The New York Times’ The Athletic released its daily Sports Edition of the Connections puzzle today, February 27th, #522. For those seeking assistance, this article provides hints and complete answers to help solve the game. The puzzle is available in The Athletic ‘s app or for free online, distinct from the main NYT Games app.
Puzzle Breakdown: Category Hints
The puzzle is designed with four color-coded groups, ranging from straightforward yellow categories to the trickiest purple ones. Here’s a breakdown of the hints:
- Yellow: Think about taking someone’s place.
- Green: Relates to catching a wave.
- Blue: Honors the best pitchers in the American League.
- Purple: Refers to the opening words of Major League Baseball team names.
Complete Solutions
Here are the solutions to today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle:
- Yellow Group: The theme is “Substitute.” The words are pull, replace, take out, and yank.
- Green Group: The theme is “Surfing Terms.” The words are barrel, crest, swell, and wave.
- Blue Group: The theme is “AL Cy Young Award Winners.” The words are Bieber, Cone, Fingers, and Price. (referring to pitchers Roy Halladay, Tom Glavine, Rollie Fingers, and David Price).
- Purple Group: The theme is “Starts of MLB Team Names.” The words are Blue, Brew, Card, and Rock. (referring to the Blue Jays, Brewers, Cardinals, and Rockies).
Strategic Tips for Success
Solving Connections effectively requires a few key strategies:
- Avoid Low-Hanging Fruit: Don’t immediately jump to the easiest group. Consider alternative sports categories each word might fit into. A word could apply to football, basketball, or various scoring systems.
- Double Meanings: The puzzle frequently uses last names, college nicknames, or terms with multiple meanings to mislead players. Be wary of words that seem obvious.
- Athlete Names: Conversely, common words like “HURTS” can actually be last names of professional athletes. Always consider the possibility of proper nouns.
The Connections puzzle is designed to test lateral thinking and sports knowledge. By considering multiple possibilities and staying aware of deceptive wordplay, players can improve their success rate.
