Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 18, 2026, puzzle No. 602

May 18, 2026 - 12:04

Welcome to the daily huddle for Connections: Sports Edition, your spot to gather clues and discuss the day's puzzle. Today's challenge is puzzle number 602, and it brings a fresh set of sports-themed terms to sort into four distinct groups.

For those needing a nudge without the full answer, here are some category hints. One group revolves around a specific type of athletic footwear. Another focuses on terms used to describe a decisive victory in various games. A third category deals with the language of penalty calls in a major team sport. The final group pulls together nicknames for a famous championship trophy.

If you are still stuck, the four categories for May 18 are: "Types of Cleats," "Words for a Blowout," "Hockey Penalty Terms," and "Names for the Stanley Cup." The specific words that fit into "Types of Cleats" include spikes, studs, blades, and molds. For "Words for a Blowout," the answers are rout, shellacking, drubbing, and pasting. The "Hockey Penalty Terms" are slashing, tripping, hooking, and boarding. Finally, the "Names for the Stanley Cup" are the mug, the grail, Lord Stanley's mug, and the cup.

Check back tomorrow for the next set of hints and the full solution for puzzle No. 603.