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Need a nudge before seeing the solution? The January 7, 2026 NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle is listed as #477 in the date-indexed answer archive. The supplied title’s “#471” does not match that date: the archive lists #471 for January 1. Start with the hints below, then open the full groups when you’re ready.
Hints for January 7’s Sports Edition puzzle
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four, with each group sharing a sports-related connection. These hints progress from broad to more revealing:
- Yellow: On the ice.
- Green: Run and jump.
- Blue: Baseball bosses.
- Purple: Golden State schools.
Full answers for Connections #477
Spoilers below. The groups and answers are:
- NHL teams with singular nicknames: AVALANCHE, KRAKEN, LIGHTNING, MAMMOTH.
- A bit of track and field equipment: BATON, HURDLE, JAVELIN, POLE.
- MLB managers: CASH, COUNSELL, MARMOL, VOGT.
- Mascots for University of California schools, in singular: BANANA SLUG, BRUIN, GAUCHO, GOLDEN BEAR.
Why the puzzle number differs
The date-indexed archive identifies January 7, 2026 as puzzle #477 and places #471 on January 1, 2026. Parade’s January 7 article labels the puzzle #471, so that number appears to be a date mismatch. The NHL answer is LIGHTNING; a Parade answer-list spelling of “LIGHTING” is a typo.
Where to play and whether you can replay it
The NYT Help Center says the daily game releases at midnight in the player’s timezone. It lists Sports Edition access through NYT Games, NYT and The Athletic web properties, The Athletic app, and the NYT News app. The Help Center also distinguishes the general Connections archive, available to All Access and Games subscribers, from Sports Edition, which does not have an archive. A subscription therefore does not establish replay access to this particular Sports Edition puzzle.
Quick Recap
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