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Today is Selection Sunday, and the Connections: Sports Edition puzzle is all about the NCAA basketball tournament. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle 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 appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
 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: Oops!
Green group hint: Not the second word.
Blue group hint: They direct the team.
Purple group hint: They made it to the Big Dance.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Basketball fouls.
Green group: First words in NCAA tournament rounds.
Blue group: Women’s college basketball coaches.
Purple group: Teams qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA tournament.
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What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for March 15, 2026.
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is basketball fouls. The four answers are block, charge, hold and reach-in.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is first words in NCAA tournament rounds. The four answers are elite, final, second and sweet.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is women’s college basketball coaches. The four answers are Auriemma, Close, Ivey and Staley.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is teams qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA tournament. The four answers are Gonzaga, High Point, Queens and Troy.
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