California has 24 major professional sports teams as of 2026 when counting teams from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL. Those teams are spread across Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, and surrounding cities. A 2026 USA TODAY Sports ranking also counted 24 California professional teams across six major leagues, while Visit California describes the state as having two dozen major professional franchises.
The exact number can change depending on what you mean by “professional sports teams.” California also has teams in leagues such as Major League Rugby and Major League Cricket, as well as minor-league baseball and other professional competitions. If those leagues are included, the total is higher.
How Many Major Professional Sports Teams Are in California?
Using the seven major leagues represented in California, the breakdown is:
| League | California teams |
|---|---|
| NFL | 3 |
| MLB | 5 |
| NBA | 4 |
| NHL | 3 |
| MLS | 4 |
| WNBA | 2 |
| NWSL | 3 |
| Total | 24 |
The biggest change in the recent count is MLB’s Athletics, who are currently playing home games in West Sacramento after leaving Oakland following the 2024 season. MLB’s 2026 information confirms the Athletics remain an active MLB franchise.
California’s NFL Teams
California has three NFL teams:
- Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles Chargers
- San Francisco 49ers
The Rams and Chargers play in the Los Angeles area, while the 49ers are based in the Bay Area.
The state has a long NFL history, including the former Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. However, those former California locations should not be added to the current total.
California’s three current NFL teams make football one of the state’s major professional sports.
California’s MLB Teams
California has five MLB teams:
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Los Angeles Angels
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
- Athletics
The Athletics are the unusual case because the franchise is currently based in West Sacramento rather than Oakland. They are still a California-based MLB team during their current temporary arrangement. MLB’s current standings list the Athletics alongside the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, and Giants.
That gives California more MLB teams than any other individual league represented in the state.
The Dodgers and Angels are both in Southern California, the Padres are in San Diego, and the Giants and Athletics are in Northern California.
California’s NBA Teams
There are four NBA teams in California:
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Golden State Warriors
- Sacramento Kings
The Lakers and Clippers represent the Los Angeles area, the Warriors are based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Kings play in Sacramento.
Having four NBA franchises gives California one of the largest concentrations of professional basketball teams in the country.
The state’s NBA history also includes the former San Diego Rockets and San Diego Clippers, but those franchises are no longer based in California.
California’s NHL Teams
California has three NHL teams:
- Anaheim Ducks
- Los Angeles Kings
- San Jose Sharks
The Ducks play in Anaheim, the Kings in Los Angeles, and the Sharks in San Jose.
The three teams give California professional hockey representation in Southern California and the Bay Area.
The NHL is particularly interesting in California because ice hockey developed in a state better known for warm weather sports such as surfing, baseball, and outdoor recreation.
California’s MLS Teams
Major League Soccer has four California teams:
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- San Jose Earthquakes
- San Diego FC
San Diego FC is the newest MLS addition among California’s current teams. Its arrival means San Diego now has both MLB and MLS representation.
The LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC create a particularly strong soccer presence in the Los Angeles market, while San Jose and San Diego provide MLS teams elsewhere in the state.
California’s WNBA Teams
California has two WNBA teams:
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Golden State Valkyries
The Los Angeles Sparks have been part of the WNBA since the league’s inaugural 1997 season. The Golden State Valkyries are a newer franchise based in San Francisco.
The addition of the Valkyries expanded California’s presence in women’s professional basketball beyond Los Angeles.
This is important when counting professional sports teams because a count limited only to men’s leagues would miss several California franchises.
California’s NWSL Teams
California also has three National Women’s Soccer League teams:
- Angel City FC
- Bay FC
- San Diego Wave FC
Angel City FC is based in Los Angeles, Bay FC is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego Wave FC represents San Diego.
Adding the NWSL teams to the WNBA franchises gives California five teams in two of the country’s leading women’s professional sports leagues.
Where Are California’s Professional Teams Located?
California’s professional teams are concentrated in several major metropolitan areas.
Los Angeles Area
Greater Los Angeles has one of the country’s largest professional sports concentrations.
Teams include the:
- Dodgers
- Angels
- Rams
- Chargers
- Lakers
- Clippers
- Kings
- Ducks
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- Sparks
- Angel City FC
The exact geographic definition of “Los Angeles” matters here because several teams technically play in neighboring cities such as Anaheim, Inglewood, Carson, or other municipalities.
Visit California describes Los Angeles County as home to 11 professional sports teams, illustrating how definitions of metropolitan areas can affect team counts.
San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area has several major professional franchises, including:
- San Francisco 49ers
- San Francisco Giants
- Golden State Warriors
- San Jose Sharks
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Golden State Valkyries
- Bay FC
- Athletics
The Athletics are currently playing in West Sacramento rather than the Bay Area, so they should not be counted as a current Bay Area home team.
San Diego
San Diego has several major professional teams:
- San Diego Padres
- San Diego FC
- San Diego Wave FC
The city regained a top-level men’s professional soccer team when San Diego FC joined MLS.
Sacramento
Sacramento is home to the Sacramento Kings and is also temporarily home to the Athletics.
That makes Sacramento an important part of California’s current professional sports landscape even though it has fewer major franchises than Los Angeles or the Bay Area.
Does California Have More Than 24 Professional Teams?
Yes.
The 24-team figure is a useful count for major professional franchises in the seven major leagues listed above, but it is not a count of every professional sports organization in California.
California also has professional teams in other leagues and sports.
For example, the San Diego Legion competes in Major League Rugby, while California has also had teams in professional cricket leagues. There are numerous minor-league baseball teams as well.
That means someone researching “how many professional sports teams are in california” could arrive at different totals depending on which leagues are included.
A count of NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL teams gives 24. A broader definition that includes other professional leagues produces a larger number.
Why Does California Have So Many Professional Teams?
California has several characteristics that make it attractive to professional sports leagues.
Large Population
California is the most populous U.S. state, giving leagues access to large potential fan bases.
Major Metropolitan Areas
The state contains several huge metropolitan markets, including Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, and Sacramento.
Strong Sports Culture
California has long supported professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.
Media Markets
Large populations and major media markets can make California cities valuable locations for professional franchises.
Corporate and Sponsorship Opportunities
Large metropolitan economies provide opportunities for sponsorships, partnerships, hospitality, advertising, and other sports-business revenue.
Diverse Sports Interests
California fans follow many different sports, allowing multiple leagues to establish teams in the state.
Which California City Has the Most Professional Sports Teams?
The answer depends on whether you mean a city itself or its larger metropolitan area.
Los Angeles has the largest concentration when surrounding communities and the broader Los Angeles sports market are considered. Several teams use Los Angeles in their names even though their facilities are technically located elsewhere.
For example, the Rams and Chargers play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, while LAFC and the Galaxy play at venues in the broader Los Angeles region.
This is why professional sports counts should distinguish between city limits, metropolitan areas, counties, and media markets.
Are All California Professional Teams in the Same Leagues?
No.
California’s major professional sports landscape is unusually diverse.
The state has teams in:
- NFL football
- MLB baseball
- NBA basketball
- NHL hockey
- MLS soccer
- WNBA basketball
- NWSL soccer
It also has professional teams in additional leagues outside this seven-league count.
That diversity means California fans can watch professional sports throughout most of the year.
Baseball dominates much of the spring and summer, football takes center stage in the fall, while basketball and hockey provide major winter competition. Soccer and women’s professional sports add additional year-round options.
How Does California Compare With Other States?
California is widely regarded as one of the strongest professional sports states in the country.
Its combination of NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL franchises gives it a broad professional sports footprint. Visit California specifically promotes the state as having two dozen major professional franchises.
California’s advantage is not simply the number of teams. It also has franchises distributed among several major metropolitan areas, allowing fans in different parts of the state to follow professional sports without relying on a single market.
Does California Have Professional Women’s Sports Teams?
Yes. California has five teams across the WNBA and NWSL:
- Los Angeles Sparks — WNBA
- Golden State Valkyries — WNBA
- Angel City FC — NWSL
- Bay FC — NWSL
- San Diego Wave FC — NWSL
This is an important part of the state’s overall professional sports landscape.
The growth of women’s professional sports has also changed how people calculate the number of professional teams in California. A count that considers only traditional men’s leagues would leave out these franchises.
Frequently Asked Questions
how many professional sports teams are in california?
California has 24 major professional sports teams when counting its NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL franchises. A broader definition that includes other professional leagues results in a higher total.
How many NFL teams are in California?
There are three: the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers.
How many MLB teams are in California?
There are five: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Athletics. The Athletics are currently playing home games in West Sacramento.
How many NBA teams are in California?
California has four NBA teams: the Lakers, Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.
How many NHL teams are in California?
There are three NHL teams: the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks.
How many MLS teams are in California?
There are four MLS teams: LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, San Jose Earthquakes, and San Diego FC.
Does California have WNBA teams?
Yes. California has two WNBA teams: the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries.
Does California have professional women’s soccer teams?
Yes. Angel City FC, Bay FC, and San Diego Wave FC compete in the NWSL.
Conclusion
So, how many professional sports teams are in california? The best current answer is 24 major professional teams when counting California’s franchises in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL.
The total breaks down to three NFL teams, five MLB teams, four NBA teams, three NHL teams, four MLS teams, two WNBA teams, and three NWSL teams.
The number becomes larger if you include other professional leagues, minor-league teams, or emerging competitions. For a standard comparison of California’s major professional sports presence, however, 24 is the useful figure for 2026.