Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 16, 2026, puzzle No. 661

Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition, a daily puzzle designed for players to find connections between 16 words on the game board. This exciting challenge is a joint effort between The Athletic and The New York Times, offering a fun and engaging way to explore the world of sports.

The game's objective is to group words or objects into four groups of four based on commonalities within each group as quickly as possible. Find the groups without making four mistakes, and each puzzle has exactly one solution.

The difficulty level of today's game, Puzzle No. 661, is 3.5 out of 5. If you're up for the challenge, access today's game here. We recommend playing the game before checking the hints below.

When you're done, try out our limited-edition Connections: Soccer Edition – a special World Cup-themed puzzle designed to provide an extra challenge. Share your scores in the comments and get ready to connect the dots in the world of sports.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of sports and solve the puzzle. Spot the pattern, connect the terms, and find the hidden link between sports terms. With four categories to explore, you'll have a blast discovering the connections that make sports so compelling.

The categories in today's puzzle are: Cats (featuring teams like BUTLER, GONZAGA, MISSISSIPPI STATE, YALE), Indianapoli teams (featuring COLTS, FEVER, HOOSIERS, PACERS), Equestrian gear (featuring BIT, REINS, SADDLE, STIRRUPS), and _____dome (featuring ASTRO, FARGO, GEORGIA, SUPER). Can you find the connections that link these words together?

The game is designed to test your knowledge and skills in a fun and engaging way. As you navigate through the puzzle, you'll get a sense of how the world of sports connects and influences each other.

So, are you ready to put your sports knowledge to the test? Dive into the world of Connections: Sports Edition and discover the connections that make sports so exciting. Share your thoughts and scores in the comments below.

Remember, the answers are below. But we recommend solving the puzzle without looking at the hints first. You can always come back to this page for help if you get stuck. Good luck, and happy puzzling!

The answers to today's puzzle are:

• Cats: BUTLER, GONZAGA, MISSISSIPPI STATE, YALE
• Indianapoli teams: COLTS, FEVER, HOOSIERS, PACERS
• Equestrian gear: BIT, REINS, SADDLE, STIRRUPS
• _____dome: ASTRO, FARGO, GEORGIA, SUPER

We hope you enjoyed today's puzzle. Don't forget to share your scores and thoughts in the comments below. The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone. Happy puzzling!