NYT Connections Sports Edition Answers Jan 13 (#477)

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Jan. 13 (#477)

Looking for today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition answers for January 13, 2026? Puzzle #477 was a challenging one, especially for players who aren’t deeply familiar with college basketball arenas or sports history references.

If you struggled today, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Below you’ll find spoiler-free hints, complete answers, and clear explanations for each group to help you understand how the puzzle fits together.

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🧩 Hints for Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Groups

Here are the four official hints, ordered from the easiest yellow group to the trickiest purple group:

• 🟨 Yellow group hint: Empire State sports
• 🟩 Green group hint: Fighting with swords
• 🟦 Blue group hint: Places to play hoops
• 🟪 Purple group hint: William, but for short

The blue and purple groups caused the most confusion, especially if you weren’t thinking about arena names or coaching legends.

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✅ Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Answers (#477)

Here are the confirmed groupings and solutions for Jan. 13, 2026:

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🟨 Yellow Group — Teams that play in New York State

• Bills
• Islanders
• Mets
• Sabres

These teams represent major professional sports franchises based in New York State.

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🟩 Green Group — Fencing terms

• En garde
• Épée
• Foil
• Piste

All four are commonly used terms in the sport of fencing.

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🟦 Blue Group — College basketball venues

• Hinkle
• Palestra
• Pauley
• The Pit

These are iconic college basketball arenas, well known to longtime NCAA fans.

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🟪 Purple Group — Bills

• Cowher
• Parcells
• Russell
• Self

This clever group refers to famous sports figures named Bill, using only their last names.

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🧠 Why Today’s Sports Edition Was Difficult

Puzzle #477 stood out because it required:

• Knowledge across multiple sports
• Familiarity with college arena nicknames
• Recognition of coaches and legends named Bill

Many players solved the yellow group quickly, then stalled when identifying Hinkle or Palestra without additional context.

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🎮 What Is NYT Connections: Sports Edition?

NYT Connections: Sports Edition is a daily sports-themed word puzzle published by The Athletic, part of The New York Times. Unlike the standard Connections game, this version focuses entirely on sports teams, venues, athletes, and terminology.

You can play it for free online or via The Athletic app, even without a paid subscription.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The Jan. 13, 2026 (#477) answers include New York teams, fencing terms, college basketball venues, and famous people named Bill.

Which group was hardest today?

The blue group (college basketball venues) was the most difficult for most players.

Is Connections: Sports Edition harder than regular Connections?

Yes. Many players find it harder due to the need for sports-specific knowledge.

Where can I play NYT Connections: Sports Edition?

You can play it for free on The Athletic website or app.