If you played the NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle on Thursday, July 23, 2026 (Puzzle #668) and were looking for today's word meanings, sports definitions, or group explanations, this complete guide has you covered. Whether you wondered what team FROST represents, who the famous SCOTTS in sports are, or why TIMBERWOLVES separates from standard NBA teams, understanding the definitions behind FROST, TIMBERWOLVES, TWINS, WILD, MCTOMINAY, NIEDERMAYER, ROLEN, VAN PELT, HAWKS, MAGIC, NETS, PISTONS, AND ONE, JUMP, LACROSSE, and SCORE makes the entire grid click into place.
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Quick Word Meanings & Category Breakdown: NYT Connections Sports #668 (July 23, 2026)
- 🟨 Yellow (MINNESOTA SPORTS TEAMS): FROST, TIMBERWOLVES, TWINS, WILD — Professional sports franchises operating out of Minnesota.
- 🟩 Green (FAMOUS SCOTTS IN SPORTS): MCTOMINAY, NIEDERMAYER, ROLEN, VAN PELT — Sports icons whose first name is Scott.
- 🟦 Blue (NBA TEAMS): HAWKS, MAGIC, NETS, PISTONS — National Basketball Association franchises.
- 🟪 Purple (BASKETBALL PHRASES & MOVES): AND ONE, JUMP, LACROSSE, SCORE — Terminology, scoring calls, and skill moves used in basketball context.
Glossary: Sports Meanings of All 16 NYT Connections Sports Words Today
Here is the full sports definition and league context for every word in today's grid, along with its specific group assignment in Puzzle #668:
| Word | League / Context | Sports Meaning & Entity | Connections Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| FROST | PWHL (Hockey) | Minnesota Frost — Professional Women's Hockey League team. | Yellow — Minnesota Sports Teams |
| TIMBERWOLVES | NBA (Basketball) | Minnesota Timberwolves — Minneapolis-based NBA franchise. | Yellow — Minnesota Sports Teams |
| TWINS | MLB (Baseball) | Minnesota Twins — Minneapolis-based Major League Baseball team. | Yellow — Minnesota Sports Teams |
| WILD | NHL (Hockey) | Minnesota Wild — Saint Paul-based National Hockey League team. | Yellow — Minnesota Sports Teams |
| MCTOMINAY | Soccer / Football | Scott McTominay — Scottish international midfielder (Napoli/Man Utd). | Green — Famous Scotts in Sports |
| NIEDERMAYER | NHL (Hockey) | Scott Niedermayer — Hall of Fame Canadian NHL defense legend. | Green — Famous Scotts in Sports |
| ROLEN | MLB (Baseball) | Scott Rolen — Baseball Hall of Fame 3rd baseman (8x Gold Glove). | Green — Famous Scotts in Sports |
| VAN PELT | Broadcasting / ESPN | Scott Van Pelt — Legendary ESPN SportsCenter anchor & host. | Green — Famous Scotts in Sports |
| HAWKS | NBA (Basketball) | Atlanta Hawks — NBA Eastern Conference franchise. | Blue — NBA Teams |
| MAGIC | NBA (Basketball) | Orlando Magic — NBA Southeast Division franchise. | Blue — NBA Teams |
| NETS | NBA (Basketball) | Brooklyn Nets — NBA Atlantic Division franchise. | Blue — NBA Teams |
| PISTONS | NBA (Basketball) | Detroit Pistons — Three-time NBA Champion franchise. | Blue — NBA Teams |
| AND ONE | Basketball Term | Scoring a field goal while being fouled to earn a free throw. | Purple — Basketball Phrases & Moves |
| JUMP | Basketball Move | Jump shot or jump ball in basketball gameplay. | Purple — Basketball Phrases & Moves |
| LACROSSE | Sports Move/Name | Lacrosse move (crossover/scoop style maneuver used in hoop/hockey). | Purple — Basketball Phrases & Moves |
| SCORE | Basketball Term | To put points on the board or complete a field goal. | Purple — Basketball Phrases & Moves |
Yellow Group Word Meanings: MINNESOTA SPORTS TEAMS
The Yellow group brings together professional sports franchises representing the state of Minnesota across North America's major sports leagues.
What sports team is FROST in Minnesota?
Minnesota Frost is the professional women's ice hockey franchise competing in the PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League). Playing out of the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, the Frost won the inaugural Walter Cup championship in 2024. Seeing FROST alongside weather words initially tricked solvers until connecting it to Minnesota sports!
TIMBERWOLVES (Entity & Meaning)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an NBA franchise based in Minneapolis. Led by superstar Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves are one of Minnesota's core Big Four professional teams.
TWINS (Entity & Meaning)
The Minnesota Twins are Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Minneapolis, competing in the AL Central division. The Twins won World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.
WILD (Entity & Meaning)
The Minnesota Wild are a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise based in Saint Paul, carrying on Minnesota's proud heritage as the "State of Hockey."
Green Group Word Meanings: FAMOUS SCOTTS IN SPORTS
The Green group features sports personalities and Hall of Fame athletes who all share the first name Scott.
Who are the famous Scotts in MCTOMINAY, NIEDERMAYER, ROLEN and VAN PELT?
Each of these four surnames belongs to a widely known figure in sports whose first name is Scott:
- Scott McTominay: Scottish international midfielder known for his energetic displays at Manchester United and Napoli.
- Scott Niedermayer: Hall of Fame NHL defenseman who won four Stanley Cups, an Olympic Gold medal, and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
- Scott Rolen: Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman who won eight Gold Gloves and the 2006 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Scott Van Pelt (SVP): Beloved ESPN anchor and host of late-night SportsCenter and major golf tournament coverage.
Blue Group Word Meanings: NBA TEAMS
The Blue group focuses on active franchises competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
HAWKS (Meaning & League)
The Atlanta Hawks are an NBA Eastern Conference team playing out of State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
MAGIC (Meaning & League)
The Orlando Magic are an NBA Southeast Division franchise based in Orlando, Florida, famous for Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard eras.
NETS (Meaning & League)
The Brooklyn Nets are an NBA Atlantic Division team playing out of Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
PISTONS (Meaning & League)
The Detroit Pistons are a historic three-time NBA Champion franchise (1989, 1990, 2004) based in Detroit, Michigan.
Purple Group Word Meanings: BASKETBALL PHRASES & MOVES
The Purple group tests basketball jargon, scoring calls, and action terms used on the court.
AND ONE (Basketball Term)
An And-One occurs when a player is fouled while successfully making a shot, earning one additional free throw attempt. It is also the name of the famous streetball brand AND1.
JUMP (Basketball Move)
Refers to a jump shot (the primary shooting technique in basketball) or a jump ball (the official tip-off used to start a game or resolve held balls).
LACROSSE (Basketball Move/Context)
Refers to the lacrosse move—a specialized scoop or crossover maneuver adapted from lacrosse into basketball and hockey skill exhibitions.
SCORE (Basketball Term)
Refers to putting points on the board, converting a field goal, or keeping track of the official box score.
Why Certain Words Tripped Solvers Up Today
Search data for Sports Puzzle #668 indicates that solvers ran into three major traps:
- TIMBERWOLVES in NBA vs Minnesota: Solvers immediately recognized TIMBERWOLVES as an NBA team and tried grouping it with HAWKS, MAGIC, and NETS. However, Timberwolves had to go into the Minnesota Sports group with FROST, TWINS, and WILD to balance the grid!
- FROST Confusion: Casual fans thought FROST was a weather term, unaware of the PWHL Minnesota Frost women's hockey team.
- SCOTT First Name Wordplay: Surnames like MCTOMINAY, NIEDERMAYER, and VAN PELT come from different sports (soccer, hockey, broadcasting), making their common first name "Scott" hard to spot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do the 16 words mean in NYT Connections Sports for July 23, 2026 (Puzzle #668)?
The 16 words represent Minnesota pro sports teams (Frost, Timberwolves, Twins, Wild), famous sports figures named Scott (McTominay, Niedermayer, Rolen, Van Pelt), NBA teams (Hawks, Magic, Nets, Pistons), and basketball terms (And One, Jump, Lacrosse, Score).
What team is FROST in Minnesota?
Minnesota Frost is the PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League) franchise based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Why are MCTOMINAY, NIEDERMAYER, ROLEN, and VAN PELT grouped together?
They share the same first name: Scott (Scott McTominay, Scott Niedermayer, Scott Rolen, Scott Van Pelt).
Why wasn't TIMBERWOLVES placed in the NBA Teams group?
Placing Timberwolves in Minnesota Sports Teams allowed the NBA Teams group to be completed by Pistons, Hawks, Magic, and Nets, resolving the puzzle without leftover words.
Explore More Connections Sports Guides & Solutions
Keep your winning streak alive with our full suite of daily sports puzzle breakdowns:
- Daily NYT Connections Sports Hints & Progressive Clues
- Full NYT Connections Sports Archive & History
- Daily NYT Connections Main Edition Hints Today
- NYT Connections Soccer Edition Hints Today
Final Thoughts
Recognizing team locations, first-name wordplay, and sports terminology is the key to solving daily Connections Sports grids. Be sure to bookmark our page and return daily for complete word definitions, league breakdowns, and category explanations!
