Sports Connections Hints: Aug 5, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Aug 5, 2026 (2026-08-05). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #986

Puzzle #986 · 2026-08-05 · 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 #986 for 2026-08-05, 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: THINGS THAT ARE THROWN, LAST FOUR NFL DRAFT NO. 1 PICKS, DESCRIPTORS FOR TYPES OF TRADING CARDS 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.

  • THINGS THAT ARE THROWN
  • LAST FOUR NFL DRAFT NO. 1 PICKS
  • DESCRIPTORS FOR TYPES OF TRADING CARDS
  • CAN FOLLOW "SCORE"

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.

THINGS THAT ARE THROWN

DART
HAMMER
BASEBALL
FRISBEE

LAST FOUR NFL DRAFT NO. 1 PICKS

MENDOZA
WARD
WILLIAMS
YOUNG

DESCRIPTORS FOR TYPES OF TRADING CARDS

AUTOGRAPH
PATCH
PARALLEL
ROOKIE

CAN FOLLOW "SCORE"

BUG
LINE
SHEET
BOARD

Reveal full answer

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

THINGS THAT ARE THROWN

DART
HAMMER
BASEBALL
FRISBEE

LAST FOUR NFL DRAFT NO. 1 PICKS

MENDOZA
WARD
WILLIAMS
YOUNG

DESCRIPTORS FOR TYPES OF TRADING CARDS

AUTOGRAPH
PATCH
PARALLEL
ROOKIE

CAN FOLLOW "SCORE"

BUG
LINE
SHEET
BOARD

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