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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #666

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#666) — July 21, 2026

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“Tackle the most familiar sports terms first before looking at surnames or shared visual traits.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 21, 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 BETTSA common surname turned WNBA rookie identifier.
2 BOXING GLOVESThe padded handwear always shown in that signature color.
3 COACH'S CHALLENGE FLAGThe thrown item that signals a review request.
4 DODGEBALLLooks like the playground game but here it's the red ball itself.
5 EQUESTRIANThe only Olympic sport that involves horses.
6 FAMShort for family but here a player's last name.
7 FIELD HOCKEYThe stick-and-ball team game on grass or turf.
8 FOULAny illegal play that stops the action.
9 FUDDA rookie surname that sounds like a cartoon sound effect.
10 GOAL LIGHTThe lamp that glows when a score is confirmed.
11 HANDBALLLooks like the Olympic sport but here it's a hand violation.
12 MILESA distance word that doubles as a player name.
13 OFFSIDEThe position rule that often draws flags.
14 SIMULATIONLooks like computer modeling but here it's faking injury.
15 VOLLEYBALLThe net sport played on sand or indoors at the Games.
16 WATER POLOThe team sport played in a pool with a ball.
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 Events you watch during the summer version of the international Games.
See Group SUMMER OLYMPIC SPORTS
See WordEQUESTRIAN
See WordVOLLEYBALL
See WordFIELD HOCKEY
See WordWATER POLO
See Hint Actions that stop play or draw a card in the world's game.
See Group AGAINST THE RULES IN SOCCER
See WordHANDBALL
See WordFOUL
See WordOFFSIDE
See WordSIMULATION
See Hint Fresh names joining a women's pro basketball squad.
See Group WNBA ROOKIES
See WordFUDD
See WordMILES
See WordFAM
See WordBETTS
See Hint Sports items traditionally colored like a fire truck.
See Group THINGS THAT ARE RED
See WordDODGEBALL
See WordBOXING GLOVES
See WordCOACH'S CHALLENGE FLAG
See WordGOAL LIGHT
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 HANDBALL Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the Olympic team sport, but here the puzzle uses it as a soccer violation instead.
2 SIMULATION Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing computer modeling, but here it's the soccer term for faking an injury.
3 DODGEBALL Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the playground game, but here it refers to the ball itself rather than the game.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 21, 2026

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

Y SUMMER OLYMPIC SPORTS · Yellow · easiest
  • EQUESTRIAN
  • VOLLEYBALL
  • FIELD HOCKEY
  • WATER POLO

EQUESTRIAN, VOLLEYBALL, FIELD HOCKEY and WATER POLO are all summer Olympic sports. FIELD HOCKEY stands out because it shares its name with a similar winter sport.

G AGAINST THE RULES IN SOCCER · Green · easy
  • HANDBALL
  • FOUL
  • OFFSIDE
  • SIMULATION

HANDBALL, FOUL, OFFSIDE and SIMULATION are all against the rules in soccer. SIMULATION is the sneakiest because most people first picture computer modeling.

B WNBA ROOKIES · Blue · medium
  • FUDD
  • MILES
  • FAM
  • BETTS

FUDD, MILES, FAM and BETTS are all WNBA rookies. FAM is the shortest and easiest to overlook as a real surname.

P THINGS THAT ARE RED · Purple · hardest
  • DODGEBALL
  • BOXING GLOVES
  • COACH'S CHALLENGE FLAG
  • GOAL LIGHT

DODGEBALL, BOXING GLOVES, COACH'S CHALLENGE FLAG and GOAL LIGHT are all conventionally red. DODGEBALL is the sneakiest because most solvers first picture the game rather than the ball.

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