Mashable

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you understand basketball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Share knowledge

• Green: Check the score

• Blue: Sin City University

• Purple: Kings across the country

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Coach

• Green: Seen in a Baseball Scorebug

• Blue: UNLV

• Purple: Home Cities of the NBA's Kings Franchise, Over Time

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #399 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Coach - DRILL, INSTRUCT, SCHOOL, TEACH

• Seen in a Baseball Scorebug - COUNT, INNING, OUTS, SCORE

• UNLV - LAS, NEVADA, UNIVERSITY, VEGAS

• Home Cities of the NBA's Kings Franchise, Over Time - CINCINNATI, KANSAS CITY, ROCHESTER, SACRAMENTO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To move to music.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

DANCE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A golf term.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DIVOT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To correct.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

EMEND

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To worry.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DREAD

Final Hurdle hint

A midday meal.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LUNCH

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Brace yourself, Stephen King fans, because the story of Pennywise the Dancing Clown is expanding like a bright red balloon. 

With IT: Welcome to Derry, Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti (the sibling filmmaking team behind IT and IT: Chapter Two) return to the deeply doomed Maine town where the Losers Club battled for their lives twice in 27 years. However, Bill, Beverly, Eddie, Mike, Richie, Stan, and Ben aren't in this new series. Set in 1962, this is a prequel playing out 27 years before they ever tangled with Pennywise. But you better believe the clown is back — just not quite as you might expect. 

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry': All the Stephen King Easter eggs in episode 1

Pennywise is all over the advertising for IT: Welcome to Derry. It is known that Bill Skarsgård is reprising the role from the films and serving as an executive producer on the series. But there's no clown in the premiere episode. However, there are callbacks to the IT movies that hint at Pennywise's resurrection. So, let's dig into them. 

Be warned: Major spoilers ahead. 

Where does Pennywise appear in episode 1 of IT: Welcome to Derry?  Bill Skarsgård plays Pennywise the Dancing Clown in "Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

The first signs are with poor Matty (Miles Ekhardt), who's run away from home and only found trouble (trouble, trouble). Looking to get far from the town of Derry, he hitches a ride with a family of four. But things swiftly turn scary with a snarling sister snacking on bloody liver and an annoying little brother spelling increasingly ominous words. 

It's this brother that gives us our first hint of Pennywise's presence. First, his eyes go wonky, transforming from those of a little boy to those of a deranged extraterrestrial clown. Then, his buck teeth remind us of Pennywise's signature, sinister smile. Next, a new arrival gives us a more impressive display of Pennywise's power. 

SEE ALSO: The most WTF scares from 'IT: Welcome to Derry' episode 1, ranked The baby with bat wings has big Pennywise energy.  Miles Ekhardt plays Matty in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

The mother of this malevolent family births a two-headed monster baby with bat wings. And while that's all kinds of wild, it has visual ties to both movies. First off, the Muschiettis' reimagining of Pennywise veered away hard from the Tim Curry version, which was more of a classical Bozo-styled clown. The Muschiettis opted for a Victorian flair in costume and a Kewpie-doll head, characterized by a massive forehead reminiscent of a baby doll. So, that double noggin should remind viewers of Skarsgård's Pennywise, even before this grisly cold open sweeps us into the sewer, chasing after Matty's dropped pacifier. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Beyond the big-head design, the baby is reminiscent of another Pennywise precursor. A similar unholy critter sprouted out of a fortune cookie and crawled about the table at the Chinese restaurant in IT: Chapter Two. It was a baby-doll-headed spider of sorts, while another fortune cookie busted out a bat wing. So, long before the Losers Club was tormented with this nightmare fuel, the Derry kids of 1962 were witnessing it with fresh horror. 

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry's shocking episode 1 ending, explained IT: Welcome to Derry has echoes of Georgie's disappearance.  Jack Molloy Legault and Mikkal Karim-Fidler play Teddy and Phil in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

When Matty goes missing, his classmates Teddy and Phil (Mikkal Karim-Fidler and Jack Molloy Legault), bicker about what could have become of him. "They never found a body," one argues, suggesting he's not dead but run away.

However, that was true for Bill's little brother, Georgie Denbrough, too. He went missing but no body was found. That's what led to Bill's obsession of searching the sewers.

Another Georgie callback hits before the end of episode one. But let's take these in chronological order, shall we? 

Voices from the drain menace traumatized kids.  Clara Stack plays Lilly in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

Poor "Loony" Lilly (Clara Stack) already has enough to deal with, like the horrific accidental death of her father and the vicious Pattycakes mocking her about it with a pickle prank. Then, while in the bathroom all alone, she hears the voice of the missing Matty coming from the tub's drain. 

Saying "We've got trouble" in a sing-songy voice, he's harkening back to the movie he watched at the theater before his fateful hitchhiking. "Ya Got Trouble" from The Music Man takes on an ominous connotation as Matty sings it to signal he's been snatched (and maybe killed) by Pennywise.

Featured Video For You Why the scariest part of The Shining isn’t what you think.

Of course, Lilly doesn't know anything about this homicidal clown yet. However, this scene evokes the moment when Beverly Marsh in IT heard the voices of three of Pennywise's victims calling to her from the bathroom sink. Where Bev got attacked by surging hair and a flood of blood, Lilly sees two severed, bloody fingers wiggle their way up to her. But Lilly has a tougher time convincing her peers to believe what she saw than Bev did. Phil and Teddy need more to believe, and they'll get it.

Matty reappears with a Pennywise makeover.  Miles Ekhardt plays Matty in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

To better understand Matty's message, Lilly, Teddy, Phil, and Ronnie (Amanda Christine) return to the theater to watch The Music Man for clues. To their shock, they find Matty there. But not in the theater. He's on the screen, where he curses them out for letting him down. Then, he gets a Pennywise makeover, his smile distorting with buck teeth before he launches the monster baby from the screen and into the theater.

Pennywise is here, and he's shapeshifting to terrorize these children of Derry. 

One more Georgie callback, and we can't shake it.  Jack Molloy Legault and Matilda Legault play Phil and Susie in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer/HBO

Little Susie (Matilda Legault) would have been better off left at the library. Phil's little sister is too young to have any idea what she's in for when she tags along to the theater. Like Georgie, she'll be the younger sibling who loses an arm from a Pennywise attack.

Trying to climb to safety under the theater seats, pig-tailed Susie reaches to Lilly for help. And while Lilly grips her hand, it won't save Susie from the many-fanged maw of the monster baby. It lunges and chomps deep into Susie's exposed arm. So much so that when Lilly runs out of the theater, she's still got Susie's hand in hers, dripping blood from its severed elbow. 

While Pennywise doesn't appear in full in episode 1, he's left plenty of horrifying hints that he's rising in Derry. And he's hungry.

After the absolutely jaw-dropping mayhem of this premiere episode, what could possible come next? 

Tune in next Sunday to HBO and HBO Max find out. And keep up with Mashable, as we're breaking down every gory detail of Welcome to Derry. 

Halloween may only be a few days away, but IT: Welcome to Derry's first episode has already filled my fright quota for the season.

Titled "The Pilot," this episode is not only brimming with Stephen King Easter eggs but nightmarish sequences, like a car ride from hell and the world's worst trip to the movies. But which of Pennywise's (Bill Skarsgård) scare tactics is most effective, and which left us most unfazed? We've ranked all the biggest WTF scares of "The Pilot" to find out.

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry's shocking episode 1 ending, explained 5. When Matty's fingers pop out of Lily's shower drain.

"The Pilot" revolves around the disappearance of Matty (Miles Ekhardt), the friend of several Derry outcasts including "Loony" Lily Bainbridge (Clara Stack). In the episode's mildest scare, Lily hears Matty singing to her from inside her shower pipes. Then, his bloodied fingers emerge from the drain before disappearing.

It's a gruesome image, but a familiar one for IT fans. In Stephen King's novel and future screen adaptations, Beverly Marsh experiences a similar drain-centric nightmare when buckets of blood burst from her sink. When it comes to bathroom scares, Beverly's blows Lily's clean out of the water. It also highlights a very important safety tip for all of Derry's young women: Stop looking down your drains! Nothing good will come of it!

4. When men in gas masks attack Leroy Hanlon. Jovan Adepo in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

Derry's kids aren't the only ones getting scared. Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) faces a harrowing attack of his own while staying on Derry's Air Force base, as several men in gas masks break into his room and threaten to kill him if he doesn't divulge top-secret information.

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry' review: 'IT' prequel series will scare the living daylights out of you

The attack has seemingly nothing to do with Pennywise and everything to do with Cold War anxieties rising in Derry and all across the U.S. Still, even if it's not a supernatural sequence, the sight of the masked men peering through Leroy's window is pretty freaky all on its own.

3. When Teddy sees a human skin lampshade.

Teddy (Mikkal Karim-Fidler) gets a truly grotesque visit from Pennywise, who manifests as a lampshade made of human skin, complete with screaming mouths. The sequence calls back to Teddy's earlier conversation with his father, who detailed the horrors of the Holocaust, including a human skin lampshade found at Buchenwald concentration camp. (This same story is also a key point in Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story.)

SEE ALSO: Is 'IT: Welcome to Derry' based on Stephen King's book?

The body horror on display in this scene is nausea-inducing, but what's more upsetting is the lampshade's ties to the real human tragedy of the Holocaust — and Welcome to Derry's almost callous exploitation of said tragedy. Teddy's dinner with his family feels like a speedrun of Jewish stereotypes, with Welcome to Derry doing little to characterize them beyond discussions of bar mitzvahs and Holocaust trauma. The lampshade scare is the cheap cherry on top, and it's enough to make the viewers sick to their stomachs in more ways than one.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

2. When IT: Welcome to Derry kills off half its kids. Jack Legault, Matilda Legault, Clara Stack, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer/HBO

The entire ending sequence of "The Pilot" feels like a slap in the face. For the entirety of the episode, Welcome to Derry has been setting up Lily, Phil (Jack Legault), Teddy, Ronnie (Amanda Christine), and Susie (Matilda Legault) as the show's version of the Losers Club. That idea quickly flies out the window in "The Pilot"s final scene, in which a winged mutant baby (more on that later) tears Teddy in half, rips Susie's arm off, and carries Phil off to who knows where. It's a bloodbath through and through, and a reminder that no one is safe — especially not Derry's kids.

Featured Video For You Why the scariest part of The Shining isn’t what you think. 1. When Matty experiences the worst car ride ever. Miles Ekhardt in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: Brooke Palmer / HBO

While the closing sequence may be the most shocking moment of "The Pilot," it's the episode's opening that truly raises the bar for any of Welcome to Derry's WTF-inducing scares moving forward.

In the scene, Matty tries to hitchhike out of Derry. He thinks he's found a safe ride with a nice family, but it quickly turns out that couldn't be farther from the truth. From a sinister spelling bee to a brush with raw liver juice, the opening ratchets up the unsettling tension before letting loose with an extremely graphic birth scene that leaves nothing to the imagination. Everything reaches a fever pitch when the newly birthed mutant baby — a manifestation of Cold War fears about the effects of nuclear weapons on pregnancy — starts flying around the car, umbilical cord in tow. That's not a distraction you learn about in drivers' ed, but I fear they must start adding it to the curriculum.

Gnarly in all the best and most disturbing ways, the whole scene is one hell of a way to kick off a show. Can Welcome to Derry measure up with its scares in the weeks to come?

New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

There is only one acceptable reaction to the ending of IT: Welcome to Derry's first episode, and it's "What in the world just happened?"

While the entire episode is filled to the brim with horrifying scares (and Stephen King Easter eggs), its final moments deliver an unforgettable bloodbath that comes with the chilling message that no one in the show is safe. Let's break it down.

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry' review: 'IT' prequel series will scare the living daylights out of you What happens at the end of IT: Welcome to Derry episode 1? Miles Ekhardt in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: HBO

Much of Welcome to Derry's first episode focuses on uniting several of Derry's children in the search for missing kid Matty (Miles Ekhardt). There's "Loony" Lilly Bainbridge (Clara Stack), who's bullied at school over her father's gruesome death; oddball best friends Phil (Jack Legault) and Teddy (Mikkal Karim-Fidler); Phil's little sister Susie (Matilda Legault); and Ronnie (Amanda Christine), the last child to see Matty alive.

As the crew comes together, it feels like IT: Welcome to Derry is assembling its own version of the Losers Club from Stephen King's IT and the ensuing film adaptations. However, it quickly subverts that expectation by fully murdering several of these children in gruesome fashion, reminding you not to expect a straightforward rehash of IT and its own Losers Club.

SEE ALSO: The most WTF scares from 'IT: Welcome to Derry' episode 1, ranked

It all kicks off when Lilly hears Matty singing an eerie rendition of "Ya Got Trouble" from The Music Man in her shower pipes. Ronnie puts the pieces together and remembers that The Music Man was also the movie Matty snuck into on the night he disappeared. She screens The Music Man for Lilly, Phil, Teddy, and Susie at the Derry movie theater in the hopes of getting some answers.

However, as Harold Hill sings about the trouble facing River City onscreen, the kids run into some trouble of their own. Matty appears in the movie, holding a swaddled baby and flanked by the eerie family who kidnapped him at the start of the episode. As he smiles a classic Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) grin, Matty reveals that the baby he's holding is none other than the mutant winged creature from Welcome to Derry's unsettling opening sequence. He unleashes the creature — now much, much bigger — into the audience, where it tears into Phil, Teddy, and Susie. Of the five children who entered the theater, only Lilly and Ronnie make it out.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Could Phil, Teddy, or Susie still be alive? Mikkal Karim-Fidler, Clara Stack, and Jack Legault in "IT: Welcome to Derry." Credit: HBO

A rule of thumb in TV and film is that if we don't see a body, we don't have explicit confirmation that any character is actually dead. In the case of Welcome to Derry's final scene, we know that Teddy is definitely dead, as the baby rips him in half and slams him into the projection booth. It's the first on-screen kill of the show, and it's fittingly brutal (and leaves no room for doubt).

But Phil and Susie's fates are still up in the air. In Phil's case, literally up in the air, as the last we see of him is the flying baby dragging him up towards the ceiling. Later, the baby chomps down on Susie's arm, severing it from her body. From there, we get no more glimpses of the unfortunate siblings, but based on Lilly telling Ronnie, "They're all gone," it's fairly clear that the pair are dead. Even if they are alive, what's the alternative? Getting carried off to Pennywise's lair? At that point, you're as good as killer clown food.

New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Featured Video For You Why the scariest part of The Shining isn’t what you think.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Lukewarm.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

TEPID

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To contact someone.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

AHOLD

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A potato stem.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TUBER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Mickey and Minnie.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

MOUSE

Final Hurdle hint

A design often seen on a skirt.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

PLEAT

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

LAIKA, the studio behind stop-motion films like Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings, has released a first look at its upcoming film, Wildwood. From just the teaser alone, it already looks like another gorgeous, technical model.

SEE ALSO: Neon's 'Arco' trailer is the prettiest thing you'll watch today

Based on the novel by Colin Meloy, Wildwood invites viewers into a magical world just outside of Portland, Oregon, where Prue McKeel (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) must brave bandits and talking animals in a quest to save her baby brother.

The watchful guardian of Wildwood is the General (voiced by Angela Bassett), a massive golden eagle who is also a fierce warrior. In clips from the first look, the General teams up with Prue to help her on her journey.

The first look reveals the intense technical preparation that goes into bringing the General to life. Animators designed several models inspired by nature in order to perfect the General's avian movement, while designers placed 9,000 individual feathers on the General's two specialized puppets, one for flight sequences, and the other for more fine-tuned performance control. The effect is breathtaking, as is the footage of the animators crafting the General's movement.

The same goes for the rest of the concept art and footage on display in the first look, which teases an enchanted forest teeming with magic and intriguing creatures. Take a look at the full teaser above for more behind-the-scenes footage and for clips of Prue venturing into the unknown of Wildwood.

Wildwood is coming soon to theaters.

For such a beloved franchise, Looney Tunes has had a bizarrely rough go of it over the past few years.

In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery scrapped the already completed Looney Tunes film Coyote vs. Acme for a tax cut. That disheartening move managed to have a happy ending, though, as Ketchup Entertainment acquired the film in 2025, slating it for a 2026 release. Ketchup Entertainment also released The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes movie, another film Warner Bros. chose to shop around instead of releasing itself.

SEE ALSO: Shelved 'Coyote vs. Acme' will finally get a theatrical release

Warner Bros. continued its efforts to distance itself from Looney Tunes in March of 2025, when it yanked the entire classic Looney Tunes shorts library from HBO Max. However, in August, the free, ad-supported streamer Tubi acquired 789 of those pulled Looney Tunes shorts. (Warner Bros. Discovery chose to keep about 200 in the vault due to depictions of offensive stereotypes.) In the two months since the Looney Tunes acquisition, Tubi has reaped the rewards.

As Tubi's head of acquisitions, Samuel Harowitz, told Vulture, "On its own, Looney Tunes is a huge win for us."

Since its arrival on Tubi, Looney Tunes has landed in the streamer's top 10 best-performing series by viewing time. Originally released theatrically, the classic shorts have been repackaged into 30-minute episodes, with Tubi's ad breaks occurring between each short. The goal? Recreating the experience of watching classic cartoons on TV.

"In my mind, AVOD [ad-supported video on demand] and FAST [free ad-supported streaming TV] is ad-supported TV in a different candy wrapper," Harowitz told Vulture. "I get to experience it through the eyes of my kids but also evoke the same emotional response I remember as an 8-year-old sitting in front of a CRT Toshiba TV."

Tubi hopes to keep up the momentum of Looney Tunes' success. "We are in active negotiations to ensure that Tubi can be the home of Looney Tunes for quite a while. Likely years," Harowitz told Vulture.

Tubi's attention to Looney Tunes is just one part of its focus on classic cartoons. Its library also includes Tom and Jerry, The Pink Panther, Popeye the Sailor, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, making it the closest streaming equivalent to the Saturday morning cartoon feel.

Looney Tunes is now streaming on Tubi.

Blumhouse Productions continues to add to its horror empire, securing the rights to the hit Boom! Studios' comic series Something Is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera.

SEE ALSO: What to watch: Best scary movies

The series follows monster hunter Erica Slaughter, who can see monsters that adults can't. As Something Is Killing the Children kicks off, she heads to Archer's Peak, Wisconsin, where frightening creatures are devouring the small town's children. The comics have sold over five million copies globally and won multiple Eisner Awards since launch.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Blumhouse picked up the rights to Something Is Killing the Children after a bidding war that also involved companies like Lionsgate and Netflix. Netflix was originally slated to adapt the series for TV, with The Haunting of Hill House's Mike Flanagan and Tracy Major attached. After they stepped away, Dark showrunners Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese were set to develop the series. However, Netflix passed on the project in late 2024.

Blumhouse plans to adapt Something Is Killing the Children into a live-action feature film and an adult animated series. Tynion will direct the TV series, and artist Dell'Edera will co-executive produce.

With Something Is Killing the Children, Blumhouse looks to continue its hot streak of horror adaptations. Its 2021 adaptation of Joe Hill's 2004 short story The Black Phone was a box office success, while its adaptation of the smash video game Five Nights at Freddy's became its highest-grossing movie yet.

TL;DR: Live stream Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL for free on Channel 5. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL continues with a number of fascinating matchups this weekend, but Eagles vs. Giants might be the best of the bunch. The Eagles will be expected to win this contest, but the Giants did beat the Eagles earlier in October. Could they repeat that stunning performance?

If you want to watch Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Eagles vs. Giants?

Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL starts at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Eagles vs. Giants for free

Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL is available to live stream for free on Channel 5.

Channel 5 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 5 from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: Get Paramount+ for half price just in time for NFL Sundays

Live stream Eagles vs. Giants for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 5

5. Live stream Eagles vs. Giants for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Channel 5?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 5, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free on 5Action. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL action continues this week with Broncos vs. Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys have been inconsistent so far this season. The Denver Broncos, on the other hand, come into this hotly-anticipated contest with a 5-2 record. Can they continue to build momentum with a victory over the Cowboys?

If you want to watch Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Broncos vs. Cowboys?

Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL starts at 3:25 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Empower Field at Mile High.

How to watch Broncos vs. Cowboys for free

Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 5Action.

5Action is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock 5Action from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: Get Paramount+ for half price just in time for NFL Sundays

Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit 5Action

5. Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 5Action?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 5Action, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

There are a number of really interesting NFL matchups taking place this weekend, including Ravens vs. Bears. The Baltimore Ravens are really struggling this campaign, and it's not going to be easy to turn things around against the 4-2 Chicago Bears.

If you want to watch Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ravens vs. Bears?

Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL starts at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the M&T Bank Stadium.

How to watch Ravens vs. Bears for free

Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Ravens vs. Bears for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Ravens vs. Bears for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for TVNZ+?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TVNZ+, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

This NFL campaign has not been going well for the New Orleans Saints. They go into their contest with the Buccaneers sporting a 1-6 record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on the other hand, are building some credible momentum at 5-2.

If you want to watch Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Saints vs. Buccaneers?

Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL starts at 3:05 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Caesars Superdome.

How to watch Saints vs. Buccaneers for free

Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL has a number of really interesting matchups this week, including Panthers vs. Bills. Both sides come into this matchup with positive records, but all eyes will be on the Buffalo Bills as they look to bounce back after two losses.

If you want to watch Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Panthers vs. Bills?

Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL starts at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Bank of America Stadium.

How to watch Panthers vs. Bills for free

Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Panthers vs. Bills for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Panthers vs. Bills for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

Shopping for an Internet Service Provider is rough. There are only a handful in any given area, and some folks in rural zones have as few as one. While choice is often limited in this space, there are still options, and it’s always worth knowing how your ISP stacks up against its competition. In particular, we know that most people are concerned about speed, so we set out to find the fastest ISPs of 2025, based on Ookla speed tests.

Ookla measures the speed and quality of internet connections and releases regular reports ranking the top ISPs in the United States. (Disclosure: Ookla and Mashable are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.) Millions of individual speed tests go into these scores, with some ISPs being tested more than 25 million times in the United States alone.

The most recent speed test report — which also included mobile carriers — sized up ISPs on a variety of factors, including speed, consistency, and availability. While T-Mobile took most of the trophies on the mobile carrier side of things, the same happened with ISPs, except this time it was AT&T Fiber that seemed to be stomping the market.

Keep in mind that some regional ISPs, like Wide Open West or Windstream, aren't included in the latest Ookla report, but you can still perform speed tests of your own to see how your provider compares to the top national providers.

This weekend, HBO Max will premiere the first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry. This prequel series from Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, the brother-sister duo behind IT and IT: Chapter Two will give audiences gnarly new tales involving Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the cursed town of Derry. Now, fans of the hard-R-rated horror movies starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise might think they know what to expect from this new show. Cool, cool, cool. You're wrong. 

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry' review: 'IT' prequel series will scare the living daylights out of you

Mashable's Entertainment team has been thoroughly gagged — in both ways — by IT: Welcome to Derry, which builds upon three interludes from Stephen King's novel IT. And while we won't share spoilers of the horrors about to unfold, we do want to give you a simple warning:

Don't plan to eat while watching the premiere episode of IT: Welcome to Derry.

Look, you might think you're too deep into horror, too big a King fan, too staunch in stomach to get it churned by a TV show. But first off, to quote an old but true motto, "It's not TV. It's HBO."

This is the network that gave us the corpsicle of True Detective: Night Country and the absolutely harrowing second season of The Last of Us. HBO originally stood for Home Box Office, but it could stand for Horror Bloody Outrageous. 

As teased in Belen Edwards' review, IT: Welcome to Derry doesn't pull any punches when it comes to its grisly set pieces. And the first episode offers several absolutely gruesome sequences. So, do yourself a favor: Eat or snack well before you sit down for this deranged debut. 

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry's shocking episode 1 ending, explained

Beyond the stomach-churningness of it all, there's a lot of setup in this first episode you won't want to miss. And then there are moments so shocking and twisted you won't believe your eyes. So set aside the popcorn. Avoid anything red or bloody. Hey, maybe even avoid Cracker Jacks. Trust us.

There are some TV shows, like True Detective and Alien: Earth, that demand your full attention on a full stomach. Because otherwise, it's gonna be a rough night. 

IT: Welcome to Derry debuts on Sunday, October 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, and will be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly.

Featured Video For You Why the scariest part of The Shining isn’t what you think.

We’re five days into the new lunar cycle, and each night the moon grows a little brighter. There are still a few nights to go before it’s full, but there's plenty you can see in the meantime.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Oct. 26, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. There will be 21% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mare Crisium and the Mare Fecunditatis. Add in a pair of binoculars or a telescope and you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater. Positionally, these will be visible on the right side of the moon now. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, it'll be the left side.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5. What are moon phases?

The Moon follows a continuous cycle that lasts about 29.5 days as it travels around Earth. These shifts occur because the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are always changing relative to one another. From Earth, we might see the Moon as full, partly lit, or completely dark, but the same side always faces us. What varies each night is how much sunlight reaches and reflects off its surface.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

You can do better than the camera on your smartphone. Yes it's true that most people have taken on a sort of amateur photographer status, always ready to memorise a moment with their hi-res camera phone. We're in the age of social media and sharing pictures, after all. But real photography demands real equipment. And what better way to get stuck into the world of photography than with a mirrorless camera?

Maybe you’re a camera newbie, or you’re looking to make the jump from a DSLR model? Perhaps you’re already a mirrorless devotee looking for a much-needed upgrade? Either way, mirrorless is the latest word in digital photography technology.

Knowing where to start is particularly hard for photography beginners, with all the jargon, specifications, and brand names to figure. But we can help bring things into focus and, well, put you in the picture. Here's some useful information and a round-up of the best mirrorless cameras available right now.

What is a mirrorless camera?

The clue’s in the title, though we appreciate that doesn’t make it any easier to understand. DSLR cameras reflect images into the camera’s viewfinder via a mirror, which is placed between the lens and the camera sensor. But mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is an LCD monitor on the back on the camera body. Light goes into the lens and is digitally converted and displayed on the monitor.

Is mirrorless better than DSLR?

Mirrorless cameras — which are sometimes called hybrid cameras — have overtaken DSLR cameras as the most popular choice for photographers. The biggest selling point is that mirrorless cameras are lighter and much less clunky. They’re far easier to take on your travels and generally carry around. But that's not all they're good for. Here are some other great mirrorless camera features:

EVP Monitor — The monitor allows you to easily frame your subject in “live view” and access features via touchscreen. These monitors are often “vari-angle”, meaning they articulate outwards and in all directions, which is great for framing selfies.

IBIS — That’s the technical term for in-body image stabilisation. This essentially stabilises the sensor so you can shoot handheld, without needing a tripod or gimbal. Not all mirrorless cameras have IBIS but it’s increasingly common.

Autofocus — This is a standard camera feature but often clunkier in DSLRs. Mirrorless cameras can have very advanced autofocus that tracks faces and eyes or fast-moving objects. You may be able to refocus with a quick tap of the touchscreen.

4K Video — OK, so it’s not only mirrorless that shoots video. Some DSLR shoot video too, but mirrorless are geared towards better video performance and features. Shooting in 4K sometimes crops the image (it depends on how advanced the camera is) though you can also find mirrorless cameras that have 6K-8K quality resolution.

Other features, though not exclusive to mirrorless, include WiFi and Bluetooth, app support, and fast burst speed rates (measured in frames per second — fps).

How are the drawbacks of mirrorless cameras?

There are always pros and cons. Due to the reduced size, mirrorless battery power isn’t always as good as DSLR cameras, and mirrorless cameras do tend to be more expensive. Another common complaint is that because the technology is newer, there are fewer lens and accessory options. But that’s a temporary issue.

How much does a mirrorless camera cost?

We won’t lie to you. They’re not exactly cheap. The lowest priced camera on this list is around £500 and they can easily cost thousands of pounds. Even beginners can expect to spend somewhere around the £500 mark. The photography game is pricey.

What is the best mirrorless camera?

That’s a question only you can answer, because every photographer is different. Whether you’re a beginner, enthusiast, or professional, there’s a camera that’s just right for you — but it might not suit the photographer next to you. Because just like the actual photos, no two photographers are the same. But we can help you find the best mirrorless camera for you by pointing you toward some impressive models and putting them in (auto)focus. The choice is yours. We're just trying to give you a clear picture.

These are the best mirrorless cameras in 2025.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you understand basketball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Roster of players

• Green: East coast college teams

• Blue: Power swing

• Purple: Teams that spelled like other teams

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Club

• Green: ACC Teams

• Blue: Hit Hard, Like a Baseball

• Purple: Pro Team Names That End In Another Pro Team Name

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #398 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Club - GROUP, SIDE, SQUAD, TEAM

• ACC Teams - DEMON DEACONS, EAGLES, HURRICANES, WOLFPACK

• Hit Hard, Like a Baseball - BELT, CLUB, MASH, WALLOP

• Pro Team Names That End In Another Pro Team Name - HORNETS, RED WINGS, SEAHAWKS, VIKINGS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Happy Friday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 18, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 18, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 26 Pips

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add to 17. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 26 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (22): Everything in this space must add to 22. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 26 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this green space must add to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.