Sports Connections Hints: Jul 17, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jul 17, 2025 (2025-07-17). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #489

Puzzle #489 · 2025-07-17 · 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 #489 for 2025-07-17, 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: CINCINNATI TEAMS, MINUS THE S, SAILING TERMS, MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA FEVER 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.

CINCINNATI TEAMS, MINUS THE S
SAILING TERMS
MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA FEVER
"ROYAL" OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VENUES

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.

CINCINNATI TEAMS, MINUS THE S

RED

BENGAL

BEARCAT

MUSKETEER

SAILING TERMS

HULL

RUDDER

MAST

KEEL

MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA FEVER

CLARK

MITCHELL

BOSTON

HOWARD

"ROYAL" OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VENUES

PORTRUSH

BIRKDALE

LIVERPOOL

ST. GEORGE'S

Reveal full answer

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