“The thrill of the game, the rush of adrenaline, and the satisfaction of solving the puzzle – it’s all about connections! As we dive into the Sports Edition of the New York Times’ Connections puzzle for May 1, 2025, puzzle No. 220, get ready to flex your mental muscles and uncover the hidden links between seemingly unrelated words.
In this Sports Edition, the stakes are high, and the clues are cleverly crafted to challenge even the most seasoned puzzle enthusiasts. From the world of athletics, to the realm of sports trivia, and beyond, each answer holds a secret connection waiting to be uncovered. Will you be able to spot the thread that weaves these words together?

NFL Draft and Connections

The 2025 NFL Draft has concluded in Green Bay, with 257 players selected over the course of the past three days. A total of 13 quarterbacks were taken, the most newsworthy today being Shedeur Sanders. After a shocking slide down the board for the onetime first-round prospect, the former Colorado star was drafted in the fifth round, 144th overall, by the Browns. Memphis cornerback Kobee Minor was the 257th and final selection by the Patriots, making him this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
Practical Tips and Strategies
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 17’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

How to Approach the Puzzle
Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.

Tips for Solving the Puzzle
Here are some tips to help you solve the puzzle quickly and accurately:
- Rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier.
- Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
- Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier.
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- Use the yellow group as a starting point, as it is the easiest category.
- Eliminate words that don’t fit the category and look for connections between the remaining words.
Strategies for Eliminating Incorrect Answers

Here are some strategies for eliminating incorrect answers:

Green Group: NWSL Teams
The green group is comprised of NWSL teams. The four answers are Current, Pride, Spirit, and Wave.
Blue Group: Joshes
The blue group is comprised of Joshes. The four answers are Allen, Gibson, Hart, and Jacobs.
Purple Group: First Words of NHL Arena Names
The purple group is comprised of first words of NHL arena names. The four answers are Amalie, Bell, Climate, and ScotiaBank.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our deep dive into the Connections: Sports Edition hints for May 1, 2025, puzzle No. 220 – The New York Times has revealed the intricacies of this challenging puzzle. We’ve dissected the most perplexing clues, decoded the clever wordplay, and provided actionable strategies for tackling even the toughest obstacles. By examining the puzzle’s unique characteristics, such as its focus on sports-related trivia and clever linguistic twists, we’ve demonstrated how a keen understanding of these elements can be the key to success.
The significance of this puzzle extends beyond mere entertainment; it highlights the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability in our increasingly complex world. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, puzzles like Connections: Sports Edition serve as a microcosm for the broader challenges we face, requiring us to think creatively, analyze information critically, and approach problems from multiple angles. By honing these skills through puzzle-solving, we can develop a more agile and resilient mindset, better equipped to tackle the uncertainties of the future.