Sports Connections Hints: Jun 9, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jun 9, 2025 (2025-06-09). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #450

Puzzle #450 · 2025-06-09 · 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 #450 for 2025-06-09, 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: LIVELY, AN ATLANTA ATHLETE, PAST OR PRESENT, NAMES OF WOMEN'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.

  • LIVELY
  • AN ATLANTA ATHLETE, PAST OR PRESENT
  • NAMES OF WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS
  • CAN BE PRECEDED BY "LINE"

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.

LIVELY

ANIMATED
SPIRITED
EXCITED
ENERGETIC

AN ATLANTA ATHLETE, PAST OR PRESENT

BRAVE
THRASHER
HAWK
FALCON

NAMES OF WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS

COCO
IGA
MIRRA
MADISON

CAN BE PRECEDED BY "LINE"

UP
BACKER
MAN
SCORE

Reveal full answer

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

LIVELY

ANIMATED
SPIRITED
EXCITED
ENERGETIC

AN ATLANTA ATHLETE, PAST OR PRESENT

BRAVE
THRASHER
HAWK
FALCON

NAMES OF WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS

COCO
IGA
MIRRA
MADISON

CAN BE PRECEDED BY "LINE"

UP
BACKER
MAN
SCORE

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