Sports Connections Hints: May 21, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on May 21, 2025 (2025-05-21). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #390

Puzzle #390 · 2025-05-21 · 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 #390 for 2025-05-21, 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: SECTIONS OF A GAME, FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE TERMS, WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE A GOOD PASS 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.

  • SECTIONS OF A GAME
  • FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE TERMS
  • WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE A GOOD PASS
  • EPONYMOUS BASKETBALL SHOES, MINUS THE S

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.

SECTIONS OF A GAME

INNING
HALF
PERIOD
QUARTER

FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE TERMS

4-3
46
NICKEL
PREVENT

WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE A GOOD PASS

APPLE
ASSIST
DIME
DISH

EPONYMOUS BASKETBALL SHOES, MINUS THE S

CHUCK
JORDAN
LEBRON
PENNY

Reveal full answer

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

SECTIONS OF A GAME

INNING
HALF
PERIOD
QUARTER

FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE TERMS

4-3
46
NICKEL
PREVENT

WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE A GOOD PASS

APPLE
ASSIST
DIME
DISH

EPONYMOUS BASKETBALL SHOES, MINUS THE S

CHUCK
JORDAN
LEBRON
PENNY

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