Need a nudge with Connections: Sports Edition #756? Start with a gentle clue, try a more specific group hint, or reveal just two words from the color you need. The full answers and explanations are further down the page.
This guide covers The Athletic's sports puzzle for October 19, 2026. Check the edition and date on your game before using it. Connections Solved is an independent guide, not the game's publisher.
Start with a gentle clue. Two-word hints, answers and explanations stay hidden until you open them.
Playing the regular word puzzle? Regular Connections guide — a different puzzle
Gentle Hints for Puzzle #756
Try one clue for the group you are working on. You do not need to read all four.
- Yellow
One city, four uniforms.
- Green
These tell you who is ahead.
- Blue
Four surnames with the same major achievement.
- Purple
A name on the label can become a name in conversation.
Stronger Group Hints
These clues narrow the theme without listing the four words. Stop here if a theme clicks.
- Yellow
Think of one player from each of four major teams in the same Pennsylvania city.
- Green
Four ways a sport orders competitors by results or rating.
- Blue
Each surname belongs to a men's champion of a national golf major.
- Purple
These product names are often used in everyday speech for a broader kind of sports or leisure equipment.
Two-Word Hints — Partial Answers
Still stuck on one color? Reveal two words that belong together in that group. This gives away part of the answer, so open only the color you need.
Yellow Reveal 2 words Hide words Spoiler
- PHILLIE
- FLYER
These two belong together. Look for two more tiles that share their connection.
Green Reveal 2 words Hide words Spoiler
- TABLE
- STANDINGS
These two belong together. Look for two more tiles that share their connection.
Blue Reveal 2 words Hide words Spoiler
- WOODLAND
- KITE
These two belong together. Look for two more tiles that share their connection.
Purple Reveal 2 words Hide words Spoiler
- JUMBOTRON
- FRISBEE
These two belong together. Look for two more tiles that share their connection.
Connections Sports Answers for October 19, 2026
Ready to check your solution? Opening this panel reveals all four category names and all 16 words for #756.
Reveal all four answer groups for #756
Yellow
A PHILADELPHIA ATHLETE
- PHILLIE
- FLYER
- 76ER
- EAGLE
Green
WAYS TO SHOW STANDING IN DIFFERENT SPORTS
- TABLE
- STANDINGS
- LEADERBOARD
- RANKINGS
Blue
U.S. OPEN GOLF WINNERS
- WOODLAND
- KITE
- ELS
- STRANGE
Purple
BRAND NAMES OFTEN USED AS GENERIC TERMS
- JUMBOTRON
- FRISBEE
- JET SKI
- SPEEDO
Why These Groups Work
This section explains each word and a possible wrong turn. It contains spoilers even if the answer panel above is closed.
Reveal the explanations and possible traps
Yellow
A PHILADELPHIA ATHLETE
Read each tile as one athlete: a Phillie in baseball, a Flyer in hockey, a 76er in basketball and an Eagle in football. The four sports differ, but each player represents a Philadelphia team. That shared city is the test that fits all four words.
How each word fits
- PHILLIE
-
A player for the Philadelphia Phillies, the city's Major League Baseball team.
- FLYER
-
A player for the Philadelphia Flyers, the city's National Hockey League team.
- 76ER
-
A player for the Philadelphia 76ers, the city's National Basketball Association team.
- EAGLE
-
A player for the Philadelphia Eagles, the city's National Football League team.
Green
WAYS TO SHOW STANDING IN DIFFERENT SPORTS
All four terms answer the question 'Where does this competitor stand?' A table or standings can show a league's order, a leaderboard can show an event's scores, and rankings can order competitors under a rating system. The connection is how positions are presented, not one shared sport or scoring method.
How each word fits
- TABLE
-
A league table lists teams in order, commonly by points and other competition rules.
- STANDINGS
-
Standings show where teams or players sit in a competition, often using their results or records.
- LEADERBOARD
-
A leaderboard orders competitors by their current score, as in a golf tournament.
- RANKINGS
-
Rankings order players or teams under a rating or points system, rather than necessarily reflecting one event.
Blue
U.S. OPEN GOLF WINNERS
Expand the tiles to Gary Woodland, Tom Kite, Ernie Els and Curtis Strange. Each is a men's U.S. Open golf champion; their winning years are listed below. The shared achievement fits all four, even though several surnames also look like ordinary English words.
How each word fits
- WOODLAND
-
Gary Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open.
- KITE
-
Tom Kite won the 1992 U.S. Open.
- ELS
-
Ernie Els won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997.
- STRANGE
-
Curtis Strange won consecutive U.S. Opens in 1988 and 1989.
Purple
BRAND NAMES OFTEN USED AS GENERIC TERMS
Match each product name to the broader item people may mean in conversation: JUMBOTRON to a giant screen, FRISBEE to a flying disc, JET SKI to a personal watercraft and SPEEDO to a swimming brief. The equipment spans different activities; the shared pattern is the use of a product name for a kind of item. This does not establish that any trademark has lost legal protection.
How each word fits
- JUMBOTRON
-
Used conversationally for a giant video screen, especially one in a sports stadium.
- FRISBEE
-
Used conversationally for a flying disc.
- JET SKI
-
Used conversationally for a personal watercraft.
- SPEEDO
-
Used conversationally for a close-fitting swimming brief.
Connections Sports Edition FAQ
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
Connections: Sports Edition is The Athletic's sports-themed grouping puzzle. The board contains 16 tiles that belong to four groups of four. This page offers hints and explanations for the edition dated October 19, 2026.
Which Sports Edition puzzle does this page cover?
This guide covers October 19, 2026, puzzle #756. Compare both the game title and the date on your board before using the hints.
Can I read hints without revealing the answers?
Yes. The gentle clues and stronger group hints are visible first. Optional two-word hints are closed and labeled as spoilers; each reveals only two tiles from one color. The complete answers and explanations remain in separate closed panels.
Is Sports Edition the same as the regular NYT Connections puzzle?
No. Sports Edition has its own board and puzzle number. Answers for the regular Connections puzzle, Soccer Edition or an independent NFL game should not be substituted for this edition.
Where can I play Connections: Sports Edition?
Use The Athletic's official Connections: Sports Edition page to play. Connections Solved provides an independent guide; it does not host the official game.
How were these answers checked?
The four category titles and all 16 tiles were checked against The Athletic's puzzle data for the stated date. The hints and explanations were written for this guide. Checking the source does not mean the game was completed here.
Why might my board look different?
First compare the game title and date. This guide is for the October 19, 2026 Sports Edition board. A different day's puzzle, the regular Connections game, Soccer Edition or another publisher's sports game can have a different set of tiles.
Sources and Verification
Official puzzle data and references for this edition.
View the sources used for this edition
The four groups and all 16 tiles were checked against The Athletic's puzzle data for October 19, 2026. The clues and explanations on this page were written for this guide. Source checking is separate from completing the game.
- The Athletic — Connections: Sports Edition
- USGA — U.S. Open champions
- USGA — U.S. Open records
- PGA TOUR — official scorecard defining an eagle
- U.S. Open record book — past champions (PGA TOUR media)
Connections Solved is an independent guide and is not affiliated with The Athletic or The New York Times.