sports know-how.

Major Wins

This first group focused on grand victories characterized by dominance. The four descriptors chosen to represent this theme were:

• ROMP

• BLOWOUT

• LANDSLIDE

• RUNAWAY

Six Nations Participants

Players then identified four nations that compete annually in the prestigious Six Nations Rugby tournament. The included teams were:

• FRANCE

• ENGLAND

• WALES

• IRELAND

NFL Wide Receiver Names

For the third set, the task was to spot four names tied to well-known NFL wide receivers. The clever puzzle entries were:

• ROME

• CEEDEE

• LADD

• PUKA

These nod to real players—like CeeDee Lamb and Puka Nacua—using only their distinctive first names or nicknames.

Big 12 College Towns

To round it off, the final category spotlighted towns that host universities in the Big 12 Conference. The four locations featured were:

• MANHATTAN

• AMES

• MORGANTOWN

• LAWRENCE

These refer to home cities of institutions like Kansas State, Iowa State, West Virginia, and Kansas, respectively.

Why This Puzzle Stands Out

This special edition marries the familiar format of Connections with energizing sports twists. Released daily in partnership with The Athletic, this iteration—launched officially in February 2025 but introduced in beta during late 2024—leans into trivia and themed clues that appeal to both puzzle fiends and sports enthusiasts.

Google Connections: Sports Edition if you’d like to test your skills every day—it’s a dynamic way to blend sports passion with wordplay strategy.

Summary Table