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Links: Sports Edition It delivered a fully graphical gaming network yesterday to kick off 2025. Today, there are only two images, both of athletes. If you know who they are, you're one step ahead, but if their smiling faces don't ring a bell, today's puzzle could be a struggle. Shake it off (it's a hint for one of the photos) and read on for hints and answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.
For now, the game is in beta, meaning The Times is testing it to see if it's popular before adding it to the site's Games app. For now you can play it daily for free – and then we'll have to see if it sticks around.
Read more: The NYT has a link-up game for sports fans. I tried it
Tips for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four tips for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the difficult (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow Group Hint: Fast.
Green Group Tip: Unique Soccer Teams.
Blue Group Hint: Triumphal TE.
Purple Group Hint: The Big Apple is kidding.
Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow Group: Fast.
Green group: MLS teams, in singular form.
Blue Group: NFL career leaders among tight ends.
Purple group: athletes from New York.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here are the most popular letters used in English words
What are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers?
Two photos of athletes appeared in the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for January 2, 2025. Can you identify the players?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for January 2, 2025.
Yellow words in today's relationships
Topic is fast. The four answers are fast, fast, fast and fast.
The green words in today's relationships
The topic is MLS teams, in the singular form. The four answers are Earthquake, Loudspeaker, Wooden and Whitecap.
Blue words in today's relationships
The topic is NFL career leaders among tight ends. The four answers are Gates, Gonzalez, Kelce (photo) and Witten.
Purple words in today's relationships
The theme is athletes from New York. The four answers are Ionescu, Judge (photo), Rogers and Shesterkin.