Written by Anish – TechBoltX | Nov. 23, 2025

NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints & Answers for Nov. 23, 2025 (#426)

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle mixes football legends, English soccer rivalries, and a clever wordplay group that fans will appreciate. Puzzle #426 starts easy with an obvious yellow group built around the idea of kicking someone out of a game. From there, the difficulty rises quickly, especially with the blue group featuring Premier League derbies and the purple group requiring knowledge of names ending with “Brown.”

Connections: Sports Edition—published by The Athletic—keeps the same four-group format as the regular game but uses exclusively sports-related categories. With 16 words and four hidden themes, the goal is to sort them into related groups from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple).

Here’s the full breakdown if you’re stuck or just want to confirm your solve.

???? Hints for Today’s Groups

• Yellow Hint: Outta here!
• Green Hint: Football stars
• Blue Hint: English events
• Purple Hint: Not black

???? Yellow Group – Throw Out of a Game

boot, chase, eject, toss

This is the simplest group — all words mean removing someone from play.

???? Green Group – NFL All-Time Leading Receivers

Fitzgerald, Moss, Owens, Rice

These four wide receivers rank among the most prolific in football history.

???? Blue Group – Premier League Derbies

Manchester, Merseyside, North London, Tyne-Wear

These iconic rivalries dominate English football culture.

???? Purple Group – ____ Brown

Cleveland, Jaylen, Mack, Tim

Each phrase completes a notable “Brown,” spanning cities, athletes, and performers.

❓ FAQs

1. What was the hardest group in today’s puzzle?

The purple group, since it requires recognizing names that pair with “Brown.”

2. What was the easiest group today?

The yellow group, centered on ejecting players.

3. Are Premier League derbies common in Connections: Sports Edition?

Yes — English football themes appear frequently.

4. How many categories are in each puzzle?

Every puzzle has four categories with four words each.

5. Is Connections: Sports Edition free to play?

Yes, it’s free online and playable in The Athletic’s app.

✍️ Author Bio

Anish is a dedicated sports-puzzle analyst covering NYT Connections: Sports Edition, along with Wordle, Strands, and NYT Mini Crossword. His puzzle guides are trusted by thousands of daily readers.