NEW YORK, July 10, 2026 – The New York Times’ Connections: Sports Edition puzzle #655 unexpectedly fused synth-pop and hip-hop with sports terminology. The core seed words—Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, and OutKast—were not musical red herrings but category keys.
The puzzle, part of the daily #1125 and #655 series, divided 16 words into four groups. Three bands belonged to a meta-category titled “Bands That Are Also Sports Terms.” Pet Shop Boys (shops), Depeche Mode (mode), and OutKast (outcast) were joined by The Cars. This category sparked debate.
“Players often assume sports puzzles are pure,” noted The Athletic’s puzzle analyst. “Pop culture crossovers break that expectation.”
The other three categories were straightforward: “Tennis Shots” (ace, lob, volley, drop shot), “Baseball Positions” (pitcher, catcher, shortstop, outfielder), and “Olympic Sports” (judo, fencing, archery, taekwondo). The grid’s design forced solvers to eliminate false links.
CNET’s guide highlighted the process of elimination. “If three words seem unrelated, check for double meanings—sports terms that double as band names,” it stated. Lifehacker echoed this, advising users to bookmark reliable sources for daily hints.
The puzzle’s structure offered a clear solution path. First, identify the four tennis terms. Then, isolate the baseball positions. Next, spot the Olympic sports. Finally, the remaining four words—Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, OutKast, and The Cars—formed the fourth category.
This blend of music and sports is rare but not unprecedented. The NYT Connections team has previously mixed film titles with sports terminology. “It tests lateral thinking,” said a game designer familiar with the series. “The solver must recognize that a ‘mode’ can be both a Depeche Mode track and a setting on a treadmill.”
Puzzle #655’s difficulty lay in this ambiguity. Many players initially placed “OutKast” in a “hip-hop” category, which did not exist. The correct grouping required abandoning musical genre assumptions.
For those stuck on today’s #1125, the hint was simple: ignore the music until the end. Solve the sports terms first. The bands will reveal themselves.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What was the fourth band in the ‘Bands That Are Also Sports Terms’ category?
- A: The Cars completed the category alongside Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, and OutKast.
- Q: What were the other three categories in Puzzle #655?
- A: They were Tennis Shots, Baseball Positions, and Olympic Sports.
Extended Reading
For daily hints and full answer breakdowns, consult The Athletic’s puzzle section, CNET’s gaming desk, and Lifehacker’s entertainment vertical. Puzzle #655’s solution is archived at all three outlets.