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For the February 25, 2026, Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, CNET and Mashable report the same four groups and all 16 answers. Try the graduated hints below before scrolling to the solutions. One caution: Parade’s guide for the same date and puzzle number lists a different board, and the official game board could not be independently verified.
Hints for Connections: Sports Edition #520
The puzzle asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Correct groups disappear as you find them, and you can make up to four mistakes. The hints below move from the reported easiest category to the most difficult, without giving away the words.
- Yellow: Think of a forceful hit on a baseball.
- Green: Look for teams associated with dark colors.
- Blue: Consider sports and events connected with Montreal.
- Purple: Each group member can complete the same phrase before “Derby.”
Answers for February 25, 2026
CNET and Mashable independently list these same categories and answers for puzzle #520:
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| To Hit A Baseball Hard | BELT, BLISTER, HAMMER, TATTOO |
| Orange and Black Teams | BENGALS, FLYERS, GIANTS, OKLAHOMA STATE |
| Associated with Montreal | 1976 OLYMPICS, CANADIENS, EXPOS, YOUPPI! |
| ___ Derby | HOME RUN, KENTUCKY, MERSEYSIDE, ROLLER |
Why the answer set has a source caveat
Parade also labels its February 25 guide as Sports Edition #520, but gives a substantially different set of categories and words. Since that conflicts with both CNET and Mashable, it should not be blended into their answer set. The official NYT game page was not accessible for direct confirmation, so the solutions above are corroborated by two secondary guides rather than verified against the live board.
How to play Sports Edition
Connections: Sports Edition uses the familiar format of sorting 16 words into four related groups. It is described as playable online or through The Athletic app. Because several words can seem to fit more than one theme, look for the most specific shared link and reserve a guess until you can account for all four words in a group.
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