NYT Connections: Sports Edition for Jan. 24 (#488)

Need help with today’s Connections: Sports Edition? The Jan. 24, 2026 puzzle (No. 488) is a tough-but-fair mix of sports knowledge and classic Connections wordplay—especially the purple group, which hides answers inside longer words.

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🔍 Hints for Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Groups

Ranked from easiest (yellow) to trickiest (purple):

• 🟨 Yellow Group Hint: Smack!
• 🟩 Green Group Hint: Collectibles
• 🟦 Blue Group Hint: Puck pros
• 🟪 Purple Group Hint: Toss it

If purple didn’t click, look for hidden words at the ends—that’s the key today.

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✅ Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Answers (Jan. 24, #488)

🟨 Yellow Group — Hit

• Deck
• Punch
• Slug
• Strike

🟩 Green Group — Sports Memorabilia

• Autograph
• Jersey
• Poster
• Trading card

🟦 Blue Group — Former NHL Teams (Singular Form)

• Coyote
• Nordique
• Thrasher
• Whaler

🟪 Purple Group — Ends in a Synonym for “Throw”

• Blob (lob)
• Shuffling (fling)
• Surpass (pass)
• Woodchuck (chuck)

The purple set requires spotting embedded synonyms at the end of each word—easy to miss if you’re scanning too quickly.

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🤔 Why Today’s Puzzle Was Tricky

• Yellow & green are approachable and invite early locks
• Blue rewards hockey history knowledge
• Purple demands precise pattern recognition (hidden endings, not full words)

If purple was last for you, you’re in good company.

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🏒 Where to Play Connections: Sports Edition

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, owned by The New York Times. You can play it:

• In The Athletic app
• Free on the web
  (It does not appear in the NYT Games app.)

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💬 Your Turn

Which group did you solve first—Hits or Memorabilia?
Did the hidden throw synonyms click early, or was purple your final hurdle?

Drop your solve order below 👇

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle number?
Puzzle No. 488.

What was the hardest category today?
The purple group, which required finding hidden throw synonyms at the ends of words.

Which former NHL teams appeared today?
Coyote, Nordique, Thrasher, and Whaler.

Where can I play Connections: Sports Edition?
On The Athletic app or website.