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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you remember your childhood games.

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Positions

• Green: Defense

• Blue: Leaders of the Midwest

• Purple: Ways to watch ESPN

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Basketball Positions, Abbreviated

• Green: Baseball Defensive Terms

• Blue: Big Ten Men's Basketball Coaches

• Purple: ESPN____

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 #489 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Basketball Positions, Abbreviated - C, PF, PG, SG

• Baseball Defensive Terms - CUTOFF, PITCHOUT, RELAY, SHIFT

• Big Ten Men's Basketball Coaches - GARD, IZZO, MAY, PAINTER

• ESPN__ - +, 2, EWS, U

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.

It’s an exhausting time to be in senior leadership. If your executive role feels unsustainable, you’re not alone. Many senior leaders are quietly questioning whether the top job is worth the stress. But instead of stepping down, step back. Here’s how to build a personal retention plan to stay put without sacrificing your well-being.  Reevaluate what the role really requires. Start […]

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A pretty girl.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BELLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To explode.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BURST

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To see eye-to-eye.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

AGREE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Extra.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BONUS

Final Hurdle hint

A gathering area.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

FOYER

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

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already bucking Game of Thrones' tradition in several big ways.

Unlike its predecessors, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms doesn't feature dragons or scheming for the Iron Throne. As episode 2 reveals, it's also missing another Game of Thrones series staple: an elaborate title sequence.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Targaryen family tree: How everyone connects

Where Game of Thrones has its clockwork map, and where House of the Dragon has its Targaryen family tree and historical tapestries, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms simply has a title card. It's just white text on a black background, all without Ramin Djawadi's epic Game of Thrones theme to accompany it. (While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms occasionally interpolates Djawadi's theme, the show's score is composed by Dan Romer.)

The difference between opening sequences is starker than Ned, especially since House of the Dragon's titles so clearly ape those of Game of Thrones. So, why the big switch-up for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' review: 'Game of Thrones' prequel is a surprising comfort watch

For showrunner Ira Parker, the decision stems from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' central character, Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall (Peter Claffey).

"All decisions came down to Dunk, trying to channel the type of person he is into every aspect of this show, even the title sequence," showrunner Ira Parker told Entertainment Weekly in an October 2025 story.

He continued: "The title sequences on the original [Game of Thrones] and House of Dragon are big and epic and incredible. Ramin Djawadi's score is orchestral and large and beautiful. That's not really Dunk's M.O. He's plain and he's simple and he's to-the-point. He doesn't have a lot of flash to him."

Dunk's lack of flashiness is central to George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, upon which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based. These are not epic tales of Westeros-wide war. Instead, they're ground-level stories about the Seven Kingdoms' smallfolk. With that in mind, a smaller scale requires a smaller title sequence.

The title card also has the added benefit of setting A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms apart from other Westeros-set shows, allowing it to forge its own identity and prove that there's room for stories of all scales in the Seven Kingdoms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

While the Game of Thrones universe has always had moments of comedy thrown in amongst the betrayal, incest, and murder, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes Westeros' comic streak into uncharted territory.

Episode 1 had that gloriously disgusting phlegm scene, and while there are many amusing moments in episode 2, a conversation between Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) is probably the thing that made us laugh most — while also acting as the perfect representation of their relationship as a whole.

Let's recap.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Targaryen family tree: How everyone connects What's the conversation between Dunk and Egg?

The conversation takes place after Dunk's floundering attempt to talk to Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), a puppeteer working at the Ashford tourney who agrees to paint a new sigil on his shield.

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After attempting to console Dunk, who is worried the conversation was "ill-handled," Egg changes the subject to knighthood. We've copied the resulting, hilarious exchange below, in full:

Egg: "Do you think I'll ever make a knight one day?"

Dunk: "Sure. Why not? You're a likely lad."

Egg: "I'm a bit puny."

Dunk: "You'll grow."

Egg: "Even for my age. Everyone's always told me so."

Dunk: "Everyone's always told me I was stupid."

[Massive pause while Dunk sips his drink, not saying anything else.]

Egg: "And?"

Dunk: "Hm?"

Egg: "Hm, what?"

Dunk: "What?"

Egg: "What did you do when people said you were stupid, ser?"

Dunk: "What business is that of yours? My problems are my own."

Egg: "I thought... Aren't you trying to help me?"

Dunk: "Help you what? Grow?"

It's an absolutely beat-perfect exchange, from Egg's exasperated "And?" to Dunk's complete confusion that follows it. This kind of conversation is also why the show, and Dunk and Egg as characters, are so deeply lovable — we will never tire of seeing a small child growing increasingly frustrated with his giant, well-meaning companion's total lack of understanding.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a film buff.

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.

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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.

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 January 26, 2026 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: To suck dry

• Green: To intimidate

• Blue: Hollywood icons

• Purple: Animals

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Exploit

• Green: Daunt

• Blue: Iconic actresses

• Purple: Mammals minus last letter

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 #969 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Exploit: DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, SQUEEZE

• Daunt: BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, RUFFLE

• Iconic actresses: CLOSE, FIELD, FOSTER, WEAVER

• Mammals minus last letter: BADGE, GOA, MOOS, RABBI

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 January 25, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always a wine drinker.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 26, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Grape expectations

The words are related to drinks.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an alcoholic drink.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is By the Bottle.

NYT Strands word list for January 26

• Zinfandel

• Chardonnay

• By the Bottle

• Shiraz

• Merlot

• Malbec

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're unusual.

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 January 26, 2026 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 January 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A weirdo.

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 F.

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...

FREAK

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 January 26, 2026

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.

It’s almost a new lunar phase, with the Moon one night away from the First Quarter. This means that just under half of the Moon is illuminated tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Jan. 26, the Moon phase is First Quarter. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 54% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Half of the Moon is illuminated tonight, so there's plenty surface area to look for features. With just your naked, you should be able to spot the Crisum, Serenitatis and Vaporum mares. If you have binoculars you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Apennine Mountains, Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. There's even more to see with a telescope, including the Apollo 11 and 15 landing spots and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

NASA tells us the lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, which is how long the Moon takes to travel once around Earth. Over that period, it passes through eight recognised phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the portion that appears lit changes as the Moon moves along its orbit. The varying amount of sunlight reaching the Moon is what makes it appear full, partially illuminated, or almost invisible at different points in the cycle. The eight lunar phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

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I use Plex almost every day, and I’ve noticed several massive “improvements” over the last year. While I’m happy with most of the changes, one of my favorite features—and very underrated—was on the wrong end of them. Allow me to explain.

What's the biggest smart home device that you own? For many of us, the answer may come as a surprise, despite the fact that the smart capabilities of this device are explicitly included in its name.

I love shiny gadgets as much as the next person, but few things bring me as much joy as splitting wood. As someone conditioned to look at specs, I thought a bigger chainsaw would be a better chainsaw for the job, but I’ve since purchased a tiny one, and I’m quite glad I did.

If you're looking to upgrade your home theater setup, you've likely encountered the terms 5.1 and 5.2 (or 7.1 and 7.2) being tossed around. So, what's the difference between these two systems, and more importantly, does it actually matter?

For most of us, SUVs are just the smart choice for daily driving. They handle everything from school runs and commutes to weekend trips with ease.

Raspberry Pis are popular because they're small, don't consume much power, and are extremely versatile. However, the default method of booting one—from the microSD card—is best avoided if possible. Here's how you can do it.

People have been using Android phones for nearly two decades, and some bad habits have been passed down over the years. Even some of the oldest myths persist today. The good news is that it’s really very easy to avoid these mistakes once you know about them.

One of the most jaw-dropping athletic feats in recent memory happened this past Saturday, when legendary rock climber Alex Honnold free soloed the Taipei 101 skyscraper live on Netflix.

Formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, the building stands 1,667 feet tall, making it the 11th-tallest structure in the world. From 2004 to 2009, it actually held the title of tallest building on Earth, before the Burj Khalifa took that crown. Late Saturday night for U.S. viewers, Honnold climbed the entire thing without ropes, harnesses, or safety equipment, finishing in just over 90 minutes and becoming only the second person ever to pull it off.

It’s hard to overstate how unhinged this is. Thousands of people tuned in to watch the pure, panic-inducing spectacle of a 40-year-old man scaling a skyscraper with nothing but his hands and shoes, the kind of thing your brain immediately rejects as a bad idea. And yet, Honnold made it look almost routine.

When he finally reached the top, his first words summed up the whole experience perfectly: “Sick.”

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Naturally, social media had a field day. Clips and screenshots spread almost instantly, equal parts awe and disbelief, with people marveling not just at the physical feat but at how casually it was presented. A historic athletic achievement, broadcast live, that somehow still felt deeply ridiculous in the best way possible.

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For anyone unfamiliar with Honnold — and mild spoilers, I guess — this isn’t his first time doing a stunt like this. He’s best known for becoming the first person to free solo climb El Capitan, a nearly 3,000-foot vertical granite wall in Yosemite that has killed multiple climbers over the years. That ascent was documented in Free Solo, the 2018 film that went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

All of which is to say: Alex Honnold isn’t reckless. However, he is, in the most respectful way possible, absolutely out of his mind and also extremely good at what he does.

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Not all of your storage is the same, and you shouldn't treat it as such. There are many advantages to tiering, and organizing said tiering, over just dumping everything on your storage in no particular order.

If you want a good TV, or any TV these days, you're inevitably going to buy a "smart" TV. On paper, a smart TV sounds like an upgrade over a "dumb" model, but in practice, smart TVs have turned out to be of limited value. The list of cons is indeed long, and it's why I disable the smart functions on my own TVs completely.