NYT Connections Sports Edition Answers May 23 2026 Revealed for Puzzle No. 613

NEW YORK — The New York Times Connections Sports Edition puzzle for May 23, 2026, numbered 613, featured four sports-themed categories with the following groupings according to official solutions published by review sites.

The yellow category, rated easiest, was “defeat soundly.” The words were CRUSH, PASTE, ROUT and SHELLAC.

The green category was “a Missouri athlete.” The words were BLUE, CHIEF, ROYAL and CARDINAL.

The blue category was “college coaches.” The words were CIGNETTI, DAY, FICKELL and RHULE.

The purple category was “baseball terms or names.” The words were BASE, CUT, FINISH and MENDOZA.

The 16 words in the grid were PASTE, CUT, FINISH, DAY, CHIEF, CIGNETTI, MENDOZA, ROUT, FICKELL, BASE, ROYAL, BLUE, RHULE, SHELLAC, CARDINAL and CRUSH.

Game Mechanics

Connections Sports Edition follows the standard Connections format but focuses exclusively on sports-related themes. Players sort 16 words into four groups of four based on common threads. The game provides color-coded feedback: yellow for the easiest category, green for the next, blue for the third and purple for the hardest.

The May 23, 2026, edition emphasized college football coaches, MLB team nicknames associated with Missouri, ways to describe a decisive victory in sports and baseball-specific terminology. Solvers noted the Missouri athlete category linked to Kansas City sports teams and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Previous Day Comparison

The May 22, 2026, Connections Sports Edition puzzle No. 612 included these categories: attributes for a baseball pitcher with CONTROL, COMMAND, VELOCITY and STAMINA; NHL teams familiarly with HABS, AVS, CANES and ISLES; can follow the word “Texas” with RANGERS, LONGHORNS, TECH and LEAGUER; and members of the Cincinnati Reds with SINGER, STEER, DE LA CRUZ and BURNS.

Solving Strategies

Many players started with obvious sports victory terms such as CRUSH and ROUT, which quickly unlocked the yellow category. The Missouri athlete group connected through professional sports franchises in the state. College coaches required knowledge of current NCAA football head coaches.

The purple category proved most challenging for some, linking baseball concepts including base, cut, finish and Mendoza, the latter referring to the Mendoza Line in baseball statistics.

Popularity of Sports Edition

Connections Sports Edition, launched as a beta version by The New York Times and The Athletic, has gained a dedicated following among sports fans. The daily puzzle complements the standard Connections game and attracts players interested in athletics, coaching names, team nicknames and sports terminology.

On May 23, 2026, the puzzle coincided with ongoing NBA Western Conference Finals coverage between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, adding relevance for basketball fans following playoff action.

Companion Resources

The New York Times and partner sites provide hints and companion articles for each puzzle. For No. 613, progressive hints included sports victory synonyms and Missouri sports references. Third-party solvers offered practice boards and reveal assistants.

Broader NYT Games Context

The Sports Edition runs alongside regular Connections, which on May 23, 2026, had categories for hairdos, more readily, Marvel characters and Star Wars movie title words. Other games that day included Wordle with answer CHUCK and Strands with survival theme.

Players access the puzzle through The Athletic or New York Times platforms. Basic play is available daily, with subscriptions offering additional features and archives. The sports version maintains the same four-mistake limit before the puzzle ends.

Community Response

Solvers discussed the puzzle on forums, noting the college coaches category required familiarity with current NCAA leadership. The Missouri athlete group stood out for fans of Kansas City Chiefs, Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. Discussions highlighted how the puzzle tested knowledge across multiple sports.

Performance metrics shared by users included perfect solve rates and time to completion. Saturday puzzles often feature a mix of timely and evergreen sports topics.

Historical Development

Connections Sports Edition expanded The New York Times’ games portfolio in recent years. By mid-2026, puzzle numbering reached the 600s, indicating regular daily releases. Each edition draws from diverse sports including football, baseball, hockey and basketball.

The May 23 solution blended current coaching names with classic sports terminology, typical of the game’s educational and entertaining balance. Official answers are confirmed post-reset by The New York Times.

Tips for Players

Effective strategies include grouping obvious sports terms first and eliminating confirmed categories. Knowledge of major league team nicknames, prominent coaches and statistical terms aids solving. New players can use practice modes on helper sites.

The game encourages engagement with sports culture while building pattern recognition skills. Difficulty varies, with purple categories often requiring deeper sports knowledge.