Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition features a tricky purple category. You’ll need to look inside of words for four words that have a certain connection. If you’re struggling with the 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: Wow, you’re terrific!
Green group hint: Hoops winners.
Blue group hint: Hoops stars who’ve been honored.
Purple group hint: A name is hidden in each word.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: A revered star.
Green group: Last four NBA champions.
Blue group: WNBA players in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Purple group: Starts with an NFL starting QB.
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 June 27, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is a revered star. The four answers are great, icon, legend and superstar.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is last four NBA champions. The four answers are Boston, Denver, New York and Oklahoma City.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is WNBA players in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The four answers are Cash, Catchings, Leslie and Whalen.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is starts with an NFL starting QB. The four answers are Jacksonville, Mayer, Williamsport and Youngster.
Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories
The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.
That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing.
#1: Serie A Clubs. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.
#2: WNBA MVPs. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.
#3: Premier League team nicknames. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.
#4: Homophones of NBA player names. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.
