Connections: Sports Edition Answers and Hints for November 14, 2025
The popular word puzzle, Connections: Sports Edition, continues to challenge players with its clever groupings. Published by The Athletic and accessible via their app or online, the game tasks participants with categorizing sixteen words into four groups of four, based on shared themes. For those struggling with today’s puzzle, released on November 14, 2025, hints and answers are available below.
A Challenging Edition
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is described as “a bit of a toughie,” with some logos potentially aiding or hindering players. The game differs from the New York Times’ Connections in that it is published by The Athletic, a subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It is not available in the NYT Games app, but can be played within The Athletic’s app or for free online.
Hints for Today’s Groups
The puzzle offers varying levels of difficulty across its four categories. Here’s a breakdown of hints, ranked from easiest to most challenging:
- Yellow Group Hint: These terms relate to being removed from contention.
- Green Group Hint: Consider a basketball icon, J.R. Ewing, when tackling this group.
- Blue Group Hint: These teams experienced success in a specific year.
- Purple Group Hint: Think of the starting signal in athletic competitions: “On your mark, get set, go!”
Answers to Today’s Connections: Sports Edition
Here’s a detailed look at the solutions for each group:
Yellow Group: Take Out of a Competition
The theme for the yellow group is actions associated with removing a competitor. The four answers are:
- Bounce
- Defeat
- Eliminate
- Knock out
Green Group: Dallas-Fort Worth Teams
This group focuses on professional sports teams based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The answers are:
- Cowboys
- Mavericks
- Rangers
- Stars
Blue Group: Teams to Win Championships in 2025
The blue group identifies teams poised for championship success in 2025. The solutions are:
- Aces
- Dodgers
- Eagles
- Thunder
Purple Group: ____ Race
The purple group requires a bit more lateral thinking, centering around different types of races. The answers are:
- Horse
- Pennant
- Relay
- Road
Toughest Connections Categories to Date
The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can present a significant challenge, particularly depending on an individual’s sports knowledge. According to one observer, difficulty varies based on personal expertise – a Formula 1 enthusiast, a hockey buff, or a Minnesota sports expert may find certain puzzles easier than others.
Some particularly challenging categories identified recently include:
- Series A Clubs (January 11): Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.
- WNBA MVPs (January 21): Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.
- Premier League Team Nicknames (January 17): Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.
- Homophones of NBA Player Names (January 26): Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.
