Sports in the United States are an important part of the nation's culture. Historically, the national sport has been baseball.
However, in more recent decades, American football has been the most popular sport in terms of broadcast viewership audience. Basketball has grown into the mainstream American sports scene since the 1980s, with ice hockey and soccer doing the same around the turn of the 21st century.
These sports comprise the "Big Five". In the first half of the 20th century, boxing and collegiate football were among the most popular sports after baseball. Golf, tennis, and collegiate basketball are other spectator sports with longstanding popularity. Tennis is currently considered to be the sixth most popular sport in the United States. Most recently, mixed martial arts has been breaking records in attendance and broadcast viewership for all combat sports.
Based on revenue, the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada are the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS). At $16 billion in revenue, the NFL is the largest league in the world.
The market for professional sports in the United States is about $69 billion, roughly 50% larger than that of all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa combined. All these leagues enjoy wide-ranging domestic media coverage and, except for Major League Soccer, all are considered the preeminent leagues in their respective sports in the world. Although American football does not have a substantial following in other nations, the NFL does have the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world. MLB has the second highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. followed by MLS, the NBA, and the NHL. Of these five U.S.-based leagues, all but the NFL have at least one team in Canada.
Professional teams in all major sports in the United States operate as franchises within a league, meaning that a team may move to a different city if the team's owners believe there would be a financial benefit, but franchise moves are usually subject to some form of league-level approval. All major sports leagues use a similar type of regular-season schedule with a post-season playoff tournament. In addition to the major league–level organizations, several sports also have professional minor leagues, active in smaller cities across the country.
As in Canada and Australia, sports leagues in the United States do not practice promotion and relegation, unlike most sports leagues in Europe. Another notable distinction is that most sports fans in the United States tend to follow more than one team sport, depending on the time of year, unlike the case in many parts of the world where fans might avidly follow only one team sport such as soccer or baseball. Thus, it is possible for a U.S. sports fan who follows multiple sports to spend practically every single day of the year watching professional sports, since there is no time of year when all the Big Five leagues would be off-season.
Sports are particularly associated with education in the United States, with most high schools and universities having organized sports, and this is a unique sporting footprint for the U.S. College sports competitions play an important role in the American sporting culture, and college basketball and college football are more popular than professional sports in some parts of the country. The major sanctioning body for college sports is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Colleges collectively receive billions of dollars from TV deals, sponsorships, and ticket sales. In 2019, the total revenue generated by NCAA athletic departments added up to $18.9 billion.
Based on Olympic Games, World Championships, and other major competitions in respective sports, the United States is the most successful nation in the world in baseball, basketball, athletics, swimming, lacrosse, beach volleyball, figure skating, tennis, golf, boxing, diving, shooting, rowing and snowboarding, and is all time one of the top five most successful nations in ice hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, volleyball, speed skating, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, equestrian, sailing, cycling, weightlifting and archery, among others. This makes the United States the most successful sports nation in the world. The United States has been referred to by some as the Hegemon of World Sports. The United States has placed first in the Summer Olympic medal table 19 times out of 30 Summer Olympics and 29 appearances. Unlike most other nations, the United States government does not provide funding for sports nor for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
History
Main article: History of sports in the United States
A Grand entry at the 2018 Boswell FFA Rodeo in Boswell, Oklahoma.
American football, indoor American football, baseball, softball, and indoor soccer evolved out of older British (Rugby football, British baseball, Rounders, and association football) sports.[17] However, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, racquetball, pickleball, skateboarding, snowboarding, Ultimate, wind-surfing, and Water Skiing are fully American inventions,[17] some of which have become popular in other countries and worldwide.[18]
Up until the American Civil War, cricket was a somewhat popular sport in the United States, with presidents such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln having played or watched the game.[19][20] However, cricket at the time was a sport played over several days, and during the Civil War, troops preferred to play the newly rising game of baseball, which was much shorter in duration and did not require a special playing surface to be played.
Olympics
Main article: United States at the Olympics
Michael Phelps celebrates after winning his eighth gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics
Francis Olympic Field of Washington University in St. Louis, site of the 1904 Olympic Games
American athletes have won a total of 2,764 medals (1,105 of them gold) at the Summer Olympic Games and another 330 (114 of them gold) at the Winter Olympic Games, making the United States the most prolific medal-winning nation in the history of the Olympics. The U.S. is ranked first in the all-time medal table even if all the incarnations of Russia and Germany are combined, leading the second-placed Russians by 430 gold and 957 total medals. These achievements are even more impressive considering the fact that the American Olympic team remains the only in the world to receive no government funding.
The United States hosted both Summer and Winter Games in 1932, and has hosted more Games than any other country – eight times, four times each for the Summer and Winter Games:
The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, 1932 Summer Olympics and 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta;
The 1932 Winter Olympics and 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York; the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California; and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics for a third time in 2028. Salt Lake City will host the Winter Olympics for a second time in 2034, marking the tenth Olympics hosted in the United States.
The United States has won the most gold and overall medals in the Summer Olympic Games, even if the medal totals of the Soviet Union/CIS and Russia are combined, and has topped the medal table 19 times.[25] The country has won the second most gold and overall medals in the Winter Olympic Games, behind Norway, but has topped the medal table only one time, in 1932. If all of Germany's and Russia's incarnations are combined, the United States slips to fourth in the all-time Winter Olympic Games tables.
Jack Nicklaus is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, winning a total of 18 career major championships.
Mickey Wright, often regarded as one of the most dominant players in the history of women's golf
Golf is one of the most popular participation sports in the United States, with approximately 24 million people playing golf on a regular basis as of 2023.[26] Golf's origins can be traced back to 15th century Scotland, where players would hit a pebble around sandy dunes using a stick or primitive club. The game has evolved over centuries into the version played today, which involves hitting a small, dimpled ball into each hole on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Main article: Golf in the United States
Introduced to America in the late 19th century, it quickly gained favor among the upper class. The United States Golf Association was founded in 1894 to establish rules. Iconic courses like Augusta National and Pebble Beach have hosted legendary tournaments.
Key U.S. golf events include The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Ryder Cup. Legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have left a lasting mark on the sport, while talents such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory Mcllroy continue to shine.
Golf is now more accessible across demographics, offering a blend of relaxation and mental challenge. Advancements in equipment and training ensure its continued evolution.
Since the 1970s, the landscape of golf in the United States has seen significant advancements, particularly in the recognition of female players. This has been highlighted by increased support for women's golf programs, the expansion of women's tournaments, and greater representation of female golfers at all levels of the sport.[27]
In 2020, nearly 25 million people or around 8% of the total population of the U.S., played golf on a golf course in the United States, according to the National Golf Foundation.
Boxing
Main article: Boxing in the United States
Claressa Shields, professional boxer and professional mixed martial artist.
The United States became the center of professional boxing in the early 20th century.[29] The National Boxing Association was founded in 1921 and began to sanction title fights. Joe Louis was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, and is widely considered to be the one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time.[30][31][32][33] Louis is widely regarded as the first person of African-American descent to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States, and was also a focal point of anti-Nazi sentiment leading up to and during World War II.[34] Since the late 1990s, boxing has declined in popularity.
As of 2021, boxing participation in the United States reached approximately 6.7 million people, indicating a robust growth in the sport's popularity.[38]
Popular team sports
Main article: Professional sports leagues in the United States
Overview
The most popular team sports in the United States are American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer. All five of these team sports are popular with fans, are widely watched on television, have a fully professional league, are played by millions of Americans, enjoy varsity status at many Division I colleges, and are played in high schools throughout the country.
Location of the franchises (teams) of the big five leagues in United States and Canada.
Sport Favorite
sport[39] TV viewing
record
(since 2010)1 Major
professional
league Participants
(millions)[40] NCAA DI Teams
(men + women) States
(HS)2
Football 37% 114.4 million NFL 8.9 million 249 (249M + 0W) 51
Basketball 11% 30.8 million NBA 30.3 million 698 (351M + 349W) 51
Baseball 9% 40.0 million MLB 19.1 million 589 (298M + 291W) 49
Soccer 7% 29.3 million MLS 19.6 million 531 (205M + 332W) 51
Ice hockey 4% 43.6 million NHL 3.1 million 102 (61M + 41W) 20
TV viewing record measures the game with the most TV viewers in the U.S. since 2005 for each sport: 2015 Super Bowl,[41] 2016 NBA Finals Game 7,[42] 2016 World Series Game 7,[43] 2014 FIFA World Cup Final,[44] and 2010 Winter Olympics Gold medal ice hockey game.[45]
The column titled "States (HS)" represents the number of states that sponsor the sport at the high school level. For the purpose of this table, Washington, D.C. is counted as a state.[46]
The five most popular sports teams on Instagram from the United States as of June 14, 2023:[47]
# Team Sport Followers
1 Golden State Warriors Basketball 30.6 million
2 Los Angeles Lakers Basketball 22.8 million
3 Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball 15.7 million
4 Chicago Bulls Basketball 9.7 million
5 Inter Miami Soccer 8 million
American football
Main article: American football in the United States
The NFL's New England Patriots vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cowboys playing against the Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
Football has the most participants of any sport at both high school and college levels, the vast majority of its participants being male.[48][49]
The NFL has the highest average attendance (67,591) of any professional sports league in the world and has the highest revenue[50] out of any single professional sports league.[51] The NFL has two conferences, the AFC and the NFC. The AFC has 4 divisions (AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, and AFC West). The NFC also has 4 divisions (NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, and NFC West.) Each division has 4 teams, with a total of 32 teams in the NFL.[52]
Millions watch college football throughout the fall months, and some communities, particularly in rural areas, place great emphasis on their local high school football teams. The popularity of college and high school football in areas such as the Southern United States (Southeastern Conference) and the Great Plains (Big 12 Conference and Big Ten Conference) stems largely from the fact that these areas historically generally did not possess markets large enough for a professional team.[53] Nonetheless, college football has a rich history in the United States, predating the NFL by decades, and fans and alumni are generally very passionate about their teams.
Baseball
Main article: Baseball in the United States
Babe Ruth, circa 1920. He achieved his greatest fame as a home run batter for the New York Yankees
Ted Williams, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history
Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees centerfielder, in 1953.
Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era.
Baseball and a variant, softball, are popular participatory sports in the U.S. Baseball was the first professional sport in the United States.[54][55][56] The highest level of baseball in the U.S. and the world is Major League Baseball. There are a total of 30 MLB teams. The World Series of Major League Baseball is the culmination of the sport's postseason each October. It is played between the winner of each of the two leagues, the American League and the National League, and the winner is determined through a best-of-seven playoff.
The New York Yankees are noted for having won more titles than any other U.S. major professional sports franchise. The Yankees' chief rivals, the Boston Red Sox, also enjoy a huge following in Boston and throughout New England. The Philadelphia Phillies of the National League are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports,[57] and enjoy a fanbase renowned for their rabid support of their team throughout Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, and have famously been dubbed as the "Meanest Fans in America".[58]
Every four years in March, the World Baseball Classic is held, which is the national team game, the most popular baseball national team game.[59]
Basketball
Main article: Basketball in the United States
Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson 1997
Many players and analysts have called Stephen Curry the greatest shooter in NBA history.[60]
Sue Bird, a member of the All-Decade and Top 15 teams from the WNBA.
Of those Americans citing their favorite sport, basketball is ranked second (counting amateur levels) behind football.[61] However, in regards to revenue the NBA is ranked third in popularity.[62] More Americans play basketball than any other team sport, according to the National Sporting Goods Association, with over 26 million Americans playing basketball. Basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian physical education teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world's premier professional basketball league[63] and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. It contains 30 teams (29 teams in the U.S. and 1 in Canada) that play an 82-game season from October to June. After the regular season, eight teams from each conference compete in the playoffs for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
In high school basketball, Indiana has 10 of the 12 largest high school gyms in the United States,[64] and is famous for its basketball passion, known as Hoosier Hysteria.
Professional basketball is most followed in cities where there are no other sports teams in the four major professional leagues, such as in the case of the Oklahoma City Thunder,[65] the Sacramento Kings, the San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies, or the Portland Trail Blazers.
Soccer
Main article: Soccer in the United States
Landon Donovan representing the U.S. at the 2010 World Cup.
Carlos Bocanegra with the United States men's national soccer team in 2010.
Mia Hamm takes a corner kick
With an average attendance of over 21,000 per game (prior to COVID-19), Major League Soccer has the third-highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. after the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB),[66] and is the ninth-highest attended professional soccer league worldwide.[67]
The NWSL is expected to expand to 14 teams in 2024 and 15 shortly thereafter.[68]
The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) is a North American professional indoor soccer league. MASL is the highest level of arena soccer in the North America and the world.[69]
Ice hockey
Main article: Ice hockey in the United States
Left: The Blackhawks have donned Camouflage practice jerseys for Veterans Day to show support for servicemen since 2009.
Right: The New York Rangers attempt to distract during the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. The playoff series was the fifth to feature the Devils–Rangers rivalry.
The U.S. now has more youth hockey players than all other countries, excluding Canada, combined.[70] USA Hockey is the official governing body for organized ice hockey in the United States. The United States Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Eveleth, Minnesota.
The U.S.-based National Hockey League is the premier hockey league in the world. Historically, the vast majority of NHL players had come from Canada, with a small number of Americans. As late as 1969–70, Canadian players made up 95 percent of the league.[70]
However, the modern NHL has a much larger percentage of American players. At the start of the 2023–24 NHL season, American players made up 29.1 percent of the league, compared to 41.7 percent from Canada and 29.2 percent from various European countries.[71]
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