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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #663

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#663) — July 18, 2026

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“Clear the most obvious venue words first before tackling any endings or film titles.Today's puzzle has INTERFERENCE, which also appeared in Connections #660 (Jul 15, 2026). It was part of phrases that can be preceded by pass.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 18, 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 CAGEThe enclosed MMA fighting area.
2 FIGHTINGThe most obvious hockey penalty on the list.
3 FREE SOLOThe Oscar winner about Alex Honnold's ropeless climb.
4 GRIDIRONEnds in iron, a club used for mid-range shots.
5 HARDWOODEnds in wood, the family of clubs including the driver.
6 HIGH-STICKINGIllegal use of the stick above the shoulders.
7 HOOP DREAMSThe classic film following two Chicago basketball players.
8 ICARUSThe film exposing Russian doping in the Olympics.
9 INTERFERENCEBlocking a player without the puck.
10 MATWhere wrestlers compete.
11 OCTAGONLooks like a shape but names the UFC ring.
12 RED RIVEREnds in driver, the club that hits farthest.
13 RINGThe classic boxing venue.
14 SENNAThe documentary about Formula One driver Ayrton Senna.
15 SPUTTEREnds in putter, the club used on the green.
16 TRIPPINGUsing a stick or body to knock someone down.
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 Where fighters square off in different shapes.
See Group COMBAT SPORTS SETTINGS
See WordRING
See WordMAT
See WordCAGE
See WordOCTAGON
See Hint Reasons a player gets sent to the box.
See Group HOCKEY PENALTIES
See WordFIGHTING
See WordHIGH-STICKING
See WordINTERFERENCE
See WordTRIPPING
See Hint Movies built around real athletic stories.
See Group SPORTS DOCUMENTARIES
See WordHOOP DREAMS
See WordSENNA
See WordICARUS
See WordFREE SOLO
See Hint Each ends with something a golfer swings.
See Group ENDS IN A GOLF CLUB
See WordSPUTTER
See WordRED RIVER
See WordGRIDIRON
See WordHARDWOOD
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 GRIDIRON Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the football field, but here the puzzle is using it for its final letters.
2 HARDWOOD Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing a basketball court surface, but here the puzzle is using it for its final letters.
3 SPUTTER Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of an engine sound, but here the puzzle is using it for its final letters.
4 OCTAGON Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing a geometric shape, but here the puzzle is using it as a combat venue.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 18, 2026

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

Y COMBAT SPORTS SETTINGS · Yellow · easiest
  • RING
  • MAT
  • CAGE
  • OCTAGON

RING, MAT, CAGE and OCTAGON are all combat sports settings. OCTAGON is the sneakiest because it reads first as a shape rather than the UFC ring.

G HOCKEY PENALTIES · Green · easy
  • FIGHTING
  • HIGH-STICKING
  • INTERFERENCE
  • TRIPPING

FIGHTING, HIGH-STICKING, INTERFERENCE and TRIPPING are all hockey penalties. FIGHTING is the most direct match to the name of the infraction.

B SPORTS DOCUMENTARIES · Blue · medium
  • HOOP DREAMS
  • SENNA
  • ICARUS
  • FREE SOLO

HOOP DREAMS, SENNA, ICARUS and FREE SOLO are all sports documentaries. FREE SOLO stands out because it follows one climber's attempt on El Capitan.

P ENDS IN A GOLF CLUB · Purple · hardest
  • SPUTTER
  • RED RIVER
  • GRIDIRON
  • HARDWOOD

SPUTTER, RED RIVER, GRIDIRON and HARDWOOD all end in a golf club. GRIDIRON is the trickiest because its football meaning is so strong.

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