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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #671

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#671) — July 26, 2026

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Earlier Jul 25 This puzzle Jul 26 Later Jul 27

“Group the most direct team references first before examining any objects or word endings.BUCKEYES and CREW appeared together in Connections #647 (Jul 2, 2026). They were part of teams in Columbus.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 26, 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 BASEBALL GLOVEThe mitt shown in the Milwaukee Brewers logo.
2 BLUE DEVILSThe Duke nickname that ends with DEVILS.
3 BOILERSLooks like heaters but ends with OILERS.
4 BRIDGEThe structure in the San Francisco Giants logo.
5 BROWNSThe NFL team from Cleveland.
6 BUCKEYESThe Ohio State University athletic teams.
7 CAVALIERSThe NBA team from Cleveland.
8 CREWThe MLS team from Columbus.
9 CROWNThe headwear in the Kansas City Royals logo.
10 HOOKThe sharp end that catches the fish.
11 PF FLYERSThe shoe brand that ends with FLYERS.
12 SINKERThe weight that pulls the line down.
13 SOCKSThe footwear in the Chicago White Sox logo.
14 SPOONLooks like a utensil but works as a lure.
15 STOCKINGSLooks like hosiery but ends with KINGS.
16 TACKLE BOXThe container that holds all the gear.
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 Four squads that share a home state.
See Group OHIO TEAMS
See WordCAVALIERS
See WordBUCKEYES
See WordBROWNS
See WordCREW
See Hint Equipment for an angler on the water.
See Group FISHING GEAR
See WordHOOK
See WordSINKER
See WordSPOON
See WordTACKLE BOX
See Hint Objects that appear on baseball club emblems.
See Group FOUND IN MLB TEAM LOGOS
See WordSOCKS
See WordBRIDGE
See WordBASEBALL GLOVE
See WordCROWN
See Hint Phrases that conclude with a hockey franchise name.
See Group ENDS IN AN NHL TEAM
See WordSTOCKINGS
See WordPF FLYERS
See WordBLUE DEVILS
See WordBOILERS
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 STOCKINGS Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of hosiery or legwear, but here the puzzle is using it as a term that completes with a team name.
2 SOCKS Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of footwear, but here the puzzle is using it as an item in a team emblem.
3 SPOON Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of kitchen utensils, but here the puzzle is using it as fishing equipment.
4 CREW Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a rowing or boat team, but here the puzzle is using it as a team nickname from one state.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 26, 2026

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

Y OHIO TEAMS · Yellow · easiest
  • CAVALIERS
  • BUCKEYES
  • BROWNS
  • CREW

CAVALIERS, BUCKEYES, BROWNS and CREW are all Ohio sports teams. The BROWNS stand out as the only NFL team among them.

G FISHING GEAR · Green · easy
  • HOOK
  • SINKER
  • SPOON
  • TACKLE BOX

HOOK, SINKER, SPOON and TACKLE BOX are all fishing gear. SPOON is the one that doubles as a lure shape.

B FOUND IN MLB TEAM LOGOS · Blue · medium
  • SOCKS
  • BRIDGE
  • BASEBALL GLOVE
  • CROWN

SOCKS, BRIDGE, BASEBALL GLOVE and CROWN are all found in MLB team logos. BRIDGE is the one tied to a specific city skyline.

P ENDS IN AN NHL TEAM · Purple · hardest
  • STOCKINGS
  • PF FLYERS
  • BLUE DEVILS
  • BOILERS

STOCKINGS, PF FLYERS, BLUE DEVILS and BOILERS are all words that end with NHL team names. BOILERS is the sneakiest because it ends with OILERS.

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