Sports Connections Hints: Jul 17, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Jul 17, 2026 (2026-07-17). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #946

Puzzle #946 · 2026-07-17 · 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 #946 for 2026-07-17, 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: FIRST-TIMERS IN 2026 WORLD CUP, NICKNAMES OF 2000S BASKETBALL STARS, ASSOCIATED WITH LUKA DONČIĆ 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.

FIRST-TIMERS IN 2026 WORLD CUP
NICKNAMES OF 2000S BASKETBALL STARS
ASSOCIATED WITH LUKA DONČIĆ
THINGS THAT HAVE STRINGS

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.

FIRST-TIMERS IN 2026 WORLD CUP

JORDAN

UZBEKISTAN

CAPE VERDE

CURAÇAO

NICKNAMES OF 2000S BASKETBALL STARS

BIG TICKET

STARBURY

T-MAC

ASSOCIATED WITH LUKA DONČIĆ

SLOVENIA

MAVERICKS

LAKERS

THINGS THAT HAVE STRINGS

DEPTH CHART

TENNIS RACKET

BOW

LACROSSE STICK

Reveal full answer

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