Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (Puzzle #717). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Cold competition"
What It Really Means
Today's theme centers on winter sports, athletic events and activities that take place in cold weather or on snow and ice.
Think About...
- Olympic events held in winter months
- Sports requiring snow, ice, or freezing temperatures
- Activities associated with ski resorts or winter festivals
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonal, down and across
Letter Count: 12 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The category that encompasses all today's theme words
Hint 2 (Warmer): Athletic activities specifically associated with winter conditions
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is W, last letter is S
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WINTERSPORTS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A high-speed sled sport
Closer: Competitors lie on their backs on a small sled
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 4 letters total
Answer
LUGE
Word 2
Vague: A team sport played on ice
Closer: Involves sticks, a puck, and goals
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 6 letters total
Answer
HOCKEY
Word 3
Vague: A precision sport on ice
Closer: Players slide stones toward a target area
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 7 letters total
Answer
CURLING
Word 4
Vague: A gravity-powered sled sport
Closer: Teams race down an icy track in a streamlined sled
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 7 letters total
Answer
BOBSLED
Word 5
Vague: A board sport on snow
Closer: Similar to skiing but with a single board attached to both feet
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 12 letters total
Answer
SNOWBOARDING
Full Answers
Spangram: WINTERSPORTS
Theme Words:
- LUGE
- HOCKEY
- CURLING
- BOBSLED
- SNOWBOARDING
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: CURLING (Some solvers might not immediately recognize it as a winter sport, or might think of hair styling instead)
Our Take: A straightforward winter sports theme that's seasonally appropriate for February. The spangram "WINTERSPORTS" cleanly ties everything together. The word selection covers a good mix of well-known and slightly more niche winter activities, providing a balanced challenge for most players.
