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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #674

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#674) — July 29, 2026

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Earlier Jul 28 This puzzle Jul 29 Later Jul 30

“Start with the most direct synonym matches before moving to anything that requires league knowledge.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 29, 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 ALOUETTESThe CFL football team in the city.
2 CANADIENSThe NHL team everyone knows first.
3 CF MONTRÉALThe MLS soccer club with the French name.
4 COMPETITIONThe broadest synonym of the four.
5 COUNTRY CLUBStarts with country, not a golf venue.
6 FIXTUREA scheduled sporting event in British English.
7 FLOPThe first three community cards together.
8 GAMEThe everyday word for any contest.
9 MATCHThe plainest term for two sides competing.
10 POPOVICHStarts with pop, not the coach.
11 RAPIDSStarts with rap, not a water feature.
12 RIVERThe fifth and last community card.
13 ROCKYStarts with rock, not the boxer.
14 SHOWDOWNThe final reveal after all cards are out.
15 TURNThe fourth community card dealt.
16 VICTOIREThe PWHL women's hockey team.
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 What two teams arrange before they meet.
See Group CONTEST
See WordFIXTURE
See WordMATCH
See WordGAME
See WordCOMPETITION
See Hint The order cards appear during one poker variant.
See Group STAGES IN A TEXAS HOLD'EM HAND
See WordSHOWDOWN
See WordTURN
See WordRIVER
See WordFLOP
See Hint Professional squads from one Canadian city.
See Group PRO TEAMS IN MONTREAL
See WordCANADIENS
See WordALOUETTES
See WordVICTOIRE
See WordCF MONTRÉAL
See Hint A top-40 style begins each of these.
See Group STARTS WITH A MUSIC GENRE
See WordRAPIDS
See WordROCKY
See WordPOPOVICH
See WordCOUNTRY CLUB
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 SHOWDOWN Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a decisive final contest, but here the puzzle uses it as a later step in a sequence.
2 ROCKY Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing the boxer or something unsteady, but here the puzzle focuses on the opening part of the word.
3 POPOVICH Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the basketball coach, but here the puzzle is looking at the start of the name.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 29, 2026

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

Y CONTEST · Yellow · easiest
  • FIXTURE
  • MATCH
  • GAME
  • COMPETITION

FIXTURE, MATCH, GAME and COMPETITION are all synonyms for a contest. FIXTURE stands out as the most British term and can delay recognition for American solvers.

G STAGES IN A TEXAS HOLD'EM HAND · Green · easy
  • SHOWDOWN
  • TURN
  • RIVER
  • FLOP

SHOWDOWN, TURN, RIVER and FLOP are the stages in a Texas Hold'em hand. SHOWDOWN is the sneakiest because it reads like any final contest.

B PRO TEAMS IN MONTREAL · Blue · medium
  • CANADIENS
  • ALOUETTES
  • VICTOIRE
  • CF MONTRÉAL

CANADIENS, ALOUETTES, VICTOIRE and CF MONTRÉAL are all pro teams based in Montreal. The hockey franchise is the most famous but the others round out the set.

P STARTS WITH A MUSIC GENRE · Purple · hardest
  • RAPIDS
  • ROCKY
  • POPOVICH
  • COUNTRY CLUB

RAPIDS, ROCKY, POPOVICH and COUNTRY CLUB each start with a music genre. POPOVICH is the most surprising because the coach name hides the pop prefix.

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