Today's Sports Connections hints
This page always carries the current NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle — #688, Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The hints reveal one tier at a time so you can take the smallest nudge that gets you unstuck. We verify the puzzle number against the live game every day, so it is never off by one.
Today's puzzle (#688) has four groups. Reveal exactly as much as you need — a nudge, then the category names, then the first letters. The full answers stay on their own page so you don't spoil it by accident.
Hint 1 — a one-word nudge for each group
- Tier 1 Rulebook infractions
- Tier 2 MONONYMIC ATHLETES
- Tier 3 COMES BEFORE "CATCH"
- Tier 4 PITCHERS DEALT AHEAD
Hint 2 — the four category names
- Easiest FAKE A FOUL
- Easy MONONYMIC ATHLETES
- Tricky COMES BEFORE "CATCH"
- Hardest PITCHERS DEALT AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S MLB TRADE DEADLINE
Hint 3 — first letters of every answer
FAKE A FOUL: A. · D. · E. · F.
MONONYMIC ATHLETES: T. · I. · S. · L.
COMES BEFORE "CATCH": B. · F. · S. · C.
PITCHERS DEALT AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S MLB TRADE DEADLINE: W. · R. · E. · S.
Still stuck? See the full answers for #688, explained group by group →
Previous puzzles
Stuck on an earlier day? Each links straight to that day's full answers.
- #687 — Tuesday, August 11, 2026 · MEMBERS OF A STAFF, NFL RUNNING BACKS, SPORTS TV SHOWS, ILLEGAL _____ PENALTIES IN FOOTBALL
- #686 — Monday, August 10, 2026 · TENNIS STAT, MAKE GOOD CONTACT (IN BASEBALL), ASSOCIATED WITH DAK PRESCOTT, _____ GUARD
- #685 — Sunday, August 9, 2026 · EQUIPMENT THAT COMES IN PAIRS, INJURIES, FENWAY PARK SIGHTS, PREMIER LEAGUE VENUES
Today's grid leaned on these sports — go deeper on SportsMonkie:
SportsMonkie is an independent site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to The New York Times or The Athletic. "NYT Connections Sports Edition" is referenced only to describe the puzzle these hints cover; all trademarks belong to their owners. Play the official puzzle on The Athletic.