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Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a fun mix of topics, especially if, like me, you’re rooting for a Pacific Northwest team in the upcoming Super Bowl. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
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: If the shoe fits.
Green group hint: Run for the roses.
Blue group hint: The 12th man.
Purple group hint: Soccer.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Parts of a sneaker.
Green group: What a jockey wears.
Blue group: Seattle Seahawks.
Purple group: Former MLS team names.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 30, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is parts of a sneaker. The four answers are eyelet, laces, sole and tongue.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is what a jockey wears. The four answers are boots, breeches, goggles and silks.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is Seattle Seahawks. The four answers are Barner, Love, Walker and Woolen.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is former MLS team names. The four answers are Burn, Clash, Fusion and Impact.
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