Sports Connections Hints: May 16, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on May 16, 2025 (2025-05-16). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #428

Puzzle #428 · 2025-05-16 · 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 #428 for 2025-05-16, 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: IN FRONT OF, ACC SCHOOLS, FRENCH STAR ATHLETES, PAST AND PRESENT 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.

IN FRONT OF
ACC SCHOOLS
FRENCH STAR ATHLETES, PAST AND PRESENT
LAST FOUR WNBA NO. 1 PICKS

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.

IN FRONT OF

AHEAD

LEADING

ON TOP

ACC SCHOOLS

PITTSBURGH

LOUISVILLE

VIRGINIA

DUKE

FRENCH STAR ATHLETES, PAST AND PRESENT

PARKER

WEMBANYAMA

HENRY

ZIDANE

LAST FOUR WNBA NO. 1 PICKS

BUECKERS

CLARK

BOSTON

HOWARD

Reveal full answer

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