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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. Remember, sometimes surnames are also words that have meanings, and vice-versa. 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.

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 'em together for...

Blue group hint: Fire it in there!

Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Expression of approval.

Blue group: Hall of Fame pitchers.

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 April 12, 2026.

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 SEC cities. The four answers are Auburn, Austin, College Station and Oxford.

The blue words in today's Connections

The theme is Hall of Fame pitchers. The four answers are Feller, Fingers, Grove and Plank.

The purple words in today's Connections

The theme is ____ arm. The four answers are dead, fore, side and stiff.