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Connections: Sports Edition delivered an all-graphic game grid yesterday to start off 2025. Today, there are just two images, both of athletes. If you know who they are, you’re a step ahead, but if their smiling faces don’t ring a bell, today’s puzzle could be a struggle. Shake it off (that’s a hint to one of the photos) and read on for hints and answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.
For now, the game is in beta, which means the Times is testing it out to see if it’s popular, before adding it to the site’s Games app. You can play it daily for now for free — and then we’ll have to see if it sticks around.
Read more: NYT Has a Connections Game for Sports Fans. I Tried It
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Speedy.
Green group hint: Singular soccer teams.
Blue group hint: Triumphant TEs.
Purple group hint: Big Apple jocks.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Fast.
Green group: MLS teams, in singular form.
Blue group: NFL career yards leaders among tight ends.
Purple group: New York athletes.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
Two athlete photos showed up in the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 2, 2025. Can you identify the players?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 2, 2025.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is fast. The four answers are brisk, rapid, swift and zippy.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is MLS teams, in singular form. The four answers are Earthquake, Sounder, Timber and Whitecap.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is NFL career yards leaders among tight ends. The four answers are Gates, Gonzalez, Kelce (photo) and Witten.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is New York athletes. The four answers are Ionescu, Judge (photo), Rodgers and Shesterkin.