The New York Times’ The Athletic published today’s edition of Connections, a word-association puzzle, featuring a sports-themed set of answers. The puzzle challenges players to categorize sixteen words into four groups based on shared connections. For those seeking assistance, here are the groupings and solutions for the November 30th edition, ranked by difficulty.
Puzzle Overview
Connections is a daily puzzle available through The Athletic app or online. It requires deductive reasoning and a familiarity with sports terminology to solve. The game is designed to test players’ ability to identify subtle relationships between seemingly disparate words.
Hints and Groupings
The puzzle groups are categorized by difficulty, with yellow being the easiest and purple the most challenging.
- Yellow Group: This set centers around football scoring plays, abbreviated.
- Green Group: The grouping focuses on North American soccer leagues.
- Blue Group: This category references iconic baseball elements linked to Ted Williams.
- Purple Group: This is the toughest grouping, tied to members of the Denver Broncos.
Solutions
Here’s a breakdown of each group with corresponding answers:
Yellow – Football Scoring Plays
The theme is American football scoring abbreviations. The four answers are:
* 2-pt (Two-point conversion)
* FG (Field goal)
* PAT (Point after touchdown)
* TD (Touchdown)
Green – North American Soccer Leagues
This group contains prominent soccer leagues in North America:
* LIGA MX (Mexico’s top soccer league)
* MLS (Major League Soccer, USA/Canada)
* NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League, USA)
* USL (United Soccer League, USA)
Blue – Ted Williams’ Legacy
All four words connect to the legendary baseball player Ted Williams:
* .406 (Williams’ batting average in 1941)
* LF (Left field, where Williams played)
* Red Sox (The team Williams played for)
* Splendid Splinter (Williams’ nickname)
Purple – Denver Broncos Players
This group features names associated with the Denver Broncos:
* Bo (Bo Jackson, briefly played with the Broncos)
* Courtland (Courtland Sutton, current Broncos receiver)
* RJ (R.J. Sopoaga, former Broncos defensive tackle)
* Troy (Troy Rucker, former Broncos safety)
Today’s Connections puzzle highlights how sports trivia and wordplay combine to create a unique challenge. The puzzle’s difficulty often relies on obscure references, making it a rewarding experience when solved.
