If today’s grid felt like it was teasing you with almost-right groupings, you’re not alone. Sports Edition puzzles love to sprinkle in “obvious” pairings that pull you toward the wrong four, then punish quick taps with a tile that belongs somewhere else. Puzzle 507 leans into that idea with a clean Florida-flavored set, a brand-heavy cluster that’s easy once you spot it, a family grouping that hides in plain sight, and a final category that hinges on the same word appearing in very different sports contexts.
For anyone new to Sports Edition, it follows the same core mechanics as the original Connections: you’re sorting sixteen tiles into four groups of four. The colors typically reflect difficulty from easiest to hardest, but the real trick is staying calm when multiple answers seem to fit. When you hit a wall, switch your approach: instead of hunting for a category title first, try pairing two “locked” tiles you’re certain about and then searching for the remaining two that complete the set.
If you want to play the official game, it lives under the New York Times Games umbrella, with the Sports Edition version also appearing through The Athletic experience.
Hints for today’s groups
Yellow hint: Sunshine State pride, all based in the same city.
Green hint: You’ve seen these marks on shoes, shirts, and warmups.
Blue hint: A household name, but the category is strictly family.
Purple hint: A blank you can fill with the same word, but each phrase means something different.
Tap to reveal answers for Feb 12 507
Yellow group: Miami teams
- HEAT
- DOLPHINS
- MARLINS
- HURRICANES
These are all major Miami-area sports identities, mixing pro clubs with the well-known college program nickname.
Green group: Logos of athletic brands
- SWOOSH
- JUMPMAN
- THREE STRIPES
- PUMA
The set is built around recognizable branding, including word-names for iconic marks and one brand name that doubles as its own logo identity.
Blue group: Curry family members
- STEPH
- SETH
- DELL
- AYESHA
Two NBA guards, their former-NBA dad, and a spouse who’s a public figure in her own right make this a tidy family grouping.
Purple group: ____ green
- A.C.
- DRAYMOND
- MEAN
- PUTTING
Each tile pairs naturally with “green,” spanning a classic athlete name, a modern player surname, a well-known phrase, and a golf surface, which is why it can feel slippery until the final click.
Come back tomorrow if you want another nudge before the reveal. The fastest way to improve at Connections is building a habit of testing two competing theories, then letting the “one away” moments teach you which tiles are decoys.
