List of professional sports teams in Illinois
Current professional sports teams
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" |
| style="background:blue;" colspan="5"| Major professional teams |
|---|
| Club
!Sport !League !Founded !Note |
| Chicago Cubs
|1875 | |
| Chicago White Sox
|Baseball |Major League Baseball |1894 |Based in Chicago since 1900 |
| Chicago Bulls
|National Basketball Association |1966 |
| Chicago Sky
|Basketball |Women's National Basketball Association |2005 | |
| Chicago Bears
|1919 | |
| Chicago Blackhawks
|1926 | |
| Chicago Hounds
|2022 | |
| Chicago Fire FC
|1997 | |
| Chicago Red Stars
|Soccer |National Women's Soccer League |2007 | |
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" |
| style="background:blue;" colspan="5"| Minor professional teams |
|---|
| Club
! Sport ! League ! Founded ! Note |
| Peoria Chiefs
|Baseball |1983 | |
| Kane County Cougars
|Baseball |1991 | |
| Chicago Dogs
|Baseball |American Association |2018 | |
| Gateway Grizzlies
|Baseball |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 |2016 |0 |
| Quad City Steamwheelers
|Football |2018 | |
| Chicago Wolves
|Ice hockey |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 |2000 | |
| Chicago Mustangs
|2012 | |
| Chicago Fire FC II
|Soccer |2021 | |
| Peoria City
|Soccer |2020 | |
| Windy City Rollers
|Women's Flat Track Derby Association |2005 | |
| Chicago Union
|American Ultimate Disc League |2013 |Founded as Windy City Wildfire |
Former professional sports teams
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Club ! Sport ! League ! Seasons ! Note |
| Bloomington Edge
|Football |United Indoor Football |2006–2018 | Was known as the Bloomington Extreme from 2006 to 2011 |
| Chicago American Gears
|Basketball |National Basketball League |1944–1947 | |
| Chicago Bandits
|2005–2021 | |
| Chicago Blaze
|Ice hockey |2009 | |
| Chicago Blitz
|Football |United States Football League |1983–1984 | |
| Chicago Bruisers
|Football |1987–1989 | |
| Chicago Cardinals
|Football |1898–1959 |Moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Cardinals, moved again to the Phoenix area and are now the Arizona Cardinals |
| Chicago Cats
|Soccer |1975–1976 |
| Chicago Condors
|Basketball |1998 | |
| Chicago Cougars
|Ice hockey |1972–1975 | |
| Chicago Enforcers
|Football |XFL |2001 | |
| Chicago Express
|Ice hockey |ECHL |2010–2011 | |
| Chicago Fire
|American football |1974 | |
| Chicago Fire Premier
|Soccer |USL Premier Development League |2001–2016 | |
| Chicago Hounds
|Ice hockey |2006–2007 | |
| Chicago Hustle
|Basketball |Women's Professional Basketball League |1978–1981 | |
| Chicago Machine
|2006–2010 | |
| Chicago Mustangs
|Soccer |1967–1968 | |
| Chicago Packers/Chicago Zephyrs
|Basketball |National Basketball Association |1961–1962 (Packers) |Moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Bullets, moved again to Washington, D.C., and are now the Washington Wizards |
| Chicago Power
|Soccer |American Indoor Soccer Association (1988–1990) |1988–1996 | |
| Chicago Rockstars
|Basketball |American Basketball Association |2006–2007 | |
| Chicago Rush
|Football |2001–2008, 2010–2013 | |
| Chicago Shamrox
|Lacrosse |2006–2008 | |
| Chicago Skyliners
|Basketball |American Basketball Association |2000–2001 | Moved to Nevada and became the Las Vegas Slam |
| Chicago Slaughter
|Football |2006 | |
| Chicago Stags
|Basketball |National Basketball Association |1946–1950 | |
| Chicago Sting
|Soccer |North American Soccer League (1975–1984) |1975–1988 | |
| Chicago Thunder
|Volleyball |United States Professional Volleyball League |2002 | |
| Chicago Tigers
|Football |American Professional Football Association |1920 | |
| Chicago Winds
|Football |1975 | |
| Danville Dashers
|Ice hockey |Federal Prospects Hockey League |2011–2020 | |
| Decatur Staleys
|Football |National Football League (1920–1921) |1919–1920 (Decatur) |Moved to Chicago to become the Chicago Staleys and then changed their name to the Chicago Bears. |
| Lake County Fielders
|Baseball |Northern League (2010) |2010–11 | |
| Normal CornBelters
|Baseball |Frontier League |2009–2018 |Moved to the Prospect League |
| Peoria Rivermen
|Ice hockey |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 |1984–1996 |Moved to San Antonio, Texas, to become the San Antonio Dragons. |
| Peoria Pirates
|Football |AF2 |1999–2009 | |
| Peoria Prancers
|Ice hockey |1982–1984 |Became the Peoria Rivermen |
| Quad City Flames
|Ice hockey |2007–2009 |Moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, as the Abbotsford Heat |
| Quad City Mallards
|Ice hockey |1995–2007 | |
| Quad City Mallards
|Ice hockey |International Hockey League |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 |2005–2012 | |
| Rockford RiverHawks/Aviators
|Baseball |Frontier League |1993–2008, 2011–2015 | |
| Rockford Thunder
|Fastpitch softball |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
References
{{reflist}}
{{Lists of professional sports teams by U.S. state}}
{{Chicagosports}}
{{Illinois Sports}}