The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition might be tough. The blue category is about a backyard game that I just don't think of as a true sport, and the purple category is one of those patented NYT word-trickery groups. Read on for hints and the answers.

We'll start off with some clues, before building up to the full answer for Strands #484, so read on if you need a little help. Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Strands #484. The official theme for NYT Strands #484