NYT Connections Hints, Clues and Answers Today, Friday, January 2, 2026

Get excited—there’s another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.

So, if you’re looking for some hints and answers for today’s Connections Sports Edition on Friday, January 2, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

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What Is Connections Sports Edition?

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it’s a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It’s up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you “group sports terms that share a common thread.”

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You’ll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints for Today’s Connections Sports Edition Categories on January 2, 2026

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

• Yellow: Raring to go.
• Green: Aces high.
• Blue: Robin Hood.
• Purple: Hockey teams, with a twist.

Here Are Today’s Connections Sports Edition Categories

OK, time for a second hint…we’ll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

• Yellow: FULL OF ENERGY.
• Green: ACTIONS WITH A DECK OF PLAYING CARDS.
• Blue: ARCHERY TERMS.
• Purple: NHL TEAMS, WITH THE LAST LETTER CHANGED.

If you’re looking for the answers, no worries—we’ve got them below. So, don’t scroll any further if you don’t want to see the solutions!

The answers to today’s Connections Sports Edition #466 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• FULL OF ENERGY: FRESH, INVIGORATED, RESTED, RESTORED
• ACTIONS WITH A DECK OF PLAYING CARDS: CUT, DEAL, DRAW, SHUFFLE
• ARCHERY TERMS: ARROW, BULLSEYE, NOCK, QUIVER
• NHL TEAMS, WITH THE LAST LETTER CHANGED: BLUEY, DUCKY, START, WILT

Don’t worry if you didn’t get them this time—we’ve all been there.

Up next, catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

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