Sports Connections Hints: Dec 26, 2024

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Dec 26, 2024 (2024-12-26). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #271

Puzzle #271 · 2024-12-26 · sports

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #271 for 2024-12-26, edition sports, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: PARTS OF A FOOTBALL HELMET, BASKETBALL SHOTS, WNBA MASCOTS and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

PARTS OF A FOOTBALL HELMET
BASKETBALL SHOTS
WNBA MASCOTS
HOMOPHONES FOR MLB ALL-STARS

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

PARTS OF A FOOTBALL HELMET

CHIN STRAP

FACE MASK

PADS

SHELL

BASKETBALL SHOTS

BANK

FADEAWAY

FLOATER

PULL-UP

WNBA MASCOTS

BLAZE

BUCKETS

DOPPLER

ELLIE

HOMOPHONES FOR MLB ALL-STARS

BETS

BURNS

SAIL

WIT

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.