Sports Connections Hints: Jan 14, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jan 14, 2026 (2026-01-14). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #686

Puzzle #686 · 2026-01-14 · 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 #686 for 2026-01-14, 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: INDIANAPOLIS TEAMS, BASKETBALL GAMES, CFL TEAMS 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.

INDIANAPOLIS TEAMS
BASKETBALL GAMES
CFL TEAMS
HOMOPHONES OF SUPER BOWL MVPS

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.

INDIANAPOLIS TEAMS

COLTS

PACERS

FEVER

BUTLER

BASKETBALL GAMES

HORSE

AROUND THE WORLD

KNOCKOUT

CFL TEAMS

ROUGHRIDERS

ELKS

ALOUETTES

STAMPEDERS

HOMOPHONES OF SUPER BOWL MVPS

CUP

FOALS

BREEZE

SWAN

Reveal full answer

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