Looking for the most recentregular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Connections: Sports Editionis out of beta now, making its debut onSuper Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That's a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It won't show up in the NYT Games app but will appear in The Athletic's own app. Or you can continue to play it free online. Today's puzzle looked like it would be hard, but the categories came together pretty quickly for me, even though I admit to not knowing anything about the blue category. Read on for hints and the answers.Read more:NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of BetaHints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: No points for you!Green group hint: Tony Hawk timeBlue group hint: Smash that ballPurple group hint: "50-yard" is another one.Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsYellow group: Try to stop a basketball shotGreen group: Skateboarding tricksBlue group: Two-time NBA dunk contest winners.Purple group:____ lineRead more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The completed NYT Connections Sports Edition for Feb. 15, 2025, #145. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is try to stop a basketball shot. The four answers are challenge, close out, contest and defend.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is skateboarding tricks. The four answers are kickflip, manual, McTwist and Ollie.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is two-time NBA dunk contest winners. The four answers are Lavine, McClung, Miner and Richardson.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is ____ line. The four answers are 3-point, blue, goal and Mendoza.Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categoriesThe Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.That said, it's hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing recently.#1: Series A Clubs, Jan. 11. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.#2: WNBA MVPs, Jan. 21. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.#3: Premier League team nicknames, Jan. 17. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.#1: Homophones of NBA player names, Jan. 26. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.