Today is the sports spin on NYT Connections. #633. June 18.
The regular game? Different beast. Check the main links if you’re doing Wordle or Mini Crossword instead.
This puzzle doesn’t live in the NYT app. It’s The Athletic. They own the sports news now, and they make this specific variant. You find it in their app, or you just play online for free. Simple enough.
Purple is tricky. Like, really tricky. Most people get stuck there.
Hints for the groups, easiest to hardest
Yellow. You need to make a choice. Just one.
Green. Look at a football field. Specific spots.
Blue. Surf vibes. “Hang ten,” right?
Purple. It’s not about finishing. It’s about beginning.
Answers
Here is the breakdown.
Yellow: Choose.
Draft. Pick. Select. Take. All mean the same thing basically.
Green: Gridiron zones.
End zone. Pocket. Flat. Sideline. Where the players actually stand or go.
Blue: Surf gear.
Board. Wax. Wetsuit. Ocean. You need the water, but sure.
Purple: Starting ____.
This was the curveball. Starting lineup. Starting pitcher. Starting grid. And XI. As in the starting eleven in soccer.
Does knowing that change anything? Maybe. Or maybe you just guessed and got lucky.
The game moves on tomorrow.
