List of professional sports teams in Illinois
The following is a list of current and former professional sports teams in Illinois.
Current professional sports teams
| Major professional teams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Sport | League | Founded | Note |
| Chicago Cubs | Baseball | Major League Baseball | 1875 | |
| Chicago White Sox | Baseball | Major League Baseball | 1894 | Based in Chicago since 1900 |
| Chicago Bulls | Basketball | National Basketball Association | 1966 | |
| Chicago Sky | Basketball | Women's National Basketball Association | 2005 | |
| Chicago Bears | Football | National Football League | 1919 | |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Ice hockey | National Hockey League | 1926 | |
| Chicago Hounds | Rugby union | Major League Rugby | 2022 | |
| Chicago Fire FC | Soccer | Major League Soccer | 1997 | |
| Chicago Red Stars | Soccer | National Women's Soccer League | 2007 | |
| Minor professional teams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Sport | League | Founded | Note |
| Peoria Chiefs | Baseball | Midwest League | 1983 | |
| Kane County Cougars | Baseball | American Association | 1991 | |
| Chicago Dogs | Baseball | American Association | 2018 | |
| Gateway Grizzlies | Baseball | Frontier League | 2001 | |
| Joliet Slammers | Baseball | Frontier League | 2002 | |
| Schaumburg Boomers | Baseball | Frontier League | 2012 | |
| Windy City ThunderBolts | Baseball | Frontier League | 1995 | Formerly the Cook County Cheetahs |
| Windy City Bulls | Basketball | NBA G League | 2016 | |
| Chicago Steam | Basketball | American Basketball Association
|
2008 | |
| Libertyville Vipers | Basketball | American Basketball Association | 2014 | |
| Quad City Steamwheelers | Football | Indoor Football League | 2018 | |
| Chicago Wolves | Ice hockey | American Hockey League | 1994 | |
| Rockford IceHogs | Ice hockey | American Hockey League | 1991 | |
| Bloomington Bison | Ice Hockey | ECHL | 2024 | |
| Peoria Rivermen | Ice hockey | Southern Professional Hockey League
|
2013 | |
| Quad City Storm | Ice hockey | Southern Professional Hockey League | 2009 | Founded as the Louisiana IceGators |
| Chicago Steel | Ice hockey | United States Hockey League | 2000 | |
Chicago Mustangs
|
Indoor soccer | Major Arena Soccer League 2 | 2012 | |
| Chicago Fire FC II | Soccer | MLS Next Pro | 2021 | |
| Peoria City | Soccer | USL League Two | 2020 | |
| Windy City Rollers | Roller Derby
|
Women's Flat Track Derby Association | 2005 | |
| Chicago Union | Ultimate | American Ultimate Disc League
|
2013 | Founded as Windy City Wildfire |
Former professional sports teams
| Club | Sport | League | Seasons | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington Edge | Football | United Indoor Football Indoor Football League Champions Professional Indoor Football League X-League Indoor Football Champions Indoor Football |
2006–2018 | Was known as the Bloomington Extreme from 2006 to 2011 |
| Chicago American Gears | Basketball | National Basketball League Professional Basketball League of America |
1944–1947 | |
| Chicago Bandits | Fastpitch softball | National Pro Fastpitch | 2005–2021 | |
| Chicago Blaze | Ice hockey | All American Hockey League
|
2009 | |
| Chicago Blitz | Football | United States Football League | 1983–1984 | |
| Chicago Bruisers | Football | Arena Football League | 1987–1989 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | Football | National Football League | 1898–1959 | Moved to St. Louis Cardinals, moved again to the Phoenix area and are now the Arizona Cardinals
|
| Chicago Cats | Soccer | American Soccer League
|
1975–1976 | |
| Chicago Condors | Basketball | American Basketball League | 1998 | |
| Chicago Cougars | Ice hockey | World Hockey Association | 1972–1975 | |
| Chicago Enforcers | Football | XFL | 2001 | |
| Chicago Express | Ice hockey | ECHL | 2010–2011 | |
| Chicago Fire | American football | World Football League | 1974 | |
Chicago Fire Premier
|
Soccer | USL Premier Development League | 2001–2016 | |
| Chicago Hounds | Ice hockey | United Hockey League | 2006–2007 | |
| Chicago Hustle | Basketball | Women's Professional Basketball League | 1978–1981 | |
Chicago Machine
|
Lacrosse | Major League Lacrosse | 2006–2010 | |
| Chicago Mustangs | Soccer | North American Soccer League
|
1967–1968 | |
Chicago Zephyrs
|
Basketball | National Basketball Association | 1961–1962 (Packers) 1962–1963 (Zephyrs) |
Moved to Baltimore Bullets, moved again to Washington, D.C., and are now the Washington Wizards
|
| Chicago Power | Soccer | American Indoor Soccer Association (1988–1990) (1990–1996)
National Professional Soccer League |
1988–1996 | |
| Chicago Rockstars | Basketball | American Basketball Association
|
2006–2007 | |
| Chicago Rush | Football | Arena Football League | 2001–2008, 2010–2013 | |
| Chicago Shamrox | Lacrosse | National Lacrosse League | 2006–2008 | |
Chicago Skyliners
|
Basketball | American Basketball Association
|
2000–2001 | Moved to Las Vegas Slam
|
| Chicago Slaughter | Football | Indoor Football League | 2006 | |
| Chicago Stags | Basketball | National Basketball Association | 1946–1950 | |
| Chicago Sting | Soccer | North American Soccer League (1975–1984) (1984–1988)
Major Indoor Soccer League |
1975–1988 | |
| Chicago Thunder | Volleyball | United States Professional Volleyball League | 2002 | |
| Chicago Tigers | Football | American Professional Football Association | 1920 | |
| Chicago Winds | Football | World Football League | 1975 | |
| Danville Dashers | Ice hockey | Federal Prospects Hockey League | 2011–2020 | |
Decatur Staleys
|
Football | National Football League (1920–1921) | 1919–1920 (Decatur) 1921 (Chicago) 1922–present (Chicago Bears) |
Moved to Chicago to become the Chicago Staleys and then changed their name to the Chicago Bears .
|
| Lake County Fielders | Baseball | Northern League (2010) North American League (2011) |
2010–11 | |
| Normal CornBelters | Baseball | Frontier League | 2009–2018 | Moved to the Prospect League |
| Peoria Rivermen | Ice hockey | American Hockey League | 2005–2013 | Moved to Utica, New York, to become the Utica Comets. |
| Peoria Rivermen | Ice hockey | ECHL | 1996–2005 | Ownership obtained an American Hockey League franchise. |
| Peoria Rivermen | Ice hockey | International Hockey League | 1984–1996 | Moved to San Antonio, Texas, to become the San Antonio Dragons .
|
| Peoria Pirates | Football | AF2 | 1999–2009 | |
Peoria Prancers
|
Ice hockey | International Hockey League | 1982–1984 | Became the Peoria Rivermen |
| Quad City Flames | Ice hockey | American Hockey League | 2007–2009 | Moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, as the Abbotsford Heat |
| Quad City Mallards | Ice hockey | United Hockey League | 1995–2007 | |
| Quad City Mallards | Ice hockey | International Hockey League Central Hockey League ECHL |
2009–2018 | |
| Quad City Steamwheelers | Football | AF2 | 1999–2009 | |
| Quad City Thunder | Basketball | Continental Basketball Association | 1987–2001 | |
| Rockford Lightning | Basketball | Continental Basketball Association | 1986–2006 | |
| Rockford Peaches | Baseball | All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | 1943–1954 | |
| Rockford Rampage | Soccer | Major Indoor Soccer League
|
2005–2012 | |
| Rockford RiverHawks/Aviators | Baseball | Frontier League | 1993–2008, 2011–2015 | |
Rockford Thunder
|
Fastpitch softball | National Pro Fastpitch | 2007–2009 | |
| Schaumburg Flyers | Baseball | Northern League | 1993–2010 | |
| Southern Illinois Miners | Baseball | Frontier League | 2007–2021 | |
Tri-Cities Blackhawks
|
Basketball | National Basketball League | 1946−1951 | The team played 13 games as the Buffalo Bison during the 1946–47 season before moving to Moline, Illinois. Moved to Milwaukee and became the Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1955), moved again to St. Louis, Missouri (1955–1968), then moved once more and are now the Atlanta Hawks (1968–Present). They are the only professional sports team to have played in five cities. |
| Vermilion County Bobcats | Ice hockey | Southern Professional Hockey League | 2021−2023 | The Bobcats ceased operations in mid-season on February 9, 2023. |
See also
- List of developmental and minor sports leagues
- Professional sports leagues in the United States
- Sports in the United States
| Baseball |
|      |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball |
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| Esports | ||
| Football | ||
| Hockey | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Roller derby | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Indoor soccer | ||
| Australian rules football | ||
| Ultimate | ||
| Team tennis | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division I) | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division II) | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division III) | ||
| College athletics (NAIA) | ||
