New York Sports Teams
New York is a state that is rich in professional sport history and currently has teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), and the Women's Basketball Association (WNBA). New York is a populous, metropolitan city that also has an abundance of semi-professional and college level sports teams. Check out eight professional sports teams that call New York home.
8. New York Giants
The Giants had their first season with the National Football League (NFL) in 1925, and they won their first game 26-0 in front of 10,000 people in Connecticut. The team has claimed four Super Bowl Championships in the modern era of the game (1986, 1990, 2007,2011) as well as winning four NFL championships before the first Super Bowl which took place in 1967. The Philadelphia Eagles are considered the Giants' primary rivals and their tough games can be traced back as far as 1933. Perhaps the most well-known current Giants player is Odell Beckham Junior, a wide receiver who is famed for his fantastic catching abilities and athleticism. The New York Giants have a unique intercity rivalry with the New York Jets who surprisingly share the same stadium.
7. New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team that plays in the NFL alongside the Giants. The Jets played their first NFL season in 1970 and their team colours are green and white. The most prolific player to have played for the Jets is quarterback Joe Namath who played from 1965 until 1976. As well as having a cross-town rivalry with the New York Giants, the Jets are also fierce rivals with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. Although the franchise has struggled with consistency, there are many devoted fans of the New York Jets within the city and around the world.
6. New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team that competes in Major League Baseball (MLB) and was established in 1962. From 1964 until 2008, the Mets played in the famous Shea Stadium, and the team has won two World Series Championships in their history. The blue and orange of their uniforms honor two defunct New York baseball teams, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. Based in Queens, New York, the Mets versus Yankees games are often called the "Subway Series" because the subway can take fans to and from each stadium, depending on where the teams are playing each other.
5. New York Yankees
The New York Yankees baseball team are perhaps the most well-known baseball team on the entire planet. With a storied history and many great players have worn their pinstripe uniform, the Yankees arguably have the most significant fan base in America and the world at whole. Established in 1901, the Yankees play in the MLB's American League Division, and their home stadium is based in the Bronx. The franchise has won a staggering 27 World Series Titles, which is the most titles won by any American professional sports team in any of the major sports. The team is valued at approximately $3.7 billion which makes the Yankees the second highest valued American sports franchise.
4. New York Liberty
The New York Liberty are a professional basketball team playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and are based at Madison Square Garden. The team was founded in 1997 and the Liberty are one of the original eight WNBA teams who competed during that first season. Although the team has made the league finals four times, the Liberty have never won a championship. The past three seasons have seen the Liberty win their conference during the regular season and qualify for the playoffs with the highest seeding.
3. New York Islanders
The New York Islanders ice-hockey team plays in the National Hockey League (NHL), and they were founded in 1972. The fan base of the team primarily resides in the Long Island region of New York, which is where the Islanders played their games for close to 35 years. They have since relocated to Brooklyn.Eight former members of the New York Islanders have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, but the team has struggled in recent years. The Islanders have won four Stanley Cup Championships (1980, 81, 82, 83) and the organization during this period is still considered one of the greatest dynasties in professional sports history.
2. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team that plays in the National Hockey League (NHL) and was one of the original six franchises of the league, founded in 1926. The team became the first American based team to win the Stanley Cup (NHL championship) in 1928 which they additionally won in 1933, 1940, and 1994. The Rangers play at Madison Square Garden which is a legendary sports and entertainment venue in the heart of New York City. The “Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, played his last NHL game for the franchise in 1999 and the team has had several other high-profile signings over its rich history.
1. New York City FC
New York City Football Club (NYCFC) is a professional football (soccer) team that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). The football club has been playing in the MLS since 2015 as an expansion team of the league. NYCFC shares the same stadium as the New York Yankees which can hold 28,000 people for this type of event. The main sponsors for the team are Etihad Airways, Adidas, and Heineken, who all have logos on the team jerseys. The rivalry that NYFC has with New Jersey based club the Red Bulls has gained traction as a derby match, with their matches earning the name the "Hudson River Derby".
