Sports Connections Hints: Jul 18, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jul 18, 2025 (2025-07-18). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #490

Puzzle #490 · 2025-07-18 · 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 #490 for 2025-07-18, 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: MLB TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS, TEAMS TO LOSE THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2025, FAMOUS JACKIES 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.

MLB TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS
TEAMS TO LOSE THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2025
FAMOUS JACKIES
TEAMS AND PLAYERS WHO SHARE NICKNAMES WITH MARVEL CHARACTERS

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.

MLB TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS

LAD

TEX

PIT

MIL

TEAMS TO LOSE THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2025

NOTRE DAME

EDMONTON

KANSAS CITY

INDIANA

FAMOUS JACKIES

ROBINSON

JOYNER-KERSEE

YOUNG

BRADLEY

TEAMS AND PLAYERS WHO SHARE NICKNAMES WITH MARVEL CHARACTERS

IOWA

MICHIGAN

RIPKEN

PULISIC

Reveal full answer

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