List of professional sports leagues

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

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.

Auto racing[]

  • Arena Racing USA
  • Asian Le Mans Series
  • British Touring Car Championship
  • Copa Truck
  • Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (German Touring Car Masters)
  • D1 Grand Prix
  • European Le Mans Series
  • Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
  • Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM)
  • Formula One
  • Formula D
  • Fórmula Truck
  • Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
  • Grand-Am Road Racing
  • International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)
  • INDYCAR
  • NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
  • National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
  • Pirelli World Challenge
  • Stock Car Brasil
  • Super GT
  • TC 2000 Championship
  • Top Race V6
  • Turismo Carretera
  • Supercars Championship (Australia)
  • WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
  • FIA World Endurance Championship
  • World Rally Championship (WRC)
  • World Touring Car Cup

Badminton[]

 England

 India

  • Premier Badminton League

 Indonesia

Bandy[]

 Finland

  • Bandyliiga
  • Suomi-sarja

 Russia

  • Russian Bandy Super League
  • Russian Bandy Supreme League

 Sweden

Baseball[]

See also: List of organized baseball leagues, Professional baseball, and Baseball awards

Northern Hemisphere Summer[]

Americas[]

 United States,  Canada,  Cuba,  Venezuela, and  Argentina

  • Major League Baseball:
    • American League
    • National League
  • Minor League Baseball:
    • Triple-A:
      • Triple-A East
      • Triple-A West
    • Double-A:
      • Double-A Central
      • Double-A Northeast
      • Double-A South
    • High-A:
      • High-A Central
      • High-A East
      • High-A West
    • Low-A:
      • Low-A East
      • Low-A Southeast
      • Low-A West
    • Rookie:
      • Arizona League
      • Gulf Coast League
      • Dominican Summer League
    • Off-season leagues:
      • Arizona Fall League
  • Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente
  • Cuban National Series
  • Dominican Summer League
  • Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
  • Independent baseball leagues:

 Mexico

 Argentina

Asia-Pacific[]

 Japan

 South Korea

  • Major League:
    • KBO League
  • Minor League:
    • KBO Futures League

 People's Republic of China

  • China National Baseball League

Taiwan Taiwan

  • Major League:
    • Chinese Professional Baseball League
  • Minor League:
    • Chinese Professional Baseball League, Division 2
  • Independent League:
    • Taiwan Baseball Summer League/Popcorn League

 Philippines

Europe[]

 Italy

  • Italian Baseball League (legally amateur)

 Ireland

 Netherlands

 Czech Republic

  • Czech Baseball Extraliga (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)

 France

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

 Germany

  • Baseball-Bundesliga (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)

 Spain

 Sweden

 Poland

 Portugal

Northern Hemisphere Winter[]

Americas[]

 Argentina

 Colombia

  • Liga Colombiana de Béisbol Profesional

 Curaçao

 Dominican Republic

  • Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana

 Mexico

 Nicaragua

  • La Liga Nicaragüense de Beisbol Profesional

 Panama

  • Probeis

 Puerto Rico

 United States

  • Arizona Fall League

 Venezuela

Asia-Pacific[]

 Australia,  New Zealand and  South Korea

  • Australian Baseball League
  • Greater Brisbane League

 Japan,  South Korea and  Taiwan

Basketball[]

Main article: List of basketball leagues

Bowling[]

  • Professional Bowlers Association

Boxing[]

Major promotions

  • Top Rank Boxing
  • Golden Boy Promotions
  • Don King Promotions
  • DiBella Entertainment
  • Sauerland Events
  • Matchroom Boxing

Major sanctioning bodies

  • World Boxing Association (WBA)
  • World Boxing Council (WBC)
  • International Boxing Federation (IBF)
  • World Boxing Organization (WBO)
  • The Ring magazine (unofficial sanctioning body)

 India

  • Super Boxing League[1]
  • STAR Boxing Panch

Chess[]

 Philippines

  • Professional Chess Association of the Philippines

Cricket[]

Africa[]

North America[]

Canada

  • Global T20 Canada

United States

  • Major League Cricket

West Indies

Asia[]

Europe[]

Oceania[]

 Australia

 New Zealand

Curling[]

  • World Curling Tour

Cycling[]

 United States

 India

  • International Cycling League
  • Pro Cycle Cycling

 Italy

  • Coppa Italia di ciclismo (the Italian Road Cycling Cup)
  • International

Competitive eating[]

  • Major League Eating

Gridiron football: American football, Indoor American football, Arena football, Canadian football, and Flag football[]

See also: List of American and Canadian football leagues

 United States

 Australia

  • Australian Gridiron League

 Brazil

 Canada

 China

  • Chinese National Football League
  • China Arena Football League

 Croatia

  • Croatian League of American Football

 Japan

 India

  • Elite Football League of India[7]

 Austria

  • Austrian Football League

 Germany

  • German Football League and German Football League 2[8]

 Czech Republic

  • Czech League of American Football (semi-professional)

 France

 Italy

  • Italian Football League

 Mexico

 Poland

 Turkey

 UK

  • BAFA National Leagues

 Russia

  • Russian American Football Championship
  • Eastern European Super League

 Russia

  • Slovak Football League

 Sweden

  • Superserien (semi-professional)

Football: Association football[]

Main articles: Geography of association football, Geography of women's association football, and Professionalism in association football
See also: List of association football competitions

Football: Australian rules football[]

  • Australian Football League[10]
  • Adelaide Footy League
  • North East Australian Football League
  • Northern Territory Football League
  • West Australian Football League
  • South Australian National Football League
  • Victorian Football League
  • Queensland Australian Football League
  • Tasmanian Football League
  • AFL Women's

Football: Beach Soccer[]

 Ukraine

Football: Futsal[]

 Austria

  • Austrian Futsal Liga

 Australia

  • F-League

 Argentina

 Belarus

  • Belarusian Futsal Premier League

 Brazil

  • Liga Nacional de Futsal

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Premier Futsal League of Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Czech Republic

 China

  • Chinese Futsal League

 Germany

 France

  • Championnat de France de Futsal

 India

  • Premier Futsal

 Indonesia

  • Indonesia Pro Futsal League

 Israel

  • Israeli Futsal League

 Iran

  • Iranian Futsal Super League

 Italy

 Latvia

  • Latvian Futsal Premier League

 Malaysia

  • Malaysia Premier Futsal League
  • Malaysia Premier Futsal League (Women)

 Myanmar

  • Myanmar Futsal League

 Kyrgyzstan

  • Kyrgyzstan Futsal League

 Japan

 South Korea

  • FK-League

 Serbia

  • Serbian Prva Futsal Liga

 Poland

  • Ekstraklasa (futsal)

 Portugal

  • Liga Portuguesa de Futsal

 Spain

 Sweden

  • Swedish Futsal League

  Switzerland

  • Swiss Futsal Championship

 Russia

 Thailand

  • Futsal Thai League

 Turkey

  • Turkish Futsal League

 Uzbekistan

 United States

  • Professional Futsal League
  • Major League Futsal

 United Kingdom

 Vietnam

  • Vietnam Futsal League

 Ukraine

Football: Indoor soccer[]

 United States

  • Major Arena Soccer League
  • Major Arena Soccer League 2
  • Premier Arena Soccer League
  • Western Indoor Soccer League
  • Arena Soccer League

Fencing[]

  • American Fencing League[11]

Field hockey[]

Asia[]

  •  India: Hockey India League
  •  India: Premier Hockey League
  •  Malaysia: Malaysia Hockey League
  •  Pakistan: Pakistan Hockey League

Europe[]

Australia[]

  •  Australia: Hockey One

Golf[]

Main article: Professional golf tours

Men's[]

Top-level tours[]

  • PGA Tour (United States)
  • PGA European Tour
  • Japan Golf Tour
  • Asian Tour (Asia outside Japan)
  • PGA Tour of Australasia (Australia and New Zealand)
  • Sunshine Tour (southern Africa, mainly South Africa)
  • OneAsia Tour (joint venture between the Japan, Australasia, China, and Korean tours)
  • Professional Golf Tour of India

Senior tours[]

  • PGA Tour Champions (United States)
  • European Senior Tour

Developmental tours[]

  • Korn Ferry Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the PGA Tour)
  • Challenge Tour (second-tier European tour)
  • Japan Challenge Tour (second-tier Japanese tour)
  • PGA Tour Canada (feeds to the Web.com Tour)
  • PGA Tour China (feeds to the Web.com Tour)
  • PGA Tour Latinoamérica (feeds to the Web.com Tour)
  • Satellite Tours, four third-level tours recognised by the European Tour:
    • Alps Tour (jointly sanctioned by the golf associations of Austria, France, Italy, Morocco and Switzerland)
    • Pro Golf Tour (based in Germany)
    • Nordic Golf League (operating in the Nordic countries)
      • Swedish Golf Tour (men's version is a Swedish tour included in the Nordic League competition)
    • PGA EuroPro Tour (based in the UK)
  • Gateway Tour (third-tier US tour)
  • Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour (low cost fourth-tier US tour)
  • Swing Thought Tour (third-tier US tour)

Women's[]

Top-level tours[]

  • LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association; United States)
  • LPGA of Japan Tour
  • Ladies European Tour
  • LPGA of Korea Tour (South Korea)
  • Ladies Asian Golf Tour (Asia outside Japan and Korea)
  • ALPG Tour (Australia)

Senior tours[]

  • Legends Tour (United States)

Developmental tours[]

  • Symetra Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the LPGA)
  • Ladies European Tour Access Series, LETAS,[12] 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[]

 Belgium  Netherlands

Ice hockey[]

See also: List of ice hockey leagues

North America[]

 Canada and  United States

 Canada only

 United States only

 Mexico

Asia[]

 Japan,  South Korea, and  Russia

  • Asia League Ice Hockey

 Kazakhstan

  • Kazakhstan Hockey Championship

 Mongolia

 Taiwan

 China

  • Hong Kong Ice Hockey League

 Israel

Europe[]

 Austria,  Croatia,  Slovakia,  Hungary,  Czech Republic, and  Italy

  • ICE Hockey League
  • Austrian National League

 Austria,  Italy, and  Slovenia

  • Alps Hockey League

 Estonia  Latvia  Lithuania

  • Baltic Hockey League

 Belgium,  Netherlands

  • BeNe League

 Belarus

  • Belarusian Extraleague

 Bulgaria

 Scotland Republic of Ireland

  • Celtic League Cup

 Czech Republic

  • Czech Extraliga
  • 1st Czech Republic Hockey League
  • 2nd Czech Republic Hockey League

 Croatia

  • Croatian Ice Hockey League

 Serbia

  • Serbian Hockey League

 Denmark

  • Metal Ligaen
  • Danish Division 1

 France

  • Ligue Magnus
  • FFHG Division 1

 Finland

  • Liiga
  • Mestis
  • Suomi-sarja
  • 2. Divisioona
  • Naisten Liiga
  • Naisten Mestis

 Germany

 Austria,  Hungary and  Romania

  • Erste Liga (ice hockey)

 Latvia

  • Latvian Hockey Higher League

 Lithuania

  • Lithuania Hockey League

 Estonia

  • Meistriliiga

 Netherlands and  Belgium

 Norway

 Italy

  • Italian Hockey League - Serie A
  • Italian Hockey League - Serie B
  • Italian Hockey League - Serie C

 Poland

  • Polska Hokej Liga

 Romania

  • Romanian Hockey League

 Russia,  Belarus,  China,  Finland,  Kazakhstan,  Latvia, and  Slovakia

  • Kontinental Hockey League (major)

 Russia only

 Slovakia,  Hungary

  • Slovak Extraliga
  • Slovak 1.Liga
  • Slovak 2. Liga

 Slovenia

  • Slovenian Ice Hockey League

  Switzerland

 Sweden

 Turkey

 Ukraine

 United Kingdom ( England,  Scotland,  Wales, and  Northern Ireland)

Oceania[]

 Australia

  • Australian Ice Hockey League (semi-pro)
  • East Coast Super League

 New Zealand

  • New Zealand Ice Hockey League (amateur)

Indoor hockey[]

Inline hockey[]

  • Major League Roller Hockey (United States)
  • Professional Inline Hockey Association (United States)
  • Portuguese Roller Hockey First Division (Portugal)
  • Roller Hockey Premier League (UK)

Roller hockey (quad)/Rink hockey[]

 Spain

Kabaddi[]

International Tournaments

  • Kabaddi World Cup
  • Kabaddi Masters Series
  • World Kabaddi League ( India,  United States,  United Kingdom,  Canada,  South Korea,  Australia,  Iran,   Nepal,  Bhutan,

 Russia,  Maldives,  North Korea,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  Spain,  Guyana,  Chile,  Cambodia,  Indonesia,  Malaysia,  Israel,  Sri Lanka,  Canada,  Argentina,  Kenya,  Saudi Arabia,  Japan and  UAE)

Kabaddi Leagues

Kickboxing[]

  • Glory
  • K-1
  • Kunlun Fight
  • Wu Lin Feng

Korfball[]

Lacrosse[]

Box / Indoor lacrosse[]

 United States and  Canada

Field lacrosse[]

Mixed martial arts[]

  •  United States: Ultimate Fighting Championship (Premier American/International Organization)
  •  United States: Bellator MMA (Second Tier American Organization)
  •  United States: Professional Fighters League (Second Tier American Organization)
  •  United States: Legacy Fighting Alliance (Minor American Organization)
  •  United States: King of the Cage (Minor American Organization)
  •  United States: Shark Fights (Minor American Organization)
  •  United States: Titan Fighting Championships (Minor American Organization)
  •  United States: Tachi Palace Fights (Minor American Organization)
  •  United States: Invicta Fighting Championships (Minor American Organization)
  • Japan Japan: Rizin FF (Premier Japanese Organization)
  • Japan Japan: Shooto (Second Tier Japanese Organization)
  • Japan Japan: Pancrase (Second Tier Japanese Organization)
  • Japan Japan: DEEP (Minor Japanese Organization)
  • Japan Japan: ZST (Minor Japanese Organization)
  • Japan Japan: RisingOn (Minor Japanese Organization)
  • South Korea South Korea: ROAD Fighting Championship[13] (Premier Korean Organization)
  • South Korea South Korea: TOP Fighting Championship[14] (Second Tier Korean Organization)
  • Brazil Brazil: Jungle Fight (Premier Brazilian Organization)
  • Brazil Brazil: Shooto Brasil (Second Tier Brazilian Organization)
  • Russia Russia: Absolute Championship Akhmat (Premier Russian-based Organization)
  • Russia Russia: Fight Nights Global (Premier Russian-based Organization)
  • Russia Russia: M-1 Global (Second Tier Russian-based Organization)
  • Poland Poland: Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (Premier Polish-based Organization)
  • Canada Canada: Maximum Fighting Championship (Premier Canadian Organization)
  • England England: BAMMA (Premier English Organization)
  • Netherlands Netherlands: United Glory (Premier Dutch Organization)
  • Poland Poland: Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (Premier Polish Organization)
  • Finland Finland: Finnfight (Premier Finish Organization)
  • China China: Kunlun Fight (Premier Chinese Organization)
  • Singapore Singapore: ONE Championship (Premier Singaporean Organization)
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong: Legend Fighting Championship (Premier Hong Konger Organization)
  • Philippines Philippines: Universal Reality Combat Championship (Premier Filipino Organization)
  • India India: Super Fight League[15]

Motorcycle racing[]

  • Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP)
  • Superbike World Championship (SBK)
  • AMA Superbike Championship

Netball[]

  •  Australia – Suncorp Super Netball, Australian Netball League
  •  New Zealand – ANZ Premiership
  •  United Kingdom – Netball Superleague
  •  Singapore – Netball Super League (Singapore)

Pesäpallo[]

 Finland:

Shooting[]

 Germany

Speedway[]

Professional wrestling[]

See also: List of professional wrestling promotions
United States
  • WWE (also known as World Wrestling Entertainment)[16]
  • Impact Wrestling (formerly Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Global Force Wrestling)[17]
  • All Elite Wrestling
  • Ring of Honor
  • Lucha Underground
India
Japan
  • New Japan Pro-Wrestling
  • All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Pro Wrestling Noah
Mexico

Racquetball[]

  • International Racquetball Tour
  • Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour

Roll Ball[]

 India

  • Maha Roll Ball League

 United States

  • Roll Ball One

 United Kingdom

  • Pro Roll Ball One

 European Union

  • Roll Ball League

Rugby league[]

See also: List of rugby league competitions

Northern Hemisphere[]

See also: British rugby league system and French rugby league system
  • United Kingdom Super League
    • United Kingdom RFL Championship
      • United Kingdom RFL League 1
  • United Kingdom RFL Women's Super League
  • France Elite One Championship
    • France Elite Two Championship
  • Sweden Sweden Super League
  • Netherlands Dutch Rugby League Competition
  • Turkey Turkish Rugby League Association
  • United States North American Rugby League

Southern Hemisphere[]

See also: List of rugby league competitions in Australia

Rugby union[]

See also: List of rugby union competitions

Intercontinental

  • ArgentinaAustraliaNew ZealandSouth Africa Super Rugby
  • AustraliaFijiHong KongMalaysiaSamoa Global Rapid Rugby
  • IrelandItalyScotlandSouth AfricaWales Pro14
  • World Club 10s

Africa

  • South Africa Currie Cup Premier Division
    • South Africa Currie Cup First Division
      • NamibiaSouth Africa Rugby Challenge
  • Kenya Kenya Cup

Americas

Asia-Pacific

  • AustraliaFiji National Rugby Championship (not affiliated with Super Rugby or Global Rapid Rugby), Super W
  • Australia New Zealand Super Rugby Trans-Tasman
  • Australia Super Rugby AU
  • New Zealand Super Rugby Aotearoa
  • New Zealand Mitre 10 Cup
  • New Zealand Mitre 10 Heartland Championship
  •  Japan
    • Top League
    • Top Challenge League

Europe

  • England Premiership Rugby
  • France National Rugby League (France) - Top 14
    • France National Rugby League (France) - Rugby Pro D2
  • Russia Russian Rugby Championship
  • Romania CEC Bank SuperLiga
  • Sweden Allsvenskan (rugby)
  • Hungary Hungarian Extraliga (semi-professional)
  • Netherlands Ereklasse (semi-professional)
  • Italy Top12 (semi-professional)
  • Czech Republic Extraliga ragby (semi-professional)
  • Ireland All-Ireland League (rugby union) (semi-professional)
  • Poland Ekstraliga (rugby) (semi-professional)
  • Scotland Super 6 (semi-professional)
  • Finland Finnish Championship League
  • Spain División de Honor de Rugby (semi-professional)
  • Wales Welsh Premier Division (semi-professional)
  • Georgia (country) Didi 10 (semi-professional)
  • Ukraine Ukraine Rugby Superliga
  • European Rugby Champions Cup
  • European Rugby Challenge Cup
  • Continental Club Rugby League

Pro clubs in an amateur league

  • Germany Heidelberger RK

Snooker[]

  • World Snooker Tour

Softball[]

 India

 United States

 United Kingdom

Table tennis[]

Tennis[]

Asia[]

 India

  • Champions Tennis League

Track and field[]

Ultimate[]

 United States

  • American Ultimate Disc League
  • Premier Ultimate League

Video gaming/Electronic sports[]

 United States

  • Major League Gaming
  • NBA 2K League
  • ESL Pro League

Asia[]

 China

  • League of Legends Pro League (top level)

 India

  • ESL India Premiership
  • [21]
  • UCypher (upcoming major league)[22]

 South Korea

  • Ongamenet Starleague
  • Global StarCraft II League
  • League of Legends Champions Korea (top level)

 Taiwan/ Hong Kong/ Macau

  • League of Legends Master Series (top level)

 Japan

  • League of Legends Japan League

 Philippines

  • The Nationals

Southeast Asia

  • Garena Premier League (second level)

Multiple regions[]

  • League of Legends Championship Series (top-tier, Europe and North America)
  • Overwatch League (North America, Europe, and Asia)
  • Halo Championship Series (United States, Europe, Latin America)

Volleyball[]

Water polo[]

Main article: Geography of water polo

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Super Boxing League to be organised in association with WBC, PBOI". India.com. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Official Site of the National Football League". National Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Source: WWE's McMahon eyes football league". ESPN. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  4. ^ Merk, Carson A. "Arena Football Home Page". Arenafootball.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  5. ^ [1] Archived 1996-11-22 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Xリーグ 公式サイト". Xleague.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. ^ "AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN INDIA: ELITE FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF INDIA". Bleacher Report.
  8. ^ Brown, Wendy (17 July 2012). "Soldiers share football skills with German semi-pro team". United States Army. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "LET Access Series - Home Page". Letaccess.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Road Fc". Roadfc.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ League, Super Fight. "Enter Super Fight League - Experience Top MMA Fights". Superfightleague.com.
  16. ^ "News, Results, Photos & Video - Official Site". WWE. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Homepage". Impactwrestling.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Maharashtra win inaugural edition of India's Softball League". Business Standard. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Ultimate Table Tennis raises hope for paddlers". The Indian Express. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ [2]
  22. ^ Ghoshal, Abhimanyu (19 January 2017). "India is getting its first major esports league". The Next Web.
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