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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #714

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#714) — September 7, 2026

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Earlier Sep 6 This puzzle Sep 7 Later Sep 8

“Before you lock in any group, check whether a word could be an abbreviation or a surname — several words here are wearing a disguise that only drops when you say them out loud.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for September 7, 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 ASHEArthur Ashe won the inaugural Open Era US Open in 1968 — the stadium in Flushing Meadows is named after him.
2 CAMINEROJunior Caminero is a young Tampa Bay Rays infielder — the most current sports reference in the puzzle.
3 CARLooks like an automobile; it's the scoreboard code for the Carolina Hurricanes.
4 COLLEGEJunior College is a two-year post-secondary institution — nothing to do with a school-themed category.
5 D/STDefense and special teams combined into one fantasy slot — the only unit-level position in the lineup.
6 EDMShort for Edmonton — home of the Oilers, not the music genre.
7 FLEXNot a real on-field position — a fantasy roster slot that accepts multiple position types.
8 LAVERRod Laver won the US Open in 1969 as part of his second Grand Slam; the main court at the Australian Open also bears his name.
9 OTTThree letters for Ottawa's NHL franchise, the Senators.
10 RAFTERPatrick Rafter won back-to-back US Open titles in 1997 and 1998.
11 RBRunning back — the workhorse position every fantasy manager fights over in the draft.
12 SEAUJunior Seau was a Hall of Fame NFL linebacker whose first name was literally Junior.
13 SINNERLooks like a moral failing; it's the surname of 2024 US Open champion Jannik Sinner.
14 TETight end — a hybrid blocker and receiver that fantasy managers often reach for too early.
15 VANLooks like a cargo vehicle; it's the scoreboard code for the Vancouver Canucks.
16 VARSITYJunior Varsity — the level below varsity in high school and college sports programs.
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 The scoreboard clock is ticking and these four letters are up top.
See Group NHL TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS
See WordOTT
See WordCAR
See WordVAN
See WordEDM
See Hint Set your lineup before Sunday's kickoff or you'll regret it.
See Group POSITIONS IN FANTASY FOOTBALL
See WordRB
See WordTE
See WordFLEX
See WordD/ST
See Hint These surnames have all held a trophy in Flushing Meadows.
See Group US OPEN MEN'S SINGLES WINNERS
See WordSINNER
See WordRAFTER
See WordASHE
See WordLAVER
See Hint A famous first name shared by a Hall of Famer, a prospect, and a school tier.
See Group JUNIOR _____
See WordCOLLEGE
See WordCAMINERO
See WordVARSITY
See WordSEAU
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 CAR Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably reading it as an automobile — but here it's a scoreboard abbreviation, not a vehicle.
2 VAN Tap to see why this word traps.
Looks like the vehicle you'd rent for moving day, but the puzzle is using it as a two- or three-letter team code, not a mode of transport.
3 SINNER Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably reading it as a moral or religious term — but here it's a surname belonging to a recent Grand Slam champion.
4 COLLEGE Tap to see why this word traps.
Screams higher education at first glance, but the puzzle is using it in a completely different context — not an academic theme.
5 FLEX Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of showing off muscles or flexing on someone — but here it's a specific roster slot in a fantasy sports lineup.

NYT Sports Connections answers for September 7, 2026

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

Y NHL TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS · Yellow · easiest
  • OTT
  • CAR
  • VAN
  • EDM

OTT, CAR, VAN and EDM are the scoreboard abbreviations for four NHL teams: Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. CAR and VAN are the sneakiest — both read as everyday vehicles before the hockey context clicks.

G POSITIONS IN FANTASY FOOTBALL · Green · easy
  • RB
  • TE
  • FLEX
  • D/ST

RB, TE, FLEX and D/ST are all roster positions in a standard fantasy football lineup. FLEX is the trickiest — it's not a position in real football but a fantasy slot that can be filled by a running back, wide receiver or tight end.

B US OPEN MEN'S SINGLES WINNERS · Blue · medium
  • SINNER
  • RAFTER
  • ASHE
  • LAVER

SINNER, RAFTER, ASHE and LAVER are all US Open men's singles champions. Arthur Ashe won in 1968, Rod Laver in 1969, Patrick Rafter in 1997 and 1998, and Jannik Sinner in 2024 — spanning more than five decades of the Open Era.

P JUNIOR _____ · Purple · hardest
  • COLLEGE
  • CAMINERO
  • VARSITY
  • SEAU

COLLEGE, CAMINERO, VARSITY and SEAU all follow the first name Junior: Junior College, Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays infielder), Junior Varsity and Junior Seau (Hall of Fame NFL linebacker). SEAU is the key — Junior Seau was one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, and his first name was literally Junior.

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