The NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for September 13, 2026, number 720, tests your knowledge of international soccer history, corporate venue branding, and the rosters of both current and legendary athletes. If you are stuck on a specific category, these hints will guide you through the wordplay without spoiling the full grid immediately.
Hints for Today’s Connections
If you are looking for a nudge in the right direction, consider these broad clues before checking the final groups:
- Yellow: These words represent cities or regions that share a common “United” suffix in the world of professional soccer.
- Green: These are corporate-named venues where NFL teams play their home games.
- Blue: This group consists of first names or nicknames of iconic athletes who all share the same surname.
- Purple: These words are longer nouns, but their first few letters spell out the last names of prominent NFL wide receivers.
For a more specific look at the categories, the Green group focuses on current stadium names, while the Purple group relies on identifying players like Ja’Marr, Mike, CeeDee, or Drake. The Blue group spans multiple sports, including tennis and baseball history.
Connections Sports Edition Answers for September 13
According to the Parade puzzle guide, here are the solved groups for puzzle #720:
Yellow: “United” Soccer Clubs
DC, LEEDS, MANCHESTER, NEWCASTLE
Explanation: Each of these is a major city home to a prominent “United” club, such as D.C. United in MLS or Manchester United in the Premier League.
Green: NFL Stadiums
ACRISURE, EVERBANK, HARD ROCK, MERCEDES-BENZ
Explanation: These are the naming rights partners for NFL venues. Specifically, Acrisure Stadium (Steelers), EverBank Stadium (Jaguars), Hard Rock Stadium (Dolphins), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons).
Blue: Williamses
CADILLAC, CALEB, SERENA, TED
Explanation: All four are famous athletes with the last name Williams. This group includes NFL players Cadillac Williams and Caleb Williams, tennis legend Serena Williams, and MLB Hall of Famer Ted Williams.
Purple: Starts With an NFL WR
CHASER, EVANSTON, LAMBORGHINI, LONDONER
Explanation: The beginning of each word spells the surname of a current NFL wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase (Chaser), Mike Evans (Evanston), CeeDee Lamb (Lamborghini), and Drake London (Londoner).
The trickiest part of today’s puzzle often lies in the Purple group, where players’ names are hidden within unrelated nouns. Identifying the “Williams” connection in Blue also requires a broad knowledge of sports history beyond just football, particularly with the inclusion of Ted Williams.
