Sports Connections Hints: May 18, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on May 18, 2026 (2026-05-18). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #821

Puzzle #821 · 2026-05-18 · 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 #821 for 2026-05-18, 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: SLIDE, FOOTBALL RUNNING PLAYS, AN OREGON ATHLETE 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.

SLIDE
FOOTBALL RUNNING PLAYS
AN OREGON ATHLETE
MLB TEAMS, MINUS THE LAST TWO LETTERS

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.

SLIDE

DIP

SLUMP

DECLINE

DOWNTURN

FOOTBALL RUNNING PLAYS

DIVE

COUNTER

DRAW

SWEEP

AN OREGON ATHLETE

DUCK

TIMBER

TRAIL BLAZER

THORN

MLB TEAMS, MINUS THE LAST TWO LETTERS

DODGE

RANGE

MARINE

ANGE

Reveal full answer

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