Today's Sports Connections answers
By SportsMonkie Sports Desk · Puzzle #692 · Full spoilers below
This page always carries the current NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle — #692, Sunday, August 16, 2026. The four groups are ACC SCHOOLS, ABBREVIATED, FIRST NAMES OF AFC WEST QBS, TORONTO BLUE JAYS, DEFENSIVE _____. The full sixteen words, sorted into their groups with a short explanation of why each one belongs, are right below. Want to solve it yourself first? Use the progressive hints instead.
Today's answers, group by group
Tier 1 · Easiest
ACC SCHOOLS, ABBREVIATED
- PITT
- BC
- CAL
- CUSE
Why: All four — PITT, BC, CAL and CUSE — share one link: acc schools, abbreviated. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
FIRST NAMES OF AFC WEST QBS
- JUSTIN
- BO
- FERNANDO
- PATRICK
Why: All four — JUSTIN, BO, FERNANDO and PATRICK — share one link: first names of afc west qbs. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
- BIEBER
- CEASE
- SPRINGER
- GUERRERO
Why: All four — BIEBER, CEASE, SPRINGER and GUERRERO — share one link: toronto blue jays. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 4 · Hardest
DEFENSIVE _____
- INDIFFERENCE
- END
- TACKLE
- BACK
Why: This is the wordplay group: INDIFFERENCE, END, TACKLE and BACK are joined by the pattern in the title ("defensive _____"), not by any shared sport. It is the classic trap tier — several of these words look like they belong with a sports category above, which is exactly what the puzzle wants you to try first.
If you don't follow US sports
Sports Edition skews American, so a group can be obvious to a US fan and invisible to everyone else. The "why" line under each group names the league, the city or the player so the connection makes sense even if you have never watched the sport.
FAQ
What are today's Sports Connections answers (#692)?
The four groups for Sunday, August 16, 2026 are: ACC SCHOOLS, ABBREVIATED; FIRST NAMES OF AFC WEST QBS; TORONTO BLUE JAYS; DEFENSIVE _____. The full sixteen words and the reason each group fits are laid out above.
What time does the Sports Connections puzzle reset?
A new puzzle unlocks at midnight in your local time, so players in earlier time zones get the next day's grid first. This page updates to the new puzzle as soon as it is live.
How many mistakes can I make?
Four. Every wrong group of four counts as one mistake, and the fourth mistake ends the game and reveals the solution. There is no time limit.
Previous days' answers
Missed the last few puzzles? Here are the full answers for the previous days, newest first.
Sports Connections #691 — Saturday, August 15, 2026
Tier 1 · Easiest
TEAMS TO NEVER WIN A WORLD SERIES
- MARINERS
- PADRES
- BREWERS
- ROCKIES
Why: All four — MARINERS, PADRES, BREWERS and ROCKIES — share one link: teams to never win a world series. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
JOBS AT A GOLF COURSE
- CADDIE
- STARTER
- SUPERINTENDENT
- GREENSKEEPER
Why: All four — CADDIE, STARTER, SUPERINTENDENT and GREENSKEEPER — share one link: jobs at a golf course. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
KANSAS CITY TEAMS
- CURRENT
- CHIEFS
- ROYALS
- SPORTING KC
Why: All four — CURRENT, CHIEFS, ROYALS and SPORTING KC — share one link: kansas city teams. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 4 · Hardest
ANAGRAMS OF WNBA TEAMS
- CASE
- MADRE
- RIFE
- SWING
Why: All four — CASE, MADRE, RIFE and SWING — share one link: anagrams of wnba teams. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Sports Connections #690 — Friday, August 14, 2026
Tier 1 · Easiest
EASY OPPONENT
- CUPCAKE
- PUSHOVER
- TOMATO CAN
- BREEZE
Why: All four — CUPCAKE, PUSHOVER, TOMATO CAN and BREEZE — share one link: easy opponent. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
"GROUP OF 6" COLLEGE CONFERENCES
- AMERICAN
- SUN BELT
- MOUNTAIN WEST
- MAC
Why: All four — AMERICAN, SUN BELT, MOUNTAIN WEST and MAC — share one link: "group of 6" college conferences. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
ASSOCIATED WITH 3
- BRONZE MEDAL
- FIELD GOAL
- DALE EARNHARDT
- HAT TRICK
Why: Everything here ties back to 3: BRONZE MEDAL, FIELD GOAL, DALE EARNHARDT and HAT TRICK. The group rewards knowing the arc of one career rather than any single stat.
Tier 4 · Hardest
ENDS IN AN ELEMENT ON THE PERIODIC TABLE
- ADAM SILVER
- KAHLEAH COPPER
- PHOENIX MERCURY
- 9-IRON
Why: This is the wordplay group: ADAM SILVER, KAHLEAH COPPER, PHOENIX MERCURY and 9-IRON are joined by the pattern in the title ("ends in an element on the periodic table"), not by any shared sport. It is the classic trap tier — several of these words look like they belong with a sports category above, which is exactly what the puzzle wants you to try first.
Sports Connections #689 — Thursday, August 13, 2026
Tier 1 · Easiest
LAST FOUR TEAMS TO WIN A SUPER BOWL
- CHIEFS
- SEAHAWKS
- RAMS
- EAGLES
Why: All four — CHIEFS, SEAHAWKS, RAMS and EAGLES — share one link: last four teams to win a super bowl. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
TAMPA BAY-AREA TEAMS
- BUCCANEERS
- SOUTH FLORIDA
- LIGHTNING
- RAYS
Why: All four — BUCCANEERS, SOUTH FLORIDA, LIGHTNING and RAYS — share one link: tampa bay-area teams. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
MATT _____
- RYAN
- FORTE
- PAINTER
- HOLLIDAY
Why: This is the wordplay group: RYAN, FORTE, PAINTER and HOLLIDAY are joined by the pattern in the title ("matt _____"), not by any shared sport. It is the classic trap tier — several of these words look like they belong with a sports category above, which is exactly what the puzzle wants you to try first.
Tier 4 · Hardest
NBA TEAMS, WITH THE FIRST LETTER CHANGED
- BAKERS
- WINGS
- RACERS
- SLIPPERS
Why: All four — BAKERS, WINGS, RACERS and SLIPPERS — share one link: nba teams, with the first letter changed. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
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