The New York Times’ The Athletic released its daily Sports Edition of the Connections puzzle today, March 21, challenging players to group words based on shared themes. For those seeking a quick solution or a helping hand, here’s a breakdown of the categories and answers.
Puzzle Overview
Connections, a word-association game, requires players to identify four sets of four words linked by a common theme. The difficulty varies, with yellow categories being the easiest and purple being the most obscure. This edition, as usual, tests both sports knowledge and pattern recognition.
Hints and Solutions
Here’s how the categories broke down today:
Yellow – Gymnastics Apparatuses: The solution centers around equipment used in competitive gymnastics. The words are:
– Bars
– Beam
– Floor
– Vault
Green – Boxing Ring Elements: The theme here revolves around components and terms associated with boxing matches. The words are:
– Bell
– Corner
– Ropes
– Turnbuckle
Blue – NFL Tight End First Names: This category requires familiarity with prominent NFL players. The words are:
– Brock (Purdy)
– Dallas (Goedert)
– Hunter (Henry)
– Travis (Kelce)
Purple – NHL Team Name Starts: The most challenging category, this requires identifying the beginning letters of various NHL franchises. The words are:
– Fly (Flyers)
– Island (Islanders)
– Oil (Oilers)
– Rang (Rangers)
Where to Play
The Athletic ’s Connections is accessible through its app or online at https://www.theathletic.com/connections/. Unlike other NYT Games, this version is not integrated into the main NYT Games app and requires a separate subscription or direct access via the provided link.
The daily puzzles are designed to challenge word association skills and provide a quick mental workout. If you missed today’s, be sure to check back tomorrow for a fresh set of connections.
