A daily puzzle from the New York Times, "Connections: Sports Edition," offers a challenge by grouping words into four categories. Players must identify the relationships between seemingly unrelated words. This report examines available information concerning recent puzzle instances, specifically focusing on the edition dated February 23rd, puzzle number 518.
Background of the Puzzle
The "Connections: Sports Edition" is a word-grouping game published by the New York Times. The objective is to find four distinct groups of four words each that share a common theme or characteristic.

The puzzle is presented as a daily challenge.
It is part of the New York Times' broader puzzle offerings.
The "Sports Edition" suggests a focus on sports-related themes, though categories can vary in their directness.
Recent Puzzle Instances
Information is available for several recent "Connections: Sports Edition" puzzles, including hints and answers.
February 21, #516: This puzzle's solution has been published, though details within the provided summary are general and refer to the answer without specifying the categories.
February 22, #517: This puzzle, themed around the Olympics, had a difficulty rating of 3 out of 5. Specific categories mentioned include "BRISBANE," "CARPENTER," and "STUFFED ANIMAL."
February 23, #518: This is the most recent puzzle for which information is available. It is described as a "tough one."
Details for February 23, #518
For the "Connections: Sports Edition" puzzle #518 on February 23rd, specific details about the categories have been released.

Yellow Group: The word "Heckle" is associated with this group.
Purple Group: This group is described as having a "twist" related to "football teams."
Further hints for the groupings in puzzle #518 have been offered, progressing from an easier "yellow group" to a more challenging "purple group."
Read More: Slate Pears Game Adds Daily Word Puzzles for Players in 2026
Puzzle Mechanics and Difficulty
The "Connections: Sports Edition" aims to provide varying levels of difficulty.
Puzzle #517 was rated as a 3 out of 5 in difficulty.
Puzzle #518 is noted as being a "tough one," implying a higher difficulty level.
The structure of the puzzle typically involves hints that escalate in specificity, guiding players from less obvious to more direct clues.
Sources
The information presented in this report is derived from the following publicly accessible online articles:
Mashable (February 21, 2026): Discusses hints and answers for NYT Connections Sports Edition #516.🔗 https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-sports-edition-hint-answer-today-february-21-2026
CNET (February 23, 2026): Provides hints and answers for NYT Connections Sports Edition #518.🔗 https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-connections-sports-edition-hints-and-answers-for-feb-23-518/
The New York Times (February 22, 2026): Offers hints and answers for Connections Sports Edition #517, an Olympics-themed puzzle.🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7062353/2026/02/22/connections-sports-edition-hints-answers-feb-22-2026/