Connections Sports Edition Sept 17 Hints & Answers #359

Introduction

The NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for September 17, 2025 (#359) is here — and it’s packed with trivia for true sports fans. This spin-off of the classic NYT Connections game lives on The Athletic, offering daily challenges that test both your puzzle-solving and sports knowledge.

Today’s groups blend California soccer teams, MLB stadium names, 1994 sports movies, and LSU alumni, making it a fun mix of pro sports, pop culture, and college athletics.

In this guide, you’ll find:

• A spoiler-free overview of today’s puzzle.
• Progressive hints to nudge you in the right direction.
• The full set of answers grouped by category.
• Strategy tips for handling tricky Sports Edition puzzles.

⚠️ Spoiler warning ahead! Scroll carefully if you only want hints before seeing the complete answers.

Overview of Connections: Sports Edition #359

Puzzle #359 keeps things balanced: a couple of easier sports trivia categories, one pop culture movie set, and a moderately challenging college athletics group. If you follow both pro and college sports, this puzzle should feel approachable. Overall difficulty rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Yellow Group: California Soccer Teams

• Theme: Professional soccer teams from California.
• Words: Angel City, Bay FC, Earthquakes, Galaxy
• Details:
  • Angel City FC (NWSL) and Bay FC (NWSL) represent California women’s soccer.
  • San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy are MLS staples.

Green Group: MLB Stadium Names

• Theme: Stadium names or references tied to Major League Baseball.
• Words: Angel, Dodger, Globe Life, Oracle
• Details:
  • Angel Stadium (Los Angeles Angels).
  • Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers).
  • Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers).
  • Oracle Park (San Francisco Giants).

Blue Group: Sports Movies of 1994

• Theme: Films with sports storylines released in 1994.
• Words: Angels in the Outfield, Blue Chips, Little Big League, Little Giants
• Trivia:
  • Angels in the Outfield starred a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
  • Blue Chips featured NBA legends like Shaquille O’Neal.
  • Little Big League and Little Giants were family comedies with sports twists.

Purple Group: LSU Alumni

• Theme: Athletes who attended LSU.
• Words: Chase, Nabers, Reese, Skenes
• Profiles:
  • Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals, NFL).
  • Malik Nabers (New York Giants rookie, NFL).
  • Angel Reese (Chicago Sky, WNBA).
  • Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, MLB).

Progressive Hints for Sports Edition #359

Not ready for full answers yet? Try these nudges:

• ???? Yellow: Think pro soccer clubs based in California.
• ???? Green: Famous baseball stadium names.
• ???? Blue: Family-friendly sports movies from the same mid-90s year.
• ???? Purple: Recent LSU stars across football, basketball, and baseball.

Strategy Tips for Sports Edition Puzzles

• Leverage sports context. Stadiums and teams often appear in themed groups.
• Spot the pop culture set. Movie or TV references are usually grouped together.
• Use elimination. If you know three fits, the fourth often clicks by process.
• Track recent trends. Purple groups often feature current or recent athletes.

Want more practice? Check out our NYT Connections September 17 regular edition answers or revisit yesterday’s Sports Edition puzzle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the themes for Connections: Sports Edition #359?
California soccer teams (Yellow), MLB stadium names (Green), sports movies of 1994 (Blue), and LSU alumni (Purple).

How is Connections: Sports Edition different from regular Connections?
It features four sports-themed groupings and is hosted on The Athletic instead of NYT Games.

What are the answers for Sports Edition #359?

• ???? Angel City, Bay FC, Earthquakes, Galaxy
• ???? Angel, Dodger, Globe Life, Oracle
• ???? Angels in the Outfield, Blue Chips, Little Big League, Little Giants
• ???? Chase, Nabers, Reese, Skenes

Where can I play Connections: Sports Edition?
Play online at The Athletic’s website or via The Athletic mobile app (subscription required).

What tips help solve Sports Edition puzzles faster?
Start with the obvious (teams or stadiums), use sports knowledge to spot connections quickly, and save the trickiest group (often Purple) for last.

Conclusion

The NYT Connections: Sports Edition #359 (September 17, 2025) blended California soccer, iconic baseball stadiums, nostalgic ’90s sports movies, and LSU’s brightest stars.

✅ Difficulty: Medium (2.5/5).
✅ Takeaway: Knowledge of both sports trivia and pop culture pays off.
✅ Next step: Keep your streak alive with tomorrow’s puzzle and explore more Connections strategy tips.