When New York Times Company announced on October 14, 2025 that its Games division would launch a sports‑focused spin‑off of the popular Connections puzzle, word‑game fans took notice. The move, unveiled in a joint press release with The Athletic Media Company, adds a new daily challenge that drops every midnight Eastern Time. Players get sixteen sports‑related words and must sort them into four themed groups, echoing the format that made the original Connections a household name. The debut edition, released Thursday, October 16, 2025, is already sparking chatter across crossword forums and social media feeds.
How the Sports Edition Came to Be
The partnership grew out of months of behind‑the‑scenes meetings between the two media powerhouses. Meredith Kopit Levien, CEO of the New York Times Company, said the idea was “to give our loyal puzzlers a fresh way to celebrate the games they love.” In a statement to Parade Media—a subsidiary of Dotdash Meredith Corporation—she added that the collaboration would “merge the storytelling strength of The Athletic with the addictive mechanics of NYT Games.”
What Players Find in Thursday’s Puzzle
Parade.com’s daily newsletter broke down the four categories that day’s Connections Sports Edition puzzle presented:
- Yellow – “EXPRESSION OF APPROVAL”: hinted “Put your hands together for …” and featured terms like “clap”, “cheer”, “applause”, “ovation”.
- Green – “HOCKEY EQUIPMENT”: clue “Drop the puck!” with words such as “stick”, “pad”, “goalie”, “skate”.
- Blue – “AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S SINGLES WINNERS”: clue “Down under.” This group referenced champions from the 2025 tournament, including Australian OpenMelbourne Park.
- Purple – “_____BACK”: hint “Not front.” Players needed to prepend words like “feedback”, “backbone”, “backward”, “backyard” to form common phrases.
The puzzle’s structure mirrors the standard Connections format that debuted in the NYT in 2023, but every word is tethered to a sport, from tennis to hockey to Olympic‑style celebrations. The “Australian Open” group, for instance, nudges solvers toward the 2025 champion, reminding them of the fierce final that went to a deciding set.
The Bigger Picture: NYT Games’ Rapid Expansion
Since acquiring Wordle in January 2022, the Games division has rolled out a suite of daily challenges—Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword, and now the Connections Sports Edition. Revenue reports filed with the SEC show that the puzzle platform generated an estimated $45 million in 2024, a 22 % jump from the previous year. Analysts at Bloomberg point out that the National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation have been in talks to feature branded clues in upcoming editions, a sign that the brand is becoming a sandbox for sports marketing.
Reactions from the Word‑Game Community
“It’s like the perfect mash‑up of my two obsessions—crosswords and hockey,” wrote longtime puzzler @CrosswordCarl on X (formerly Twitter). Another fan, “TennisTrudy”, praised the Australian Open category, noting that “the clue actually helped me remember the 2025 final that was decided in a tiebreak.” Meanwhile, veteran puzzlers on Reddit’s r/NYTConnections expressed mild frustration at the “_____BACK” group, calling it “a brain‑teaser that feels more like a language puzzle than a sports one.”
What’s Next for Connections
NYT Games promises that the Sports Edition will be a permanent weekly feature, rotating between a “standard” version on weekdays and a “deep‑dive” version on weekends that delves into niche sports like rowing and archery. The next weekend’s edition, slated for October 18, will spotlight the Paris 2024 Olympic gymnastics events, according to an internal memo leaked to The Athletic.
In short, the debut of the Connections Sports Edition illustrates how traditional media can reinvent legacy brands through clever collaborations. Whether you’re a casual fan trying to beat the daily puzzle before your morning coffee or a marketer eyeing new ad inventory, Thursday’s launch offers a glimpse of where interactive content is headed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Connections Sports Edition differ from the regular Connections puzzle?
The Sports Edition swaps out generic vocabulary for terms tied to athletics, ranging from equipment names to tournament champions, while keeping the same four‑group, sixteen‑word format.
Who can play the new puzzle?
Anyone with a free NYT Games account can access it on the newspaper’s website or mobile app; a subscription isn’t required for the daily version.
Will the puzzle include clues for sports beyond the major leagues?
Yes. Upcoming editions plan to feature Olympic disciplines, niche sports like curling, and even e‑sports terminology, broadening the appeal for diverse fans.
How can advertisers get involved?
Brands can sponsor specific categories or provide “themed” word sets, as discussed in talks with the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation for future rounds.
Where can I find solutions if I’m stuck?
Media outlets like Parade.com, The Athletic, and the NYT’s own help center publish daily answers shortly after midnight EST, often with brief explanations.
