This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. (June 2010) |
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.
England
India
Indonesia
Russia
Sweden
- Elitserien
- Allsvenskan
- International
Northern Hemisphere Summer
editAmericas
edit United States,
Canada,
Cuba,
Venezuela, and
Argentina
- Major League Baseball:
- Minor League Baseball:
- Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente
- Cuban National Series
- Dominican Summer League
- Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
- Independent baseball leagues:
- MLB Partner Leagues:
- Other leagues:
Asia-Pacific
edit- Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
- Major Leagues:
- Minor Leagues:
- Administered by BFJ:
- Intercity baseball tournament (officially amateur but contains professional teams)
- Industrial Baseball League (officially amateur but contains professional teams)
- All Japan Club Baseball Championship (officially amateur but contains professional teams)
- Independent:
- Major League:
- Minor League:
- Major League:
- Minor League:
- Independent League:
Europe
edit- European Champions Cup - first-tier continental cup
- European Confederation Cup - second-tier continental cup
- European Federation Cup - third-tier continental cup
Ireland
- Czech Baseball Extraliga (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)
- Ceskomoravská
- Division Élite (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)
- Baseball-Bundesliga (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)
- División de Honor de Béisbol (officially semi-professional but contains several professional teams)
- Ekstraliga Baseball (semi-professional)
- Portuguese Atlantic Baseball League (semi-professional)
- Turkish Baseball League (semi-professional)
Northern Hemisphere Winter
editAmericas
editAsia-Pacific
edit Australia,
New Zealand and
South Korea
Japan,
South Korea and
Taiwan
Softball
edit United States
Philippines
Major promotions
Top Rank Boxing
Sauerland Events
Matchroom Boxing
No Limit 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)
- Super Boxing League[1]
- STAR Boxing Panch
Combat sports: Kickboxing
edit: K-1
: King of Kings
: Kunlun Fight
Combat sports: Mixed martial arts
editThis section's factual accuracy is disputed. (May 2012) |
Russia: Absolute Championship Akhmat (Premier Russian-based Organization)
Mexico: LUX Fight League (Premier Mexican Organization)
Brazil: Jungle Fight (Premier Brazilian Organization)
South Korea: ROAD Fighting Championship[3] (Premier Korean Organization)
Singapore: ONE Championship (Premier Singaporean Organization)
Poland: Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (Premier Polish-based Organization)
Canada: Maximum Fighting Championship (Premier Canadian Organization)
Netherlands: United Glory (Premier Dutch Organization)
Hong Kong: Legend Fighting Championship (Premier Hong Konger Organization)
Philippines: Universal Reality Combat Championship (Premier Filipino Organization)
India: Super Fight League[5]
Combat sports: Professional wrestling
edit- WWE (also known as World Wrestling Entertainment)[6]
- NXT – WWE's Development Circuit
- All Elite Wrestling
- Ring of Honor – shares ownership with All Elite Wrestling, but remains a separate legal entity
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (formerly Impact! Wrestling and Global Force Wrestling)[7]
- National Wrestling Alliance
- Game Changer Wrestling
- Major League Wrestling
- International
- European Cricket League
- Hong Kong Cricket Sixes
Africa
edit- Momentum One Day Cup
- CSA T20 Challenge
- CSA Provincial Competitions
- Mzansi Super League
- SA20
- Sunfoil Series
North America
edit Canada
United States
- Caribbean Premier League
- Women's Caribbean Premier League
- Professional Cricket League
- Regional Super50
Asia
edit India
- Indian Premier League
- Ranji Trophy
- Duleep Trophy
- Deodhar Trophy
- Irani Cup
- Karnataka Premier League
- Tamil Nadu Premier League
- Vijay Hazare Trophy
- T20 Mumbai League
- Bengal Pro T20 League
- Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20
- Lanka Premier League
- Lanka T10
- Sri Lanka Premier League
- Premier Limited Overs Tournament
- Premier Trophy
Europe
edit England
- County Championship
- One Day Cup
- T20 Blast
- Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
- Charlotte Edwards Cup
- The Hundred (cricket)
- Women's Cricket Super League
- Bob Willis Trophy
Scotland
- Murgitroyd Twenty20
- Regional Pro Series
- Scottish super 10
Ireland
Oceania
edit Australia
- Sheffield Shield
- One-Day Cup
- Women's National Cricket League
- Big Bash League
- Women's Big Bash League
New Zealand
United States
- National Bicycle League (BMX)
- American Bicycle Association (BMX)
India
- International Cycling League
- Pro Cycle Cycling
Italy
- Coppa Italia di ciclismo (the Italian Road Cycling Cup)
- International
Football: Association football
edit- Ukrainian Beach Soccer Premier League
- International
- International
Austria
Belarus
Brazil
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Czech Republic
China
Germany
France
Italy
Latvia
Malaysia
Myanmar
Serbia
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Russia
United States
Football: Australian rules football
editAsia
Europe
Oceania
- Australian Football League[10]
- AFL Women's[11]
- South Australian National Football League[12]
- Victorian Football League[13]
- West Australian Football League[14]
International
Football: Gridiron football
editIncludes American and Canadian Football and their variants.
Americas
edit United States
- National Football League[16]
- United Football League
- Gridiron Developmental Football League
- Rivals Professional Football League
- Empire Football League (semi-professional)
- New England Football League (semi-professional)
- Pacific Northwest Football League (semi-professional)
- Women's Football Alliance
- Indoor:
- Flag football
Brazil
Canada
- Canadian Football League[18]
- Western Women's Canadian Football League
- Maritime Women's Football League
Mexico
Europe
edit Europe
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
- Czech League of American Football (semi-professional)
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
- Polish American Football League (semi-professional)
- Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego (semi-professional)
Portugal
Russia
Slovakia
- Slovak Football League
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
- Superserien (semi-professional)
Switzerland
Turkey
UK
Asia
edit China
Japan
Oceania
edit Australia
Football: Rugby football
editAmericas
Europe
Oceania
National Rugby League
Queensland Cup
Ron Massey Cup (semi-professional)
Intercontinental
Africa
Currie Cup Premier Division
Kenya Cup (semi-professional)
Top 20 (semi-professional)
Americas
Asia-Pacific
- Japan Rugby League One - Division 1
- Japan Rugby League One - Division 2
- Japan Rugby League One - Division 3 (semi-professional)
Sri Lanka Rugby Championship (semi-professional)
Europe
Premiership Rugby
RFU Championship
National Rugby League (France) - Top 14
CEC Bank SuperLiga
Top12 (semi-professional)
Extraliga ragby (semi-professional)
All-Ireland League (rugby union) (semi-professional)
Super 6 (semi-professional)
División de Honor de Rugby (semi-professional)
Welsh Premier Division (semi-professional)
Didi 10 (semi-professional)
Rugby Europe Super Cup (semi-professional)
Pro clubs in an amateur league
Men's
editTop-level tours
edit- 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
- LIV Golf
Senior tours
edit- PGA Tour Champions (United States)
- European Senior Tour
Developmental tours
edit- 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
editTop-level tours
edit- 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
edit- Legends Tour (United States)
Developmental tours
edit- 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)
Angola Men's Handball League
Handball Liga Austria
Algerian Handball Championship
Belarusian Men's Handball Championship
Bulgarian GHR A
Croatian Premier Handball League
Danish Men's Handball League
Finnish Handball League
Nemzeti Bajnokság I (men's handball)
Serbian Handball Super League
Slovenská hadzanárska extraliga
Slovenian First League (men's handball)
Handbollsligan
Úrvalsdeild karla (handball)
Swiss Handball League
Greek Men's Handball Championship
Ligat Ha'Al (handball)
Campeonato Nacional de Andebol Masculino Andebol 1
Montenegrin First League of Men's Handball
Macedonian Handball Super League
Tunisian Handball League
Turkish Handball Super League
Ukrainian Men's Handball Super League
Baltic Handball League
- Women Handball International League
- Asian Club League Handball Championship
- Asian Women's Club League Handball Championship
- African Women's Handball Champions League
- African Handball Cup Winners' Cup
- EHF European League
- EHF European Cup
- Women's EHF European Cup
- North American and Caribbean Senior Club Championship
- South and Central American Men's Club Handball Championship
- South and Central American Women's Club Handball Championship
- Oceania Handball Champions Cup
- Oceania Women's Handball Champions Cup
- IHF Super Globe
- IHF Women's Super Globe
Hockey: Field hockey
editAsia
Europe
Europe: Euro Hockey League
Australia
Hockey: Ice hockey
editNorth America
edit Canada and
United States
- National Hockey League (major)
- American Hockey League (high minor)
- ECHL (mid-minor)
- Professional Women's Hockey League (women's major)
Canada only
- Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (low minor)
- Big 6 Hockey League (low minor)
United States only
- SPHL (low minor)
- Federal Prospects Hockey League (low minor)
Mexico
- Liga Mexicana Élite de Hockey (semi-professional)
Asia
edit Japan,
South Korea, and
Russia
Europe
edit- Champions Hockey League
- European Women's Hockey League
- IIHF Continental Cup
- IIHF European Women's Champions Cup
Austria,
Croatia,
Slovakia,
Hungary,
Czech Republic, and
Italy
France
Germany
Netherlands and
Belgium
Poland
Romania
Russia,
Belarus,
China,
Finland,
Kazakhstan,
Latvia, and
Slovakia
- Kontinental Hockey League (major)
Russia only
- Russian Major League (high minor)
- Russian Hockey League (low minor)
- Russian Women's Hockey League
Slovenia
Sweden
- Swedish Hockey League
- HockeyAllsvenskan
- Hockeyettan
- Hockeytvåan
- Swedish Women's Hockey League
- Damettan
- Damtvåan
United Kingdom
(
England,
Scotland,
Wales, and
Northern Ireland)
- Elite Ice Hockey League
- English Premier Ice Hockey League
- National Ice Hockey League
- Scottish National League
- Northern League (ice hockey, 2005–)
Oceania
edit Australia
New Zealand
- New Zealand Ice Hockey League (amateur)
Hockey: Indoor
editHockey: on skates
edit- 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
editInternational Tournaments
- Kabaddi World Cup
- Kabaddi Masters Series
- World Kabaddi League (
Pakistan,
Iran,
Nepal,
Bhutan,
Maldives,
North Korea,
Guyana,
Chile,
Cambodia,
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Argentina,
Saudi Arabia,
UAE,
Oman,
Yemen,
Egypt,
Jordan,
Jamaica,
Cuba,
Haiti,
Dominican Republic,
Puerto Rico,
Taiwan,
Panama,
Thailand,
Vietnam and
Laos
Kabaddi Leagues
- Pro Kabaddi League (
- Women's Kabaddi Challenge(
- Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (
- Super Kabaddi League (
United States and
Canada
- NLL – National Lacrosse League (United States and Canada) [major]
- WLA – Western Lacrosse Association (Canada) [high minor]
- MSL – Major Series Lacrosse (Canada) [high minor]
- ALL – Arena Lacrosse League (Canada) [high minor]
- PLL – Premier Lacrosse League (United States) [major]
- Merged with the competing Major League Lacrosse in December 2020, with the merged league operating as the PLL.
- ALL - American Lacrosse League (United States) [low minor/club]
- UWLX - United Women's Lacrosse League (United States)
- WPLL - Women's Professional Lacrosse League (United States)
- AUL - Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse
- Europe
Racing: Automobile
edit- All Star Circuit of Champions
- American Hot Rod Association
- Arena Racing USA
- Asian Le Mans Series
- British Touring Car Championship (United Kingdom)
- British GT Championship (United Kingdom)
- Copa Truck
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (German Touring Car Masters)
- D1 Grand Prix
- European Le Mans Series
- Extreme E
- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
- Formula One
- Formula 2
- Formula 3
- Formula D
- Formula E
- Fórmula Truck
- GT World Challenge Endurance Cup
- GT World Challenge Europe
- IMSA SportsCar Championship
- International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)
- IndyCar Series (United States)
- Indy NXT Series (United States)
- Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing
- NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) (United States)
- National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
- Stock Car Pro Series (Brazil)
- Super DIRTcar Series
- Super Formula Championship (Japan)
- Super Formula Lights (Japan)
- Super GT / Japan Automobile Federation
- Superstar Racing Experience (SRX)
- TC 2000 Championship
- FIA TCR World Tour
- Top Race V6
- Turismo Carretera
- Supercars Championship (Australia)
- Super2 Series (Australia)
- FIA World Endurance Championship
- World of Outlaws (WoO)
- World Rally Championship (WRC)
- World Rallycross Championship (WorldRX)
- World Touring Car Cup
Racing: Motorcycle
edit- Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM)
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP)
- Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK)
- Endurance World Championship (EWC)
- Motocross World Championship (MXGP)
- World Supercross Championship (WSX)
- Enduro World Championship (Enduro GP)
- Trial World Championship (Trial GP)
- Supermoto World Championship (S1GP)
- Speedway World Championship (Speedway GP)
- AMA MotoAmerica Superbike Championship (United States)
- AMA Supercross Championship (United States)
- AMA Pro Motocross Championship (United States)
- AMA Flat Track Championship (United States)
- Asia Road Racing Championship
- Australian Superbike Championship (Australia)
- Australian Pro Motocross Championship (Australia)
- Australian Supercross Championship (Australia)
- British Superbike Championship (United Kingdom)
- British Motocross Championship (United Kingdom)
- Isle of Man TT
- Roll Ball One
- Pro Roll Ball One
- Roll Ball League
- Association of Tennis Professionals
- International Tennis Federation
- Lawn Tennis Association
- Tennis Australia
- United States Tennis Association
- Women's Tennis Association
- World TeamTennis
Asia
- International Premier Tennis League (India, Japan, UAE, Singapore)
United States
Video gaming/Electronic sports
edit United States
Asia
- League of Legends Pro League (top level)
- ESL India Premiership
- Bangalore eSports League[26]
- UCypher (defunct)[27]
- League of Legends Master Series (top level)
Philippines
Southeast Asia
- Garena Premier League (second level)
Turkey
- ESL Turkey Premiership
- League of Legends Championship League
Multiple regions
- Halo Championship Series (United States, Europe, and Latin America)
- The International (Dota 2) (North America, Western Europe, China, Southeast Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe)
- League of Legends Championship Series (top-tier, Europe, and North America)
- Overwatch League (North America, Europe, and Asia)
- Rocket League Championship Series (Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America)
Enterprise Volleyball League (TVL) (both men and women)
Norwegian Volleyball League
- FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League
- FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League
- FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour
- Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship
- Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship
- CEV Champions League
- CEV Women's Champions League
- CEV Cup
- Women's CEV Cup
- CEV Challenge Cup
- CEV Women's Challenge Cup
- Baltic Men Volleyball League
- Baltic Women's Volleyball League
- MEVZA League
- NEVZA Clubs Championship
- African Clubs Championship (volleyball)
- Women's African Clubs Championship (volleyball)
- Arab Clubs Championship (volleyball)
- Women's Arab volleyball clubs championship
Bosnia and Herzegovina Water Polo League
Maltese Water Polo Premier League
- Regional Water Polo League (Adriatic Water Polo League)
- Nordic Water Polo League
- Asian Water Polo Clubs Championships
- LEN Champions League
- LEN Euro Cup
- LEN Super Cup
- FINA Water Polo World League
- World Club Water Polo Challenge
- LEN Euro League Women
- Women's LEN Trophy
See also
edit- List of professional sports leagues in Asia
- List of defunct professional sports leagues
- List of developmental and minor sports leagues
- Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada
- List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
- List of U.S. and Canadian cities by number of major professional sports teams
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
- List of sports
- List of sports attendance figures
- List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues
- List of professional sports leagues by revenue
- List of largest sports contracts
References
edit- ^ "Super Boxing League to be organised in association with WBC, PBOI". India.com. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Main Page - AFLwiki". Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Road Fc". Roadfc.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Top Fighting Championship". Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ "Enter Super Fight League - Experience Top MMA Fights". Superfightleague.com. Super Fight League.
- ^ "News, Results, Photos & Video - Official Site". WWE. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Homepage". Impactwrestling.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "The official website of AFL Asia". AFL-asia.com. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ a b "The official website of AFL Europe". AFLeurope.org. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "The official website of the Women's Australian Football League". womens.AFL. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "The official website of the South Australian National Football League". SANFL.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "The official website of the West Australian Football League". WAFL.com.au/. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "The official website of the Australian Football League". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "Official Site of the National Football League". National Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ Merk, Carson A. "Arena Football Home Page". Arenafootball.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "CFL.ca - Official site of the Canadian Football League". Archived from the original on 22 November 1996.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Brown, Wendy (17 July 2012). "Soldiers share football skills with German semi-pro team". United States Army. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ "AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN INDIA: ELITE FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF INDIA". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "Xリーグ 公式サイト". Xleague.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "LET Access Series - Home Page". Letaccess.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Ultimate Table Tennis raises hope for paddlers". The Indian Express. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "IAAF Diamond League". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
- ^ "Iesl.in". Archived from the original on 5 April 2015.
- ^ Ghoshal, Abhimanyu (19 January 2017). "India is getting its first major esports league". The Next Web.