Sports Connections Hints: May 9, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on May 9, 2025 (2025-05-09). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #420

Puzzle #420 · 2025-05-09 · 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 #420 for 2025-05-09, 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: ATHLETIC CLOTHING BRANDS, BASEBALL RELIEF ROLES, MEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS 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.

ATHLETIC CLOTHING BRANDS
BASEBALL RELIEF ROLES
MEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS
NHL AWARDS

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.

ATHLETIC CLOTHING BRANDS

STARTER

CHAMPION

RUSSELL ATHLETIC

UNDER ARMOUR

BASEBALL RELIEF ROLES

CLOSER

SETUP

MIDDLE

LONG

MEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS

SINNER

RUNE

FRITZ

ALCARAZ

NHL AWARDS

HART

CALDER

VEZINA

LADY BYNG

Reveal full answer

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