Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for April 1, No. 555.
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.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a toughie, but movie fans should be able to spot a few titles. 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: It used to include Midwestern colleges only.
Green group hint: Think Tony Hawk.
Blue group hint: White Men Can’t Jump is another one.
Purple group hint: James, to his pals.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Big Ten teams.
Green group: Skateboarding terms.
Blue group: Basketball movies.
Purple group: Jim ____.
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 April 1, 2026.
NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is Big Ten teams. The four answers are Cornhuskers, Hoosiers, Scarlet Knights and Terrapins.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is skateboarding terms. The four answers are fakie, kickflip, lipslide and Ollie.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is basketball movies. The four answers are Air, Blue Chips, Hustle and Semi-Pro.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is Jim ____. The four answers are Calhoun, Nantz, Thome and Thorpe.
Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories
The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.
That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing.
#1: Serie A Clubs. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.
#2: WNBA MVPs. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.
#3: Premier League team nicknames. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.
#4: Homophones of NBA player names. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.