NYT Connections: Sports Edition Answers for October 5, 2025

Looking for help with today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle (#377)? We’ve got all the hints, clues, and final answers right here.

This special Sports Edition from The Athletic is perfect for fans who love spotting patterns among team names, colors, and classic sports terms. If you’re stuck on any color group — don’t worry, scroll for hints before the spoiler section below!

Also, check out today’s full set of NYT puzzle solutions:
✅ Wordle #1569 Answer (October 5, 2025)
✅ Connections #847 Answers (October 5, 2025)
✅ Strands #581 Answers (October 5, 2025)
✅ NYT Mini Crossword Answers (October 5, 2025)

???? Yellow Group Hint: Are we in first?

Category: Ways to show standings in different sports
Answers: Leaderboard, Rankings, Standings, Table

???? Green Group Hint: Woof!

Category: Teams named after dog breeds
Answers: Connecticut, Georgia, Gonzaga, Washington

???? Blue Group Hint: Color my world

Category: Teams whose nicknames are colors
Answers: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Stanford, Syracuse

???? Purple Group Hint: Vital element in many sports

Category: ____ Ball
Answers: Banana, Breaking, Medicine, Ping-Pong

???? About Today’s Sports Edition Puzzle

The NYT Connections: Sports Edition (#377) mixes sports trivia with clever word logic. From color-based team nicknames to wordplay like “____ ball,” it’s a satisfying challenge for both fans and puzzle lovers.

This puzzle appears via The Athletic, the sports network owned by The New York Times. You can play it for free online or in The Athletic app — it’s not included in the NYT Games app yet.

❓ FAQ – NYT Connections: Sports Edition October 5, 2025 (#377)

Q1: What is today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition theme?
A: The puzzle’s categories are:

• Yellow: Ways to show standings
• Green: Teams named after dog breeds
• Blue: Teams with color nicknames
• Purple: ____ ball

Q2: Where can I play NYT Connections: Sports Edition?
A: It’s available on The Athletic, which is part of The New York Times. It’s not yet in the NYT Games app.

Q3: What was the hardest group today?
A: Many players found the purple group (____ ball) tricky, especially “banana” and “breaking.”

Q4: How often is the Sports Edition released?
A: A new puzzle is released daily, alongside the regular NYT Connections.

Q5: What is tomorrow’s Sports Edition puzzle number?
A: Tomorrow’s puzzle will be #378, releasing on October 6, 2025.