List of professional sports teams in Michigan


Michigan has a number of professional and semi-professional sports teams in various sports and leagues.

Major league teams

Michigan is home to four major-league professional sports teams, all of which play in the Detroit metropolitan area. The Pistons played at Detroit's Cobo Arena until 1978 and at the Pontiac Silverdome until 1988, when they moved into the Palace of Auburn Hills where they played for 28 years between 1988 and 2017, before moving back inside city limits to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in 2017. The Detroit Lions played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit until 1974, then moved to the Pontiac Silverdome where they played for 27 years between 1975 and 2002, before moving to Ford Field in Detroit in 2002. The Detroit Tigers played at Tiger Stadium from 1912 to 1999. In 2000 they moved to Comerica Park. The Red Wings played at Olympia Stadium until 1979, Joe Louis Arena from 1979 to 2017, and then to Little Caesars Arena beginning in 2017.

Other notable sports teams

ClubSportLeagueMetro Area
Battle Creek Battle JacksBaseballSummer Collegiate Baseball, Northwoods LeagueBattle Creek
Kalamazoo GrowlersBaseballSummer Collegiate Baseball, Northwoods LeagueKalamazoo
Saginaw Sugar BeetsBaseballSummer Collegiate Baseball, Great Lakes Summer Collegiate LeagueSaginaw
Utica UnicornsBaseballUnited Shore Professional Baseball LeagueUtica
Eastside Diamond HoppersBaseballUnited Shore Professional Baseball LeagueDetroit
Birmingham Bloomfield BeaversBaseballUnited Shore Professional Baseball LeagueDetroit
Westside Woolly MammothsBaseballUnited Shore Professional Baseball LeagueDetroit
Lansing LugnutsBaseballMinor League Baseball, Midwest LeagueLansing
Great Lakes LoonsBaseballMinor League Baseball, Midwest LeagueMidland
Traverse City Pit SpittersBaseballNorthwoods LeagueTraverse City
West Michigan WhitecapsBaseballMinor League Baseball, Midwest LeagueGrand Rapids
Grand Rapids GoldBasketballNBA G LeagueGrand Rapids
Motor City CruiseBasketballNBA G LeagueDetroit
Detroit Coast II Coast All-StarsBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationDetroit
Flint-Vehicle City ChargersBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationFlint
Grand Rapids DangerBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationGrand Rapids
Lansing StingBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationLansing
Motor City FirebirdsBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationDetroit
Oakland County CowboysBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationDetroit
Team NetWorkBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationDetroit
West Michigan Lake HawksBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationMuskegon
Grand Rapids FusionBasketballIndependent Basketball AssociationGrand Rapids
Lansing CapitalsBasketballIndependent Basketball AssociationLansing
Grand Rapids CyclonesBasketballPremier Basketball LeagueGrand Rapids
Lake Michigan AdmiralsBasketballPremier Basketball LeagueBenton Harbor
Michigan PanthersFootballUnited States Football League (2022)TBD
Grand Rapids GriffinsIce hockeyAmerican Hockey LeagueGrand Rapids
Kalamazoo WingsIce hockeyECHLKalamazoo
Motor City RockersIce hockeyFederal Prospects Hockey LeagueFraser
Port Huron ProwlersIce hockeyFederal Prospects Hockey LeaguePort Huron
West Michigan IronmenIndoor footballAmerican Arena LeagueMuskegon
Waza FloIndoor soccerSoccer LeagueFlint
Waza PremierIndoor soccerPremier Arena Soccer LeagueFlint
AFC Ann ArborSoccerNational Premier Soccer LeagueAnn Arbor
Detroit City FCSoccerUSL ChampionshipDetroit
Grand Rapids FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer League, United Women's SoccerGrand Rapids
Kalamazoo FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer LeagueKalamazoo
Lansing UnitedSoccerUnited Women's SoccerLansing
Michigan Stars FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer LeagueDetroit
Flint City BucksSoccerUSL League TwoFlint
Ole SCSoccerPremier League of AmericaGrand Rapids
Carpathia FCSoccerUnited Premier Soccer LeagueDetroit
Muskegon Risers SCSoccerUnited Premier Soccer LeagueMuskegon
Oakland County FCSoccerUnited Premier Soccer LeagueDetroit
PASS FCSoccerUnited Premier Soccer LeagueGrand Rapids
Detroit MechanixUltimateAmerican Ultimate Disc LeagueGrand Rapids
Ann Arbor Derby DimesRoller derbyWomen's Flat Track Derby Association
Detroit Roller DerbyRoller derbyWomen's Flat Track Derby AssociationDetroit
Flint City Derby GirlsRoller derbyWomen's Flat Track Derby AssociationFlint
Grand Raggidy Roller DerbyRoller derbyWomen's Flat Track Derby AssociationGrand Rapids
Killamazoo Derby DarlinsRoller derbyWomen's Flat Track Derby AssociationKalamazoo
Lansing Derby VixensRoller derbyWomen's Flat Track Derby AssociationLansing
Detroit BordercatsRoller hockeyNational Roller Hockey LeagueDetroit
Detroit StarsRoller hockeyNational Roller Hockey LeagueDearborn Heights
Motor City ReviveRoller hockeyNational Roller Hockey LeagueWest Bloomfield
Shelby SurgeRoller hockeyNational Roller Hockey LeagueShelby Charter Township
Detroit Dark AngelsWomen's footballFootball AllianceDetroit
West Michigan MayhemWomen's footballWomen's Football AllianceKalamazoo
Grand Rapids RiseWomen's volleyballPro Volleyball FederationGrand Rapids

Former professional teams

ClubSportLeagueStatus
Detroit DriveArena footballArena Football LeagueBecame the Massachusetts Marauders for the 1994 season, then was suspended for three years.
Detroit FuryArena footballArena Football LeagueFranchise terminated September 20, 2004
Grand Rapids RampageArena footballArena Football LeagueFranchise terminated March 5, 2010.
Detroit StarsBaseballNegro National League, 2nd Negro National League, Negro American LeagueThe team ceased operations in 1960
Detroit WolverinesBaseballNational LeaguePlayed 1881–1888. Disbanded following the 1888 season; NL champions and "World Series" champions, 1887
Kalamazoo KingsBaseballMinor League Baseball, Frontier LeagueCeased operations in the 2011 season
Oakland County CruisersBaseballMinor League Baseball, Frontier LeagueMoved to London, Ontario in 2012 and became the London Rippers
Detroit ShockBasketballWomen's National Basketball AssociationMoved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and became the Tulsa Shock; would move again to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and are now the Dallas Wings.
Detroit GemsBasketballNational Basketball LeagueMoved to Minneapolis and became the Minneapolis Lakers; would move again to Los Angeles and are now the Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit FalconsBasketballBasketball Association of AmericaDefunct
Michigan MayhemBasketballContinental Basketball AssociationDisbanded after 2005-2006 season
Holland DreamBasketballIndependent Basketball Association
Battle Creek FlightBasketballIndependent Basketball Association
Battle Creek KnightsBasketballPremier Basketball League
Detroit PanthersBasketballPremier Basketball League
Mid-Michigan DestroyersBasketballPremier Basketball League
Detroit Heralds/Tigers/Panthers/WolverinesFootballNational Football LeagueDefunct
Detroit DemolitionFootballIndependent Women's Football League
Detroit WheelsFootballWorld Football LeagueMoved to Charlotte, North Carolina for one game, then disbanded in the middle of the 1974 season
Michigan PanthersFootballUnited States Football LeagueDefunct
Flint GeneralsIce hockeyInternational Hockey LeagueDisbanded in 2010 when IHL merged into the AHL.
Michigan StagsIce hockeyWorld Hockey AssociationMoved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Blades for the rest of the team's existence
Detroit VipersIce hockeyInternational Hockey LeagueDisbanded when IHL folded
Port Huron IceHawksIce hockeyInternational Hockey League
St. Clair Shores Fighting SaintsIce hockeyFederal Hockey LeagueRelocated to Kingsville, Ontario
Saginaw StingIndoor footballAmerican Indoor Football
Battle Creek CrunchIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Detroit ThunderIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Flint PhantomsIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Kalamazoo XplosionIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Motor City ReapersIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Muskegon ThunderIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Port Huron PatriotsIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Port Huron PiratesIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Port Huron PredatorsIndoor footballContinental Indoor Football League
Flint FlamesIndoor footballIndoor Football League
West Michigan ThunderHawksIndoor footballIndoor Football League
Detroit CaesarsSoftballAmerican Professional Slo-Pitch LeagueDisbanded in 1979.
Detroit Auto KingsSoftballNorth American Softball LeagueDisbanded in 1980.
Detroit IgnitionIndoor soccerXtreme Soccer LeagueLeague folded in 2009
Detroit SafariIndoor soccerContinental Indoor Soccer LeagueLeague folded in 1997.
Detroit LightningIndoor soccerProfessionalRelocated in 1980 to become the San Francisco Fog (MISL)
Detroit ExpressSoccerNorth American Soccer League1981, Moved to become Washington Diplomats, Lasted 1 year. League folded in 1984
Kalamazoo KingdomSoccerUSL Premier Development LeagueFolded in 2006.
Lansing Ignite FCSoccerUSL League OneFolded
Michigan HawksSoccerW-LeagueFolded after the 2008 season.
Michigan PhoenixSoccerWomen's Premier Soccer LeagueLeft the WPSL and terminated in 2006
West Michigan EdgeSoccerUSL Premier Development LeagueFolded after the 2008 season.
West Michigan FirewomenSoccerW-League
Grand Rapids ChicksWomen's baseballAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueLeague folded in 1954.
Kalamazoo LassiesWomen's baseballAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueLeague folded in 1954.
Muskegon BellesWomen's baseballAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueLeague folded in 1954.
Muskegon LassiesWomen's baseballAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueMoved to Kalamazoo in 1950.