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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For the February 4, 2026 edition of NYT Connections: Sports Edition, the published guide identifies the puzzle as #499. Start with the spoiler-light hints below; the category labels and word groups follow in a separate answer key.
Hints for February 4, 2026
Parade’s dated guide gives these hints in order, without revealing the answer groups:
- Yellow: Nice victory!
- Green: I’ll give you that guy for this guy.
- Blue: Where to play.
- Purple: Florida hoops.
See Parade’s February 4 guide.
Answers for Connections Sports Edition #499
Spoilers below: the category labels and reported answer spellings are from Parade’s February 4, 2026 guide. The game archive was not independently confirmed, so these are reported answers rather than an independently verified grid.
Yellow — WIN SMOOTHLY
- BREEZE
- COAST
- CRUISE
- WALTZ
Green — FANTASY SPORTS TRADE OPTIONS
- ACCEPTS
- COUNTER
- PROPOSE
- REJECT
Blue — AREAS OF PLAY, IN DIFFERENT SPORTS
- COURSE
- COURT
- FRONTON
- RINK
Purple — MEMBER OF THE ORLANDO MAGIC
- BANCHERO
- BANE
- BLACK
- SSUGGS
What is known about the published spellings
Parade prints the fantasy-trade answer as “ACCEPTS,” while another search result displayed “ACCEPT.” Its Orlando Magic group prints “SSUGGS.” Because an official archive was not confirmed, this answer key preserves Parade’s spellings instead of silently changing either entry.
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How the puzzle is described
Parade describes Connections: Sports Edition as a daily sports-themed puzzle in which players sort 16 words into four categories, and reports that it is a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic. Those game details come from secondary reporting, not an independently checked official game page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Ultimate sports trivia. 300 sports quiz questions for the sports fanatic by Professor Puzzle.
- Consider yourself a sports know-it-all? Test & develop your sports trivia knowledge with 300 questions across 3 categories of difficulty.Consider yourself a sports know-it-all? Test & develop your sports trivia knowledge with 300 questions across 3 categories of difficulty.
- Set contains: 300 cards with 300 questions.
- Part of Professor Trivia collection - A collection of fun, unique trivia quiz games/party games.
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