- - NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Friday, January 16, 2026

Choya JohnsonJanuary 15, 2026 at 10:20 PM

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Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Friday, January 16, 2026, you've come to the right place.

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Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Friday, January 16, 2026 / The New York TimesToday's NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Friday, January 16, 2026 / The New York TimesWhat Is Connections Sports Edition?

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it's a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It's up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you "group sports terms that share a common thread."

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints for Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories on January 16, 2026

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

Yellow: Don't get hurt!

Green: Exaggerated language.

Blue: Ouch!

Purple: Not northern.e a Yankee

Here Are Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories

OK, time for a second hint…we'll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

Yellow: PROTECTIVE GEAR

Green: HYPE

Blue: SHARP THINGS

Purple: "SOUTHERN ____" SCHOOLS

If you're looking for the answers, no worries—we've got them below. So, don't scroll any further if you don't want to see the solutions!The answers to today's Connections Sports Edition #480 are coming up next.Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today? -

PROTECTIVE GEAR: GLOVES, HELMET, MOUTH GUARD, SHOULDER PADS

HYPE: ANTICIPATION, BALLYHOO, BUILDUP, BUZZ

SHARP THINGS: DART, HAIRPIN TURN, ICE SKATE, JAVELIN

"SOUTHERN ____" SCHOOLS: CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, METHODIST, MISS

Don't worry if you didn't get them this time—we've all been there.

Up next, catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

Related: NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Thursday, January 15, 2026

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Life section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”