Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already playWordle,Connections,Strandsand theMini Crosswordnow haveConnections Sports Editionto add to the mix.So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Thursday,January8, 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 8, 2026
Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.
Yellow: Sports in our nation's capital.
Green: Got any Band-Aids?
Blue: Certain basketball league.
Purple: Same first name.
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: A DC ATHLETE
Green: SUPPLIES FOR AN ATHLETIC TRAINER
Blue: UNRIVALED TEAMS
Purple: JERRY _____
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 #472 are coming up next.Related:15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?
A DC ATHLETE: CAPITAL, COMMANDER, MYSTIC, WIZARD
SUPPLIES FOR AN ATHLETIC TRAINER: BANDAGES, ICE PACK, SCISSORS, TAPE
UNRIVALED TEAMS: BREEZE, LACES, PHANTOM, VINYL
JERRY _____: LUCAS, RICE, STACKHOUSE, WEST
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 Wednesday, January 7, 2026
This story was originally published byParadeon Jan 8, 2026, where it first appeared in theLifesection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.
