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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #677

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#677) — August 1, 2026

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Earlier Jul 31 This puzzle Aug 1 Later Aug 2

“Start with the most concrete sports equipment before tackling team nicknames or conference mascots.Today's puzzle has DRIVER, PUTTER and RED, all carrying history. DRIVER appeared in Connections #647 (Jul 2, 2026) as part of NASCAR team components. PUTTER appeared in Connections #647 (Jul 2, 2026) as part of green-related items. RED appeared in Connections #656 (Jul 11, 2026) as part of NL Central players.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for August 1, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 AQUAThe teal sox team from the northwest.
2 BILLIKENThe grinning good-luck figure of Saint Louis.
3 DRIVERThe longest club used off the tee.
4 FLYERThe airborne mascot of Dayton.
5 FOGA lesser-known bowl tied to weather lore.
6 HYBRIDLooks like a blended thing; here it's a club type.
7 ICEA cold-weather bowl played in January.
8 IRONA classic club for mid-range shots.
9 PROThe all-star game bowl for league veterans.
10 PUTTERThe flat-faced club for the green.
11 RAMBLERThe wandering mascot of Loyola Chicago.
12 REDThe famous Boston team, also an NL Central clue elsewhere.
13 SPIDERThe eight-legged mascot of Richmond.
14 SUPERThe biggest annual NFL championship game.
15 WHITEThe Chicago team with the same ending.
16 WOOLooks like courting; here it's the Worcester sox nickname.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint Equipment you swing on the course.
See Group GOLF CLUBS
See WordIRON
See WordDRIVER
See WordHYBRID
See WordPUTTER
See Hint Big games that crown football champions.
See Group CAN PRECEDE "BOWL," IN NFL CONTEXT
See WordSUPER
See WordPRO
See WordICE
See WordFOG
See Hint Mascots from one college athletic league.
See Group AN ATLANTIC 10 ATHLETE
See WordSPIDER
See WordRAMBLER
See WordBILLIKEN
See WordFLYER
See Hint Baseball team names ending in the same word.
See Group _____ SOX
See WordAQUA
See WordRED
See WordWHITE
See WordWOO
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 HYBRID Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a mixed or blended thing, but here the puzzle is using it as a golf club type.
2 WOO Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of courting or persuading someone, but here it's part of a team nickname.
3 RED Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing it as a color along with white and aqua, but the puzzle uses it for a team name.

NYT Sports Connections answers for August 1, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y GOLF CLUBS · Yellow · easiest
  • IRON
  • DRIVER
  • HYBRID
  • PUTTER

IRON, DRIVER, HYBRID and PUTTER are all types of golf clubs. HYBRID is the one most solvers misread as a blended item before the golf connection appears.

G CAN PRECEDE "BOWL," IN NFL CONTEXT · Green · easy
  • SUPER
  • PRO
  • ICE
  • FOG

SUPER, PRO, ICE and FOG can all precede bowl in NFL context. SUPER is the most obvious while FOG and ICE are the lesser-known bowl names.

B AN ATLANTIC 10 ATHLETE · Blue · medium
  • SPIDER
  • RAMBLER
  • BILLIKEN
  • FLYER

SPIDER, RAMBLER, BILLIKEN and FLYER are all Atlantic 10 mascots. BILLIKEN is the rarest name most solvers will not recognize at first.

P _____ SOX · Purple · hardest
  • AQUA
  • RED
  • WHITE
  • WOO

AQUA, RED, WHITE and WOO complete team names ending in sox. WOO is the newest addition and the one most solvers will not connect without sports knowledge.

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