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Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. Some of the words in the purple category were completely new to me. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Step up to the plate.
Green group hint: College division.
Blue group hint: Robert.
Purple group hint: Goaaaaaal!
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Involved in an at-bat.
Green group: A Big 12 athlete.
Blue group: Bobs.
Purple group: Soccer slang.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 11, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is involved in an at-bat. The four answers are catcher, hitter, pitcher and umpire.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is a Big 12 athlete. The four answers are Cyclone, Jayhawk, Sun Devil and Ute.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is Bobs. The four answers are Beamon, Costas, Feller and Uecker.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is soccer slang. The four answers are howler, screamer, sitter and worldie