Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Nov. 14 #417

In search of most recent regular responses to Connections? Click here for today’s Connections tips, plus our daily answers and tips for the New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, and Strands.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a bit difficult. There are a few logos that help some players and hurt others. If you’re having trouble but still want to resolve it, read on for tips and answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the Times-owned subscription sports journalism site. It does not appear in the NYT Games app but does appear in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it online for free.

Learn more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle exits beta

Tips for Connections Groups: Sports Today’s Edition

Here are four clues for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ordered from the easiest yellow group to the difficult (and sometimes weird) purple group.

Yellow group index: More in the mix.

Green group index: Think of JR Ewing.

Blue group index: It was a good year for them.

Purple group index: Ready, set, go!

Connections Group Answers: Today’s Sports Edition

Yellow group: Exit a competition.

Green group: Dallas-Fort Worth teams.

Blue group: The teams will win the championships in 2025.

Purple group: ____ race.

Learn more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are the answers from today’s Connections: Sports Edition?

Yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is taken from a competition. The four answers are bounce, defeat, eliminate and eliminate.

Green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Dallas-Fort Worth teams. The four answers are the Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers and Stars.

Blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is that teams will win championships in 2025. The four answers are the Aces, Dodgers, Eagles and Thunder.

Purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ race. The four answers are the horse, the flag, the relay and the road.

Toughest Connections: Sports Publishing Categories

The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be difficult, but it really depends on which sports you know best. My husband is successful at anything Formula 1 related, my best friend is an avid hockey fan, and I can answer any questions you have about Minnesota teams.

That said, it’s hard to pick the hardest hookup categories, but here are a few that I’ve found to be exceptionally mind-blowing recently.

#1: Serie A clubs, January 11. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.

#2: WNBA MVP, January 21. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.

#3: Premier League team nicknames, January 17. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.

#4: Homophones of NBA player names, January 26. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.