Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a bit of a puzzler, though I ended up appreciating the purple category and probably should have solved it. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Deal me in.
Green group hint: Court cinema.
Blue group hint: Famed Chicagoan.
Purple group hint: Big cities.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Hands in poker.
Green group: Tennis movies.
Blue group: Associated with Walter Payton.
Purple group: Teams that play in world capitals.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 13, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is hands in poker. The four answers are full house, pair, royal flush and straight.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is tennis movies. The four answers are Battle of the Sexes, Challengers, King Richard and Wimbledon.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is associated with Walter Payton. The four answers are 34, Bears, Jackson State and Sweetness.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is teams that play in world capitals. The four answers are Commanders, Crystal Palace, Real Madrid and Senators.
