Honestly, some mornings you just want to drink your coffee and not feel like you need a Ph.D. in 1990s bullpen history to finish a word puzzle. But then Thursday happens. Today's Sports Connections, the Athletic-backed spinoff of the viral New York Times game, is out for January 15, 2026, and it's a wild ride through international soccer and classic baseball slang.
If you’ve been staring at words like RHUBARB and BOLOGNA wondering if the puzzle editor is just hungry, you aren’t alone. It's a tricky one.
What the Heck is a Rhubarb?
Let's cut to the chase. The blue category today is one of those that makes you love or hate sports terminology. It's all about the chaos. Specifically, the "Benches-Clearing Brawl."
Most casual fans know what a fight is. But do you know a RHUBARB? In the world of old-school baseball broadcasting—think Red Barber or Vin Scully—a rhubarb isn't a pie ingredient. It's a heated on-field argument or a full-blown scuffle. Seeing it next to BROUHAHA and FRACAS makes sense once the lightbulb goes off. FGHT (yes, the puzzle abbreviated it) rounds out that group.
It’s these linguistic quirks that make the sports edition feel so much more specific than the standard NYT grid. You can’t just be good at words; you kinda have to have spent some time listening to AM radio sports talk or reading the back of old trading cards.
👉 See also: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
Today's Sports Connections Answers for January 15, 2026
If you’re just here for the spoilers because you’re on your last mistake, here is the breakdown. No judgment—we've all been there.
- Yellow Category (Reject a Shot): BLOCK, DENY, STUFF, SWAT
- Green Category (Serie A Teams): BOLOGNA, COMO, JUVENTUS, ROMA
- Blue Category (Benches-Clearing Brawl): BROUHAHA, FGHT, FRACAS, RHUBARB
- Purple Category (Yankees Greats, With The First Letter Changed): FUDGE, METER, TERRA, WORD
The Italian Job: Navigating the Green Group
The green category today is a bit of a gift if you follow European soccer, but a total nightmare if you don't. JUVENTUS and ROMA are the big giveaways here. They are giants of the Italian Serie A.
BOLOGNA is having a bit of a moment in the real-world standings lately, but in a word grid, it's a classic red herring. Most people see Bologna and immediately look for other lunch meats or cities. When you see COMO—a team that has seen a massive surge in popularity thanks to its scenic location and high-profile ownership—the soccer connection clicks into place.
Purple is Always the Problem
Every morning, the purple group is designed to make you tilt your head like a confused puppy. Today's theme? "Yankees Greats, With The First Letter Changed."
✨ Don't miss: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
It’s brutal. Basically, they took legendary New York Yankees and did a little swap:
- FUDGE is (Aaron) Judge.
- METER is (Derek) Jeter.
- TERRA is (Yogi) Berra.
- WORD is (Ford... as in Whitey Ford).
If you didn't see it, don't feel bad. "Word" for Whitey Ford is a massive stretch unless you're a Bronx historian. The transition from Jeter to "Meter" is the kind of wordplay that makes you want to toss your phone across the room, but it's also why we keep coming back to this game.
Strategies for the Daily Sports Grid
Look, these puzzles aren't just about what you know; they're about how you filter the noise.
Always look for the plural trap. In the standard Connections game, "S" endings usually mean something. In the sports edition, they often signify team names. Today was a bit different because we had many singular nouns that were actually verbs (like the basketball rejections in yellow).
🔗 Read more: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Say the words out loud. Especially for the purple category. If you say "Meter" and "Jeter" or "Fudge" and "Judge" in succession, the rhyme pattern becomes obvious. The brain processes auditory patterns differently than visual ones.
Watch for the Athletic influence. Since this is a partnership with The Athletic, the categories tend to skew slightly more "analytical" or "deep-cut" than the main NYT game. They expect you to know more than just the names of the teams; they expect you to know the culture of the sport.
How to Handle Your Next Game
If you're looking to improve your win rate, start by isolating the most "boring" words first. BLOCK and SWAT are so clearly related to defense that they should be your starting point. Clearing the easy stuff (Yellow) early gives you a cleaner 4x3 grid to look at when things get weird with the Italian soccer teams.
Check back tomorrow morning. The beauty of the Sports Connections is that even if you strike out today, there's always a new lineup waiting at midnight.
For now, take these answers and go preserve your streak.
- Review your missed categories to see which sport is your "blind spot."
- Memorize the "Rhubarb" definition—it's a favorite for sports trivia writers.
- Check the Serie A table to stay ahead of future soccer-themed categories.