How to play Strands: Sports Edition, step-by-step

Strands: Sports Edition is a new daily game from The Athletic that offers an engaging puzzling experience. It is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by gamers of all skill levels. To get started, you will be presented with a 48-letter grid arranged in six columns and eight rows. Your task is to form words, some of which will reveal the puzzle's theme terms.

One special term, called the "spangram," should touch opposite sides of the board. When you find all the theme terms, they will use all 48 letters exactly once, and you will have won the game.

When you first see the Hint button, it will be grayed out. Clicking on the question mark in the upper right-hand corner will provide you with game instructions and feedback submission options. Words in Strands: Sports Edition are made up of adjacent letters, and you can form them by dragging your finger or tapping each letter individually. Submitting a word will either give you hints or reveal a thematic answer.

Theme terms can be single words or short phrases and may even include proper names. Spelling is crucial, so make sure you have the correct letters in the correct order, especially when entering names. Theme terms may also cross themselves, which can make puzzles more challenging. The spangram, a special term, must touch opposite sides of the board and will describe the puzzle's theme. Finding theme terms and the spangram will help you progress in the game and improve your word-searching skills.