In Connections: Sports Edition, sort sixteen words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use shared meanings, a common use, surnames, and a word added at the end.
Connections: Sports Edition #771 Puzzle Overview: November 3, 2026
GRIT, TAPE, and DREW each have more than one meaning. Check that all four words share a connection before committing to a set.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: PAINTER, TAPE, FILM, GRIT, FEW, WEIGHT, GUTS, ICE PACK, METTLE, LOCKER, PRE-WRAP, DRESSING, BANDAGES, DREW, MOXIE, SELF.
Connections: Sports Edition Hints: November 3, 2026
Each of the four color groups below opens in four steps: hints, one word, the category name, then all four words. Stop at the step that gives enough help.
Yellow group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about facing a challenge.
- Each term describes courage or determination.
Step 2 · one word
GUTS
Step 3 · category
FORTITUDE
Step 4 · all four words
GUTS, GRIT, MOXIE, METTLE
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- These items help with physical care.
- Think of materials used to wrap injuries or apply cold.
Step 2 · one word
PRE-WRAP
Step 3 · category
SUPPLIES FOR AN ATHLETIC TRAINER
Step 4 · all four words
PRE-WRAP, TAPE, BANDAGES, ICE PACK
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look for names rather than ordinary definitions.
- These surnames belong to people who direct teams on university basketball courts.
Step 2 · one word
FEW
Step 3 · category
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES
Step 4 · all four words
DREW, FEW, SELF, PAINTER
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look for a word that can follow each entry.
- Each entry begins a two-word name for a type of indoor space.
Step 2 · one word
LOCKER
Step 3 · category
_____ ROOM
Step 4 · all four words
LOCKER, DRESSING, WEIGHT, FILM
Less common words explained
- MOXIE: Courage and confidence in facing a challenge.
- METTLE: A person’s ability to stay determined under pressure.
Connections: Sports Edition Answers: November 3, 2026
Step 4 of each group above holds its answer. The full solved grid and notes on today’s tricky words are folded below.
Full solved grid
Tricky words (spoilers)
DRESSING can mean a covering for a wound, so it can seem to fit with supplies for an athletic trainer. Here, it belongs in the group whose words go before ROOM.
The shared word follows each purple entry: LOCKER ROOM, DRESSING ROOM, WEIGHT ROOM, and FILM ROOM.
More Connections Sports Edition: Play Connections Sports Edition on The Athletic
Also today: Wordle · Connections · Strands · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle · NYT Crossword · NYT Mini · NYT Midi · Jumble · Spelling Bee · Letter Boxed · Parseword · Poeltl
Questions about Connections Sports Edition
How many tries does a player get in Connections Sports Edition?
The game ends after four mistakes.
Where can a person play Connections Sports Edition?
Play Connections: Sports Edition in a web browser on The Athletic’s section of The New York Times website.
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