Sports Connections Hints: Nov 17, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Nov 17, 2025 (2025-11-17). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #628

Puzzle #628 · 2025-11-17 · 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 #628 for 2025-11-17, 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: PLACES ON A BASKETBALL COURT, TYPES OF HOCKEY SHOTS, BIG TEN CITIES 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.

  • PLACES ON A BASKETBALL COURT
  • TYPES OF HOCKEY SHOTS
  • BIG TEN CITIES
  • TEAMS WITH LION NICKNAMES

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.

PLACES ON A BASKETBALL COURT

PAINT
ELBOW
WING
BASELINE

TYPES OF HOCKEY SHOTS

WRIST
SLAP
SNAP
BACKHAND

BIG TEN CITIES

SEATTLE
ANN ARBOR
EUGENE
BLOOMINGTON

TEAMS WITH LION NICKNAMES

DETROIT
ENGLAND
PENN STATE
COLUMBIA

Reveal full answer

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

PLACES ON A BASKETBALL COURT

PAINT
ELBOW
WING
BASELINE

TYPES OF HOCKEY SHOTS

WRIST
SLAP
SNAP
BACKHAND

BIG TEN CITIES

SEATTLE
ANN ARBOR
EUGENE
BLOOMINGTON

TEAMS WITH LION NICKNAMES

DETROIT
ENGLAND
PENN STATE
COLUMBIA

Looking for today's sports puzzle instead? Head back to the Today's Sports Connections hints page, or open the sports archive for another date.

Move between Sports Connections dates

Return to today, browse the sports archive, or step one puzzle backward or forward when a nearby board is available.