IT General

Today's Connections: Sports Edition requires knowledge on nicknames and snacks.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for September 20, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Eaten at a ballpark

• Green: Football nicknames

• Blue: Electrolytes

• Purple: Found on a zebra

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Concession Snacks

• Green: NFL Teams, Informally

• Blue: Gatorade Flavors

• Purple: A Soccer Referee's Accessories

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #363 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Concession Snacks - CRACKER JACK, PEANUTS, POPCORN, PRETZEL

• NFL Teams, Informally - BIRDS, G-MEN, NINERS, PATS

• Gatorade Flavors - COOL BLUE, FRUIT PUNCH, GLACIER FREEZE, LEMON LIME

• A Soccer Referee's Accessories - CARDS, VANISHING SPRAY, WATCH, WHISTLE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Done to an iPhone

• Green: To loosen up

• Blue: Where a diner would sit

• Purple: Edible plants

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Touchscreen gestures

• Green: Relax

• Blue: Restaurant seating options

• Purple: Vegetables with first letter removed

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #833 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Touchscreen gestures: PINCH, SCROLL, SWIPE, TAP

• Relax: CHILL, LOAF, LOUNGE, VEG

• Restaurant seating options: BAR, BOOTH, COUNTER, TABLE

• Vegetables with first letter removed: ALE, EEK, HIVE, QUASH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Stand by me

The words are community-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe togetherness.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Solidarity.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 21

• Fortify

• Support

• Solidarity

• Bolster

• Comfort

• Strengthen

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A clique.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

COVEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is just $49.97 (reg. $219.99) for a limited time.

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Windows Vista is famous for one thing: it wasn't that good of an operating system. Despite being newer and featuring numerous design refinements, it remained in XP's shadow, and when Windows 7 came out, it was all but forgotten.

If you’re a gamer or work from home, your mousepad is probably the dirtiest part of your setup—and you might not even realize it. I know I didn’t, and when I cleaned mine, I was shocked by how much grime came out of a pad I'd only been using for six months.

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If you've spent any time on audiophile forums (I'm so sorry) you've probably run into the idea of headphone "burn-in" or "breaking in" a new set of headphones like a new pair of shoes or something. Many audio enthusiasts swear by this and will leave their headphones playing music for hundreds of hours in the belief that it will make them sound better.

Vinyl's having a big comeback, though of course it's always had its hardcore fans. It's now been joined by a renewed interest in CDs and even cassette tapes, often by people who were born after these formats were common, but Vinyl still holds its own unique niche.

By no means should "downgrading" your car be seen as a bad thing. Especially in this day and age, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of many critical factors when purchasing a car, whether leasing or buying outright.

If you work primarily off a laptop, you’re likely already aware of the productivity and comfort benefits that a few small gadgets can provide. The best part is that many of them can make a meaningful difference without draining your wallet.

The widgets panel on Windows 11 gives you quick access to information like news, weather, stocks, and more. However, I really don't like it, as it takes up a good amount of taskbar space and often interferes with my workflow by popping up unexpectedly. If you also don't find the widgets panel helpful, here's how you can disable it completely.

Samsung’s long-rumored Project Moohan looks like it’s finally about to drop. The company’s answer to Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset is reportedly set for an October reveal — complete with a hefty price tag.

According to Upload VR, preorders will open on Sept. 29, with a staggered global launch: Oct. 13 in Korea, followed by Oct. 21 worldwide. Moohan was first announced more than two years ago, with its design revealed late last year — but detailed specs are still scarce. What we do know, thanks to leaks, is that the headset will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, a beefed-up version of the chip powering the Meta Quest 3 and 3S.

The price is looking quite painful, however. Leaks point to a range between $1,799 and $2,999, which is far higher than the Quest 3 ($499) but still under Apple’s $3,499 Vision Pro and Sony’s enterprise-focused $4K+ headsets.

At least you’re getting serious display tech for the money: a 1.3-inch Micro-OLED panel boasting 3552×3840 resolution, high brightness, and a wide color gamut. That works out to 13.64 million pixels per eye — nearly two million more than the Vision Pro and leagues ahead of the Quest 3’s 4.56 million.

If your device takes ages to boot, and you blame it on its age, you’re mistaken. I used to think the same until I found the real culprit—too many apps loading at startup. Turning off unnecessary apps made my device boot faster. I applied this change on two devices, and here’s the difference it made.

Hybrids might seem tricky with two power sources under the hood, but when done right they’re actually easier to live with than a regular gas car.

Color has finally come to e-readers, opening up a richer digital reading experience for anyone who uses Libby for graphic novels, prefers color epubs, or simply enjoys seeing a book’s cover in full color. But with more devices offering the feature, which one stands out? For us, the Kobo Libra Colour is the clear winner.

When we write about e-readers, Kindle is usually the first name that comes to mind. But in the color e-reader market, Kindle has been late to the party. That delay opened the door for other brands to step in with stronger devices. We’ve rounded up the best color e-readers, and here are the ones that stood out.

Temper your color expectations Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mangino

Having tested my way through a lot of e-readers — and now color e-readers — I’ve found a universal truth: while the colors are accurate, they often look a bit washed out. No matter which brand you use, that’s going to be the case. The muted tones don’t outweigh the convenience and portability of color e-readers, but it’s worth tempering your expectations.

Don’t expect the vivid, punchy colors of an iPad screen. An iPad has a max nits of 500 (a measure of brightness), while Kobo and Kindle e-readers max out at 94.

One of the main features that was removed from macOS Tahoe was the app launcher, Launchpad. A lot of people didn't use it and won't miss it, but for people like me who used it every day, it's a big loss. Unfortunately, there's no way to bring back Launchpad, but there are other options you can use instead.

Are you dual-booting Windows and Linux but struggling with a clunky boot process and system conflicts? Wondering why your setup feels less smooth than promised? Well, here are five essential BIOS settings that, when changed, can potentially fix these headaches immediately.

If you have an ASRock gaming motherboard, chances are it comes with a couple of “Lightning Gaming Ports” on the rear for your mouse and keyboard. A "gaming" USB port sounds fancy, but does it actually do anything, or is it just another USB gimmick?