List of professional sports leagues

Last updated

This is a list of professional sports leagues.

A sports league is a professional body that governs the competition of its teams.[ clarification needed ] They make the rules for competition and behavior and disciplines its members as necessary. This is done through a structure that varies by league. Some are made up of a board of governors that have a commissioner or president, while others are single entity organizations where the league owns the franchises and therefore does not have a board of governors.[ clarification needed ]

Contents

This list attempts to show those sports leagues for which all players and teams are paid to play. In other words, these players can be considered to play their chosen sport as their profession. Some leagues do not pay well enough to allow players to use them as their primary or only source of income, but because the players are paid, it is still considered professional, or semi-professional. As such, some leagues listed here may not be fully professional.

Badminton

Flag of England.svg England

Flag of India.svg India

Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia

Baseball/softball

Northern Hemisphere Summer

Americas

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States and Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada

Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico

Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba

Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic

Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina

Asia-Pacific

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China

Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan

Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines

Europe

Flag of Europe.svg  Europe

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic

Flag of France.svg  France

  • Division Élite (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)

Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden

Flag of Poland.svg  Poland

Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

  • Turkish Baseball League (semi-professional)

Northern Hemisphere Winter

Americas

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina

Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia

Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao

Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic

Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico

Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua

Flag of Panama.svg  Panama

Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Asia-Pacific

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia and Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan , Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea and Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan

Softball

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

Basketball

Bowling

Bull riding

Chess

Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines

Combat sports: Boxing

Major promotions

Major sanctioning bodies

Flag of India.svg  India

Combat sports: Fencing

Combat sports: Kickboxing

Combat sports: Mixed martial arts

Combat sports: Professional wrestling

Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Japan.svg Japan
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Cricket

Africa

Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa

Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe

North America

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada

Flag of the United States.svg United States

WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg West Indies

Asia

Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan

Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh

Flag of India.svg India

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka

Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal

Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates

Europe

Flag of England.svg England

Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland


Oceania

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand

Curling

Cycling

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Flag of India.svg India

Flag of Italy.svg Italy

Competitive eating

Football: Association football

Beach soccer

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

Futsal

Flag of Austria.svg Austria

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina

Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus

Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil

Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China

Flag of Germany.svg Germany

Flag of France.svg France

Flag of India.svg  India

Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia

Flag of Israel.svg  Israel

Flag of Iran.svg  Iran

Flag of Italy.svg Italy

Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia

Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia

Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar

Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea

Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia

Flag of Poland.svg Poland

Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal

Flag of Spain.svg Spain

Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland

Flag of Russia.svg Russia

Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

Indoor soccer

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Football: Australian rules football

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

International

Football: Gridiron football

Includes American and Canadian Football and their variants.

Americas

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada

Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico

Europe

Flag of Europe.svg Europe

Flag of Austria.svg Austria

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium

Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic

Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark

Flag of Finland.svg Finland

Flag of France.svg France

Flag of Germany.svg Germany

Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary

Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland

Flag of Israel.svg Israel

Flag of Italy.svg Italy

Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands

Flag of Poland.svg Poland

Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal

Flag of Russia.svg Russia

Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia

  • Slovak Football League

Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia

Flag of Spain.svg Spain

Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland

Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK

Asia

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China

Flag of India.svg  India

Flag of Japan.svg Japan

Oceania

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Football: Rugby football

Rugby league

Americas

Europe

Oceania

Rugby union

Intercontinental

Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Pro clubs in an amateur league

Golf

Men's

Top-level tours

Senior tours

Developmental tours

Women's

Top-level tours

Senior tours

Developmental tours

  • Epson Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the LPGA)
  • Ladies European Tour Access Series, LETAS, [23] the official feeder tour to the Ladies European Tour, has been formed to give players not part of a major tour an opportunity to compete and progress on to the Ladies European Tour.
  • Step Up Tour (second-tier Japanese tour, operated by the LPGA of Japan)
  • Swedish Golf Tour (women's version is a second-tier tour in Sweden, feeding to the Ladies European Tour)

Handball

Hockey: Bandy

Flag of Finland.svg  Finland

Flag of Russia.svg Russia

Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden

Hockey: Field hockey

Asia

Europe

Australia

Hockey: Ice hockey

North America

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada and Flag of the United States.svg United States

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada only

Flag of the United States.svg United States only

Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico

Asia

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan, Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea, and Flag of Russia.svg  Russia

Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan

Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia

Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China

Flag of Israel.svg  Israel

Europe

Flag of Austria.svg  Austria, Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia, Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia, Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary, Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, and Flag of Italy.svg Italy

Flag of Austria.svg  Austria, Flag of Italy.svg  Italy, and Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia

Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium, Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus

Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria

Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Ireland.svg

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic

Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia

Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia

Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark

Flag of France.svg France

Flag of Finland.svg  Finland

Flag of Germany.svg Germany

Flag of Austria.svg  Austria, Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary and Flag of Romania.svg  Romania

Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia

Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania

Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia

Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands and Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Flag of Poland.svg Poland

Flag of Romania.svg Romania

Flag of Russia.svg Russia, Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus, Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China, Flag of Finland.svg  Finland, Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan, Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia, and Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia

Flag of Russia.svg Russia only

Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia, Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary

Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland

Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom (Flag of England.svg England, Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland, Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales, and Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland)

Oceania

Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand

Hockey: Indoor

Hockey: on skates

Inline hockey

Roller hockey (quad)/Rink hockey

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

Kabaddi

International Tournaments

Kabaddi Leagues

Kho kho

Korfball

Lacrosse

Box / Indoor lacrosse

Flag of the United States.svg United States and Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada

Field lacrosse

Netball

Pesäpallo

Flag of Finland.svg  Finland:

Shooting

Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

Racing: Automobile

Racing: Motorcycle

Speedway

Racquetball

Roll Ball

Flag of India.svg  India

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Flag of Europe.svg  European Union

Snooker

Table tennis

Tennis

Asia

Flag of India.svg  India

Track and field

Ultimate

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Video gaming/Electronic sports

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Asia

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China

Flag of India.svg  India

Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea

Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan/Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong/Flag of Macau.svg  Macau

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines

Southeast Asia

Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey

Multiple regions

Volleyball

Water polo

See also

Related Research Articles

1975 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

1989 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

1985 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

In sports, a three-peat is winning three consecutive championships or tournaments. The term, a portmanteau of the words three and repeat, originated with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, during their unsuccessful campaign for a third consecutive championship during the 1988–89 season, having won the previous 2 NBA finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Championship</span> Index of articles associated with the same name

A European Championship is the top level international sports competition between European athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs.

2007 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

CCTV-5, also known as the Sports Channel, part of the China Central Television family of networks, is the main sports broadcaster in the People's Republic of China. CCTV-5 began broadcasting on 1 January 1995. CCTV-5 now broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teledeporte</span> Public Spanish sports television network

Teledeporte (TDP) is a Spanish free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Televisión Española (TVE), the television division of state-owned public broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). It is the corporation's sports television channel, and is known for live broadcast of major Spanish and international sporting events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Europe</span>

Sport in Europe tends to be highly organized with many sports having professional leagues. The origins of many of the world's most popular sports today lie in the codification of many traditional games, especially in the United Kingdom. However, a paradoxical feature of European sport is the extent to which local, regional and national variations continue to exist, and even in some instances to predominate.

Sport in Croatia has significant role in Croatian culture, and many local sports clubs as well as the Croatian national squads enjoy strong followings in the country. The most enduring sport by far in Croatia is football, and is played on amateur and professional levels amongst all age groups across the entire country. Several other major team sports are handball, basketball and water polo, with clubs in all parts of Croatia. Ice hockey is another popular team sport, namely in the Croatian interior. The most popular individual sports in Croatia are tennis, alpine skiing, and swimming, and to some extent table tennis and chess. Various amateur sport games are popular in Croatia, notably picigin.

ESPN is the Brazilian division of ESPN Inc. Launched in March 1989 as Canal+, it was the first country-specific version of ESPN outside the United States, launched in June 1995. The channel has covered major sporting events, like the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics; the 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Pan-American Games. High ratings and prestige in the segment have been marks of the channel; it also won the APCA award twice, in 1995 for "Best Sports Programming" and in 1998 for "Best Coverage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup".

Sports in Portugal are important in Portuguese culture. High-profile, successful competitive athleticism and sportsmanship in Portugal can be traced back to the time of Ancient Rome. Gaius Appuleius Diocles was a noteworthy charioteer born in Lamego who became one of the most celebrated athletes in ancient history. He is often cited as the highest-paid athlete of all time. Football is the most popular sport in Portugal. Other than football, many other professional or semi-professional well organized sport competitions take place every season in Portugal, including basketball, swimming, athletics, tennis, gymnastics, futsal, rink hockey, team handball, volleyball, surfing, canoeing and rugby union championships among the hundreds of sports played in this country.

The Super League is the first tier of the British rugby league system.

2014 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions.

ESPN Caribbean is the local division of ESPN Inc., that broadcasts in most Caribbean countries. Operated as part of the ESPN International division, the service is composed of ESPN and ESPN2; both were launched in 2007.

The North American continent is the birthplace of several organized sports, such as basketball, charrería/rodeo, gridiron football, ice hockey, jaripeo/bull riding, lacrosse, ollamaliztl, mixed martial arts (MMA), padel, pickleball, racquetball, ultimate, and volleyball. The modern versions of baseball and softball, skateboarding, snowboarding, stock car racing, and surfing also developed in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ESPN (Latin America)</span> Pay television network

ESPN Latin America is the Latin American division of ESPN Inc., and broadcasts sports-related programming for the region in Spanish. It was launched on 31 March 1989. Its programming is adapted to the likes of viewers, who tend to prefer football and Hispanic baseball players to the more locally produced programs.

References

  1. "Super Boxing League to be organised in association with WBC, PBOI". India.com. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. "Main Page - AFLwiki". Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  3. "Road Fc". Roadfc.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  4. "Top Fighting Championship". Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  5. "Enter Super Fight League - Experience Top MMA Fights". Superfightleague.com. Super Fight League.
  6. "News, Results, Photos & Video - Official Site". WWE. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. "Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Homepage". Impactwrestling.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  8. "The official website of AFL Asia". AFL-asia.com. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. 1 2 "The official website of AFL Europe". AFLeurope.org. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  10. "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. "The official website of the Women's Australian Football League". womens.AFL. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  12. "The official website of the South Australian National Football League". SANFL.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  13. "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  14. "The official website of the West Australian Football League". WAFL.com.au/. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  16. "Official Site of the National Football League". National Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  17. Merk, Carson A. "Arena Football Home Page". Arenafootball.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  18. "CFL.ca - Official site of the Canadian Football League". Archived from the original on 22 November 1996.
  19. Weinfuss, Josh (17 November 2016). "From youth to pro, American football has taken root in Mexico". ESPN. Retrieved 3 December 2016. The Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional, based in Mexico City, concluded its first season in April, and reports said attendance exceeded 5,000 fans per game for the inaugural four-team campaign.
  20. Brown, Wendy (17 July 2012). "Soldiers share football skills with German semi-pro team". United States Army . Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  21. "AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN INDIA: ELITE FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF INDIA". Bleacher Report .
  22. "Xリーグ 公式サイト". Xleague.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  23. "LET Access Series - Home Page". Letaccess.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  24. "Ultimate Table Tennis raises hope for paddlers". The Indian Express . 10 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  25. "IAAF Diamond League". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  26. "Iesl.in". Archived from the original on 5 April 2015.
  27. Ghoshal, Abhimanyu (19 January 2017). "India is getting its first major esports league". The Next Web.