NYT Connections Sports Edition · #668

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#668) — July 23, 2026

By Sneha Rajput·July 23, 2026

“Start by matching the clearest team names you know before sorting the rest by names or phrases they might complete.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 23, 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 →

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 AND ONECompletes the basketball phrase for a made shot plus foul.

2 FROSTThe PWHL team whose name sounds like cold weather.

3 HAWKSAtlanta's long-running NBA franchise.

4 JUMPCompletes the term for a sudden start or boxing move.

5 LACROSSECompletes the name of the stick-and-ball sport.

6 MAGICThe Orlando squad known for its Disney-inspired name.

7 MCTOMINAYScott McTominay, the midfielder known for Scotland.

8 NETSBrooklyn's team whose name can mislead toward tricks.

9 NIEDERMAYERScott Niedermayer, the Hall of Fame defenseman.

10 PISTONSDetroit's team named after the auto part.

11 ROLENScott Rolen, the MLB third baseman.

12 SCORECompletes the phrase for a decisive win or tally.

13 TIMBERWOLVESMinnesota's NBA team named after a forest predator.

14 TWINSMinnesota's MLB team sharing its name with siblings.

15 VAN PELTScott Van Pelt, the ESPN anchor.

16 WILDThe NHL team whose name fits the state's outdoors image.

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

Basketball clubs tied to one half of the league map.

See Group

EASTERN CONFERENCE NBA TEAMS

See Word

MAGIC

See Word

HAWKS

See Word

PISTONS

See Word

NETS

See Hint

Squads from the state famous for lakes and cold.

See Group

MINNESOTA TEAMS

See Word

FROST

See Word

TIMBERWOLVES

See Word

WILD

See Word

TWINS

See Hint

Sports namesakes sharing one very common given name.

See Group

SCOTTS

See Word

ROLEN

See Word

VAN PELT

See Word

NIEDERMAYER

See Word

MCTOMINAY

See Hint

Common phrases that begin with a word for a square container.

See Group

BOX _____

See Word

SCORE

See Word

LACROSSE

See Word

JUMP

See Word

AND ONE

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 FROST Tap to see why this word traps.

You're probably thinking of frozen dew or cold weather, but here the puzzle uses it as a proper name.

2 ROLEN Tap to see why this word traps.

You're probably hearing it as rolling or a verb, but here it's a full surname of a player.

3 NIEDERMAYER Tap to see why this word traps.

You're probably seeing a long German surname, but here it's the complete name of an athlete.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 23, 2026

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

Y EASTERN CONFERENCE NBA TEAMS · Yellow · easiest

MAGIC
HAWKS
PISTONS
NETS

MAGIC, HAWKS, PISTONS and NETS are all Eastern Conference NBA teams. The NETS name stands out because it evokes fishing gear or basketball equipment rather than the team itself.

G MINNESOTA TEAMS · Green · easy

FROST
TIMBERWOLVES
WILD
TWINS

FROST, TIMBERWOLVES, WILD and TWINS are all Minnesota pro teams. FROST is the one most likely to read as weather instead of a league entry.

B SCOTTS · Blue · medium

ROLEN
VAN PELT
NIEDERMAYER
MCTOMINAY

ROLEN, VAN PELT, NIEDERMAYER and MCTOMINAY are all athletes or broadcasters named Scott. The group spans baseball, hockey, soccer and broadcasting.

P BOX _____ · Purple · hardest

SCORE
LACROSSE
JUMP
AND ONE

SCORE, LACROSSE, JUMP and AND ONE are all phrases that start with BOX. AND ONE is the most modern sports reference in the set.

Try another puzzle

Two more NazoKai hints, ready when you are.

Connections

Today's group hints & answers

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Wordle

Today's hint ladder & answer

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