Get excited—there’s another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play 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 Monday, February 16, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.
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The New York Times
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 February 16, 2026
Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.
- Yellow: Sunshine state
- Green: Seen on the ESPN highlight desk
- Blue: Led by a former NFL quarterback
- Purple: Same pronunciation as famous aces
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: CALIFORNIA NBA TEAMS
- Green: IN A “SPORTSCENTER” BROADCAST
- Blue: COACHED BY JIM HARBAUGH
- Purple: HOMOPHONES OF CY YOUNG AWARD WINNERS
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 #511 are coming up next.
Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?
- CALIFORNIA NBA TEAMS: CLIPPERS, KINGS, LAKERS, WARRIORS
- IN A “SPORTSCENTER” BROADCAST: ANCHOR, CHYRON, HIGHLIGHTS, TICKER
- COACHED BY JIM HARBAUGH: 49ERS, CHARGERS, MICHIGAN, STANFORD
- HOMOPHONES OF CY YOUNG AWARD WINNERS: BURNS, COAL, COLOGNE, SAIL
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.
Related: NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Sunday, February 15, 2026
