Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Sept. 9, 2025

The New York Times released the latest Connections: Sports Edition puzzle on September 9, 2025. This edition, marked as Puzzle No. 351, challenged players with categories tied to rules, Missouri athletes, golf legends, and birds of prey. The game continues to attract sports fans who enjoy testing their knowledge in quick, focused word groups.

Connections: Sports Edition is part of The Athletic, the sports-focused platform owned by the Times. It is not yet inside the NYT Games app but can be played through The Athletic app or on its website.

NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints Explained

The puzzle dropped four hints. The yellow group was tied to people who enforce rules in sports. The green group focused on a midwestern connection. The blue group leaned on recent golf history. The purple group was all about a bird theme.

Players who cracked the yellow group had to think of sports officials. The correct set was judge, linesman, referee, and umpire. These figures control fairness and discipline across different games.

The green group centered on Missouri. The set was Blue, Cardinal, Chief, and Tiger. Each name points to teams or mascots tied to the Show Me State.

Golf fans had the advantage in the blue group. It required the last four Masters winners. The names were Hideki, Jon, Rory, and Scottie. All four have been central figures in golf over the last years.

The purple group finished with a tricky bird theme. The answers were ball, black, jay, and sea. Each fits into the pattern “___ hawk.”

The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle is more than a casual game. It blends sports culture, history, and trivia. The inclusion of Missouri shows regional sports depth. Golf’s Masters nods highlight major global tournaments. The officials group connects with every sport at its core.

According to reports from The Athletic, this special edition has grown popular since launch. Fans enjoy its mix of knowledge and quick play. It is also a test of how well readers know both mainstream and niche sports references.

Impact on Daily Puzzle Players

This edition felt harder than usual. Many players noted that the Missouri group was less obvious without strong regional knowledge. The golf group also required recent memory of winners, not all-time greats.

Still, the mix of categories shows the aim of the puzzle. It keeps fans sharp while connecting different corners of the sports world. The bird theme closed the game with a playful twist.

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition offered a tough but rewarding challenge. The mix of officials, Missouri athletes, Masters winners, and hawk names tested even seasoned puzzle solvers.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is NYT Connections: Sports Edition?

It is a daily word puzzle from The Athletic. It focuses only on sports categories and themes.

Q2: What were today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups?

The groups were officials, Missouri athletes, Masters winners, and hawk-related terms.

Q3: Who were the golfers in today’s puzzle?

The names were Hideki, Jon, Rory, and Scottie. They are the last four Masters champions.

Q4: Which words formed the Missouri athlete group?

The answers were Blue, Cardinal, Chief, and Tiger. Each links to Missouri sports.

Q5: How do I play Connections: Sports Edition?

You can play it inside The Athletic app or online. It is not yet in the NYT Games app.