- Nostalgic Ice: The Blue Group focuses on singular versions of defunct NHL franchises, including the recently rebranded Arizona Coyotes.
- Wordplay Focus: Purple utilizes a “hidden suffix” mechanic where sports-related verbs (lob, fling, pass, chuck) are buried within unrelated words.
- Memorabilia Theme: Green highlights tangible fan collectibles, bridging the gap between physical hobbies and digital puzzles.
There is a specific kind of adrenaline that comes from staring at a grid of sixteen words, knowing the solution is right in front of you but buried under layers of clever misdirection. Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition for January 24, 2026, is a masterclass in nostalgic sports history and linguistic gymnastics. Whether you are a die-hard hockey fan mourning the loss of the Coyotes or a wordplay enthusiast looking for that “aha!” moment, this puzzle requires both a deep knowledge of the game and a sharp eye for patterns.
Today’s Spiciness Rating: 3/5 (Moderate)
The Yellow and Green groups are relatively accessible, but the Blue group’s reliance on singular NHL team names and Purple’s suffix-splitting require a high degree of lateral thinking.
If you’re feeling stuck, you aren’t alone. We’ve seen similar difficulty spikes in previous challenges, such as the NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints and Answers 14 May 2026, which also utilized niche team history. Let’s break down the hints to help you keep your streak alive.
Hints for the January 24, 2026, Grid
Before we reveal the full answers, use these thematic clues to nudge your brain in the right direction:
- Yellow: These words describe the physical impact of a contact sport. If you’ve ever seen a heavy hitter in boxing or baseball, these verbs will feel familiar.
- Green: Think about what you keep in your “man cave” or “fan zone.” These are the physical objects we collect to remember great moments in sports history.
- Blue: This is a deep dive into NHL history. These terms refer to professional hockey teams that no longer take the ice under these specific names.
- Purple: Look at the end of each word. There is a hidden action related to movement or launching an object hidden in the final syllables.
Pro Tip: In the Sports Edition, always look for singular vs. plural traps. Today, the Blue group uses singular names for teams that were traditionally plural (e.g., “Coyote” instead of “Coyotes”).
Answers for NYT Connections: Sports Edition (Jan 24)
If you’re ready to see the solution or just want to verify your logic, here is the breakdown for the January 24, 2026, puzzle:
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| Yellow (Synonyms for Hit) | DECK, PUNCH, SLUG, STRIKE |
| Green (Sports Memorabilia) | AUTOGRAPH, JERSEY, POSTER, TRADING CARD |
| Blue (Former NHL Teams) | COYOTE, NORDIQUE, THRASHER, WHALER |
| Purple (Ends with a “Throw” Synonym) | BLOB, SHUFFLING, SURPASS, WOODCHUCK |
Contextual Deep-Dive: The Blue Group
The inclusion of “Coyote” marks a poignant moment for hockey fans; the franchise officially transitioned to the Utah Hockey Club recently, leaving the Arizona branding to history. This category serves as a mini-timeline of NHL movement, ranging from the classic Hartford Whaler and Quebec Nordique era to the more modern Atlanta Thrasher relocation. For more details on these legendary franchises, you can view the official NHL historical records to see how these teams evolved.
Purple Group Breakdown
The Purple group is particularly devious today. “Shuff-LING” hides fling, “Sur-PASS” hides pass, “Wood-CHUCK” hides chuck, and “B-LOB” hides lob. It’s a classic NYT trick where the word’s actual meaning (like a groundhog or a drop of liquid) is irrelevant to the sports mechanic being applied.
Did you solve it before your four mistakes were up? If not, don’t worry—tomorrow is another chance to test your sports IQ. You can also brush up on recent patterns by checking out our guide for the NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints and Answers for 15 May 2026 to see how the difficulty scales over the week.
