Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 9, 2026, puzzle No. 593

May 9, 2026 - 04:20

Welcome back to the daily puzzle. Today's set of words for puzzle number 593 might leave you scratching your head if you are not up on your lesser-known sports terms. The categories range from the obvious to the deeply obscure, so let's break down the hints before we get to the final answers.

If you are looking for a nudge without the full spoiler, here is a look at the four groups. One category involves specific types of equipment used in a single sport, but not the ball itself. Another group focuses on verbs that describe a specific kind of failure or mistake in competition. There is also a set of terms that are all nicknames for the same thing, and finally, a collection of words that sound like they belong on a baseball diamond but actually refer to positions in a different game.

For the full solution, the first group to solve was the equipment category. The words "cleat," "shin guard," "glove," and "helmet" all belong to the same protective gear set used in hockey. The second group was all about errors: "blunder," "flub," "gaffe," and "miscue" all describe mistakes. The third category was trickier, as "puck," "rock," "biscuit," and "pill" are all slang terms for the disc used in hockey. Finally, the last group included "catcher," "pitcher," "shortstop," and "second base," which are not baseball positions here but rather the names of defensive positions in softball.

That wraps up puzzle 593. Check back tomorrow for the next set of words.