Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 16, #388

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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a mix of difficult and easy categories. Or maybe I just don't know my tennis. If you're struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn't show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic's own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Put your hands together for ...

Green group hint: Drop the puck!

Blue group hint: Down under.

Purple group hint: Not front.

Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Expression of approval.

Green group: Hockey equipment.

Blue group: Australian Open women's singles winner.

Purple group: ____ back.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 16, 2025.

NYT/Screenshot by CNET

The yellow words in today's Connections

The theme is expression of approval. The four answers are applause, clapping, hand and ovation.

The green words in today's Connections

The theme is hockey equipment. The four answers are gloves, helmet, skates and stick.

The blue words in today's Connections

The theme is Australian Open women's singles winner. The four answers are Graf, Keys, Osaka and Pierce.

The purple words in today's Connections

The theme is ____ back.  The four answers are brush, step, tail and touch.