Connections: Sports Edition asks players to sort sixteen words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use abbreviations, types of moves, shared affiliations, and shortened names.
Connections: Sports Edition #776 Puzzle Overview: November 8, 2026
CORNER, HUNTER, and LUG have more than one meaning. Check possible connections before committing to a set.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: GOAL, HUNTER, CURLIN, CORNER, GOL, TOR, FREE, MEM, MIN, STRANGE, ARCHER, PENALTY, TUTEN, LUG, POR, LAWRENCE.
Connections: Sports Edition Hints: November 8, 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
- Look for compact labels.
- These abbreviations identify basketball clubs.
Step 2 · one word
TOR
Step 3 · category
NBA TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS
Step 4 · all four words
TOR, MEM, MIN, POR
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about actions during a match.
- These actions involve striking a ball with a foot.
Step 2 · one word
GOAL
Step 3 · category
SOCCER KICKS
Step 4 · all four words
GOAL, FREE, PENALTY, CORNER
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look for names with a shared affiliation.
- These names are associated with one team.
Step 2 · one word
TUTEN
Step 3 · category
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Step 4 · all four words
TUTEN, STRANGE, HUNTER, LAWRENCE
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look for shortened names.
- Restore one character at each ending.
Step 2 · one word
CURLIN
Step 3 · category
OLYMPIC SPORTS, MINUS THE LAST LETTER
Step 4 · all four words
LUG, CURLIN, GOL, ARCHER
Less common words explained
- TOR: A rocky outcrop at a hilltop, or a hill topped by one.
Connections: Sports Edition Answers: November 8, 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)
HUNTER can mean someone who pursues animals, suggesting a link with ARCHER in the purple group. Here, HUNTER belongs in JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS with TUTEN, STRANGE, and LAWRENCE.
The purple group removes the final letter from each Olympic sport’s name: LUGE becomes LUG, CURLING becomes CURLIN, GOLF becomes GOL, and ARCHERY becomes ARCHER.
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
Earlier days: 6 Nov · 5 Nov · 4 Nov · 3 Nov
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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