Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 17, #601

The New York Times shared hints and the full solution for the May 17, 2026 Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.

The four groups were themed around NFC North athletes, ACC athletes, NBA players named Jaylen or Jalen, and words that fit before “cap.”

The answer set helps players finish the daily puzzle or verify their guesses.

The breakdown came from The Athletic’s coverage of the NYT sports-themed word game.