On December 31, 2025, sports fans and puzzle enthusiasts alike found themselves drawn to a unique intersection of trivia and athletics: the New York Times Connections: Sports Edition puzzle No. 464. Published by The Athletic and highlighted by CNET, this special edition of the popular Connections game offered a playful way to look back on the year in sports, just as the world prepared to ring in a new one. For those who thrive on both competition and curiosity, the puzzle provided a satisfying challenge—one that invited players to categorize notable names, places, and titles from the 2025 sporting landscape.
Unlike the standard Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition is curated by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism powerhouse now under the umbrella of The New York Times. While it doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, fans can access it via The Athletic’s own app or play for free online. According to CNET, the December 31 puzzle was especially timely, with two of its categories reflecting on the past year’s highlights in sports. As the clock ticked down on 2025, the Connections: Sports Edition puzzle became a fun, communal way for fans to test their knowledge, reminisce, and maybe even learn something new.
So, what did the final Connections: Sports Edition puzzle of the year have in store? Players were presented with four groups, each with its own distinctive theme. The game’s format is simple but deceptively tricky: out of a grid of sixteen clues, the player must sort them into four groups of four, each linked by a hidden connection. For this edition, the groupings were as follows: sports films of 2025, MVPs of 2025, SEC football stadiums, and names that begin with an MLB team in singular form.
Hints released by both CNET and The Athletic helped guide players through the puzzle. The yellow group, described by CNET as “Lights, camera, sports!”, was all about sports films released in 2025. The answers? F1, Happy Gilmore, Marty Supreme, and The Smashing Machine. These titles reflect the enduring popularity of sports cinema, with F1 likely referencing the world of Formula 1 racing, Happy Gilmore nodding to the beloved golf comedy, and The Smashing Machine perhaps bringing to mind the world of combat sports. Marty Supreme, meanwhile, may have been a breakout sports film of the year, though its specifics remain a mystery to those outside the puzzle’s inner circle.
Next up was the green group, themed “Best in their sport,” and spotlighting the MVPs of 2025. According to CNET, the answers here were A'ja Wilson, Connor Hellebuyck, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Shohei Ohtani. Each of these athletes had a standout year, earning recognition as the most valuable player in their respective sports. A'ja Wilson’s dominance in basketball, Connor Hellebuyck’s prowess in hockey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise in the NBA, and Shohei Ohtani’s continued excellence in baseball made them easy picks for this elite group. As The Athletic noted, one of the hints provided was simply “CONNOR HELLEBUYCK,” helping players zero in on this MVP theme.
The blue group took fans to the heart of college football, focusing on SEC football stadiums—a topic sure to stir passion among Southern sports fans. The answers, as reported by both CNET and The Athletic, were Bryant-Denny, Jordan-Hare, Kyle, and Sanford. These iconic venues are home to some of the most storied programs in college football: Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama), Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn), Kyle Field (Texas A&M), and Sanford Stadium (Georgia). For anyone who’s ever experienced the roar of the crowd on a Saturday afternoon in the SEC, these names evoke memories of epic clashes, school pride, and the unique culture of American college sports.
The purple group was, perhaps, the most cryptic. Its theme, according to CNET, was “Starts with an MLB team in singular form.” The answers: Angel Reese, Ray Allen, Red Auerbach, and Tiger Woods. At first glance, this grouping might stump even the most ardent sports fan. But the trick lies in the first names: Angel (Angels), Ray (Rays), Red (Reds), and Tiger (Tigers)—each a singular form of a Major League Baseball team name. It’s a clever twist that rewards both sports knowledge and lateral thinking. The Athletic offered “ANGEL REESE” as a hint, nudging players toward the solution.
For those who tackled the puzzle on December 31, the difficulty rating was a modest 1.5 out of 5, according to The Athletic. That’s not to say it was a walk in the park—Connections puzzles are notorious for their ability to trip up even seasoned solvers with unexpected groupings and subtle wordplay. Still, the hints and the festive, year-end spirit made this edition especially accessible. As one The Athletic writer put it, “Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments!”
The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle isn’t just a game; it’s also a reflection of the cultural moments that define each year in sports. By including categories like “sports films of 2025” and “MVPs of 2025,” the puzzle doubles as a time capsule, capturing the athletes, movies, and traditions that resonated most with fans. The inclusion of SEC stadiums and clever wordplay around MLB team names adds a layer of regional pride and linguistic fun, making the puzzle appealing to a broad audience.
For those who missed out, the good news is that a new Connections: Sports Edition puzzle drops at midnight local time, every day. As The Athletic reminded readers, “The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone.” It’s a daily ritual for some, a friendly competition for others, and a testament to the enduring bond between sports and storytelling.
As 2025 drew to a close, the final Connections: Sports Edition puzzle offered a fitting send-off—a blend of nostalgia, challenge, and community. Whether you nailed all four groups or found yourself stumped by the purple category, the experience was a reminder of why sports, and the stories we tell about them, continue to captivate us year after year.
