Connections: Sports Edition asks you to sort sixteen words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use athletic moves, player names, and altered spellings.
Connections: Sports Edition #782 Puzzle Overview: November 14, 2026
LOOP, GREEN, and HOOK each have more than one meaning. Try possible connections before committing to a set.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: AXEL, LENDEBORG, AARON, TALL, SALCHOW, SHOHEI, GREEN, LUTZ, NAYLOR, MOOKIE, YORDAN, CURRY, HOOK, LOOP, HORFORD, TALKER.
Connections: Sports Edition Hints: November 14, 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 movements performed on ice.
- Each is a named jump performed on skates.
Step 2 · one word
AXEL
Step 3 · category
FIGURE SKATING JUMPS
Step 4 · all four words
AXEL, LOOP, LUTZ, SALCHOW
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- These names share a team.
- Look for surnames from one basketball roster.
Step 2 · one word
CURRY
Step 3 · category
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Step 4 · all four words
CURRY, LENDEBORG, GREEN, HORFORD
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about athletes known by given names.
- Look for given names linked by an individual award.
Step 2 · one word
YORDAN
Step 3 · category
AL MVPS, FAMILIARLY
Step 4 · all four words
YORDAN, AARON, SHOHEI, MOOKIE
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look for a spelling change in each entry.
- Replace an opening character to recover athletes’ surnames.
Step 2 · one word
NAYLOR
Step 3 · category
NFL RBS, WITH THE FIRST LETTER CHANGED
Step 4 · all four words
NAYLOR, TALL, HOOK, TALKER
Less common words explained
- AXEL: An ice skater’s leap with one or more full turns plus a half turn in the air.
- LUTZ: An ice skater’s leap that starts from the back outside edge of one skate and lands on the back outside edge of the other.
- SALCHOW: An ice skater’s leap that starts from a back inside edge and lands on the opposite skate’s back outside edge after rotating in the air.
Connections: Sports Edition Answers: November 14, 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)
HOOK can mean a curved object, which may suggest a connection with LOOP in FIGURE SKATING JUMPS. HOOK belongs to NFL RBS, WITH THE FIRST LETTER CHANGED.
For purple, change the opening letter of NAYLOR while keeping AYLOR, TALL while keeping ALL, HOOK while keeping OOK, and TALKER while keeping ALKER. The category calls for a running back’s name in each case.
Yesterday’s groups for 13 November 2026
- PORTION OF A SPORTING EVENT: LAP, ROUND, PERIOD, QUARTER
- ASSOCIATED WITH DUKE: DURHAM, COACH K, CAMERON INDOOR, LAETTNER
- DARTS TERMS: OCHE, BULL’S-EYE, NINE-DARTER, BIG FISH
- CAL _____: RIPKEN, RALEIGH, GOLDEN BEARS, CLUTTERBUCK
More Connections Sports Edition: Yesterday’s puzzle · 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: 13 Nov · 10 Nov · 9 Nov · 8 Nov · 6 Nov · 5 Nov · 4 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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