# NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers Solution guide for July 24's sports-themed puzzle challenge. - **Source:** [CNET](https://brifing.si/source/ce507de7-7f24-4ff4-ab6d-7635abcc095a) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Topic:** [Career Growth](https://brifing.si/c/growth) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/76fffea9-411a-4b82-b133-8868a2b249a3 ## Sports-Themed Challenging Puzzle The sports edition of NYT's daily Connections puzzle is filled with team names and sports terms. Careful thinking is required to correctly group the categories. Each of the yellow, green, blue, and purple groups contains a different sports theme. ## Yellow Group Hint: Jumping The common theme in the yellow group relates to jumping actions. Famous for frogs, this movement is represented by words like 'hop', 'leap', 'spring', and 'bound'. Solving this category requires focusing on basic movements rather than sports terms. ## Green Group: North Carolina Schools The green group brings together universities from North Carolina, known as the Tar Heel state. Duke, Wake Forest, Appalachian State, and High Point universities appear in this category as the region's notable institutions, famous for their athletic programs. ## Blue Group: 1990s Expansion Teams Professional league teams established in the 1990s form the blue group. Teams like Grizzlies, Jaguars, Rockies, and Sharks joined leagues in the late 20th century. This category is specially designed for sports history enthusiasts. ## Purple Group: Softball League Teams Athletes Unlimited softball league teams are grouped in purple. Teams like Bandits, Blaze, Cascade, and Talons represent this popular non-baseball sport. This category offers an unconventional grouping beyond traditional sports. ## Ideal Activity for Mental Exercise NYT Connections puzzles serve as excellent tools for daily mental exercise. This sports-themed version tests sports knowledge while enhancing categorical thinking skills. For regular solvers, these cognitively beneficial puzzles provide a fun way to start the day dynamically. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-connections-sports-edition-hints-and-answers-for-july-24-669/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._