Today’s NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle (#515) is all about horse racing, Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, and more. Whether you need a small nudge or the full answers, we’ve got you covered.
What Is NYT Connections Sports Edition?
Connections: Sports Edition is a daily word game from The New York Times, created in partnership with The Athletic. Players group 16 words into four categories of four, based on a shared sports-related theme.
Each category is color-coded by difficulty:
- Yellow – Easiest
- Green – Medium
- Blue – Hard
- Purple – Hardest
You get up to four mistakes before the game ends, so use them wisely.
Hints for Connections Sports Edition #515 (February 20, 2026)
Not ready for the full answers? Here are soft hints for each category:
- Yellow: Something that happens when a game briefly stops
- Green: Terms related to winning bets at the horse track
- Blue: Quarterbacks the Minnesota Vikings picked in the first round of the NFL Draft
- Purple: Things you might see or do at a race
Today’s Category Names
If you need a bit more help, here are the actual category titles:
- Yellow: Break in the Action
- Green: Best in Horse Racing
- Blue: QBs Drafted by Vikings in First Round
- Purple: Seen at a Race (Race___)
Full Answers for February 20, 2026
Yellow – Break in the Action
- INTERMISSION, PAUSE, SUSPENSION, TIMEOUT
Green – Best in Horse Racing
- EXACTA, PLACE, SHOW, WIN
Blue – QBs Drafted by Vikings in First Round
- BRIDGEWATER, CULPEPPER, MCCARTHY, PONDER
Purple – Race___
- BIB, CAR, COURSE, WALKING
Tips for Solving Future Puzzles
- Start with the category you feel most confident about — usually Yellow.
- Watch out for words that seem to fit multiple categories. The puzzle is designed to trick you.
- Use the shuffle button to see the board with fresh eyes.
- Save your mistakes for the harder purple category.