Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Are you watching the World Cup? Today’s Connections: Sports Edition includes one related category. If you’re struggling with the 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: Cape is another one.
Green group hint: Play ball!
Blue group hint: I’m taking my talents to South Beach.
Purple group hint: Neat on your feet.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: First words of World Cup countries, in English.
Green group: MLB stadiums.
Blue group: LeBron-era Heat stars.
Purple group: Adidas shoes.
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 June 22, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is first words of World Cup countries, in English. The four answers are Bosnia, Ivory, South and United.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is MLB stadiums. The four answers are Comerica, Kauffman, Nationals and Wrigley.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is LeBron-era Heat stars. The four answers are Allen, Bosh, James and Wade.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is Adidas shoes. The four answers are Samba, Stan Smith, Superstar and Ultraboost.