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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsConnections Sports Edition #297, published Thursday, July 17, 2025, groups its 16 terms around Cincinnati teams, sailing, Indiana Fever members and Open Championship venues. Start with the hints below if you want to solve it yourself; the full answer grid follows a spoiler warning.
The puzzle’s format is to sort 16 terms into four groups of four that share a connection. Parade and Yahoo Sports report the hints and answers for this edition.
Hints for Connections Sports Edition #297
These category clues give you a nudge without revealing the four terms in each group. Stop here if you want to keep the solution hidden.
- Yellow: WKRP
- Green: Ahoy!
- Blue: “The only prescription is more cowbell.”
- Purple: Fancy fores
How to approach the categories
Look for Cincinnati names in singular form
The WKRP clue points to Cincinnati. Consider team names associated with the city, but notice that the puzzle uses each name without its final “s.”
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Think about parts of a sailing vessel
“Ahoy!” signals a nautical connection. Search the remaining words for components that belong on a sailboat.
Read the cowbell clue as a team reference
The cowbell line points toward a basketball team rather than a piece of equipment. Check which remaining terms are surnames of Indiana Fever players.
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Take “fancy fores” literally
“Fore” suggests golf. For the last group, focus on venues associated with the Open Championship and the word “Royal.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Spoilers: full answers for July 17
Warning: The complete solution is below.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Cincinnati teams minus the S | BEARCAT, BENGAL, MUSKETEER, RED |
| Green | Sailing terms | HULL, KEEL, MAST, RUDDER |
| Blue | Members of the Indiana Fever | BOSTON, CLARK, HOWARD, MITCHELL |
| Purple | “Royal” Open Championship venues | BIRKDALE, LIVERPOOL, PORTRUSH, ST. GEORGE’S |
Parade reports the puzzle’s hints and full answers, and Yahoo Sports independently corroborates the categories and groups. The original NYT puzzle archive was not surfaced in the cited coverage.
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