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.Today'sConnections: Sports Editiongot me again with the purple category. Fortunately, if you do OK on the previous three, that one will solve itself by default. Read on for hints and answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.For now, the game is in beta, which means the Times is testing it out to see if it's popular before adding it to the site's Games app. You can play it daily for now for free and then we'll have to see if it sticks around.Read more: NYT Has a Connections Game for Sports Fans. I Tried ItHints 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: Not going upGreen group hint: Hang tenBlue group hint: Empire State schoolsPurple group hint: Sounds like a hoopsterAnswers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsYellow group: DownturnGreen group: Surfing termsBlue group: New York collegesPurple group: Homophones of NBA player namesRead 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 puzzle for Jan. 20, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is downturn. The four answers are decline, plunge, skid and slump.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is surfing terms. The four answers are barrel, crest, swell and wave.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is New York colleges. The four answers are Colgate, Columbia, St. John's and Syracuse.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is homophones of NBA player names. The four answers are Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.