Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 9, 2026, puzzle No. 654

July 9, 2026 - 05:59

Welcome to the daily huddle for Connections: Sports Edition, puzzle number 654. Today's grid is a mix of team names, equipment, and on-field actions that might trip up even seasoned fans. If you are stuck, here are some gentle nudges to get you moving.

One category groups four items that all relate to the same piece of protective gear, though they are not all worn on the same body part. Another set of four are all verbs describing specific ways a player can move the ball, but they are not all legal in every sport. A third cluster features the nicknames of professional franchises from different leagues, all sharing a common theme of speed or power. The final four are all terms for a specific type of scoring play, but they are not all worth the same number of points.

If you need the full breakdown, here are the solved groups. The yellow category is "Types of Passes," including words like lob, toss, pitch, and flip. The green category is "Sports Nicknames," featuring Jets, Rockets, Blazers, and Lightning. The blue category is "Baseball Protective Gear," which includes helmet, cup, shin guard, and catcher's mask. The purple category is "Kicks," covering punt, dropkick, field goal, and penalty kick.

The final answer for puzzle No. 654 is complete. Good luck with tomorrow's challenge.