Sports Connections Hints: Jan 5, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jan 5, 2026 (2026-01-05). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #677

Puzzle #677 · 2026-01-05 · 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 #677 for 2026-01-05, 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: GOLF SHOTS, BASKETBALL STATS IN SINGULAR FORM, NEW YORK METS RETIRED NUMBERS 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.

GOLF SHOTS
BASKETBALL STATS IN SINGULAR FORM
NEW YORK METS RETIRED NUMBERS
_____ BLOCK

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.

GOLF SHOTS

DRIVE

CHIP

PUTT

APPROACH

BASKETBALL STATS IN SINGULAR FORM

TURNOVER

BLOCK

POINT

FOUL

NEW YORK METS RETIRED NUMBERS

STRAWBERRY

PIAZZA

STENGEL

WRIGHT

_____ BLOCK

PANCAKE

CHOP

RUN

PASS

Reveal full answer

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