List of professional sports teams in Illinois explained

The following is a list of current and former professional sports teams in Illinois.

Current professional sports teams

Major professional teams
ClubSportLeagueFoundedNote
Chicago CubsBaseballMajor League Baseball1875
Chicago White SoxBaseballMajor League Baseball1894Based in Chicago since 1900
Chicago BullsBasketballNational Basketball Association1966
Chicago SkyBasketballWomen's National Basketball Association2005
Chicago BearsFootballNational Football League1919
Chicago BlackhawksIce hockeyNational Hockey League1926
Chicago HoundsRugby unionMajor League Rugby2022
Chicago Fire FCSoccerMajor League Soccer1997
Chicago Red StarsSoccerNational Women's Soccer League2007
Minor professional teams
ClubSportLeagueFoundedNote
Peoria ChiefsBaseballMidwest League1983
Kane County CougarsBaseballAmerican Association1991
Chicago DogsBaseballAmerican Association2018
Gateway GrizzliesBaseballFrontier League2001
Joliet SlammersBaseballFrontier League2002
Schaumburg BoomersBaseballFrontier League2012
Windy City ThunderBoltsBaseballFrontier League1995Formerly the Cook County Cheetahs
Windy City BullsBasketballNBA G League20160
Quad City SteamwheelersFootballIndoor Football League2018
Chicago WolvesIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League1994
Rockford IceHogsIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League1991
Bloomington BisonIce HockeyECHL2024
Peoria RivermenIce hockeySouthern Professional Hockey League2013
Quad City StormIce hockeySouthern Professional Hockey League2009Founded as the Louisiana IceGators
Chicago SteelIce hockeyUnited States Hockey League2000
Chicago MustangsIndoor soccerMajor Arena Soccer League 22012
Chicago Fire FC IISoccerMLS Next Pro2021
Peoria CitySoccerUSL League Two2020
Windy City RollersRoller DerbyWomen's Flat Track Derby Association2005
Chicago UnionUltimateAmerican Ultimate Disc League2013Founded as Windy City Wildfire

Former professional sports teams

ClubSportLeagueSeasonsNote
Bloomington EdgeFootballUnited Indoor Football
Indoor Football League
Champions Professional Indoor Football League
X-League Indoor Football
Champions Indoor Football
2006–2018Was known as the Bloomington Extreme from 2006 to 2011
Chicago American GearsBasketballNational Basketball League
Professional Basketball League of America
1944–1947
Chicago BanditsFastpitch softballNational Pro Fastpitch2005–2021
Chicago BlazeIce hockeyAll American Hockey League2009
Chicago BlitzFootballUnited States Football League1983–1984
Chicago BruisersFootballArena Football League1987–1989
FootballNational Football League1898–1959Moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Cardinals, moved again to the Phoenix area and are now the Arizona Cardinals
Chicago CatsSoccerAmerican Soccer League1975–1976
Chicago CondorsBasketballAmerican Basketball League1998
Chicago CougarsIce hockeyWorld Hockey Association1972–1975
Chicago EnforcersFootballXFL2001
Chicago ExpressIce hockeyECHL2010–2011
Chicago FireAmerican footballWorld Football League1974
Chicago Fire PremierSoccerUSL Premier Development League2001–2016
Chicago HoundsIce hockeyUnited Hockey League2006–2007
Chicago HustleBasketballWomen's Professional Basketball League1978–1981
Chicago MachineLacrosseMajor League Lacrosse2006–2010
Chicago MustangsSoccerNorth American Soccer League1967–1968
Chicago Packers/Chicago ZephyrsBasketballNational Basketball Association1961–1962 (Packers)
1962–1963 (Zephyrs)
Moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Bullets, moved again to Washington, D.C., and are now the Washington Wizards
Chicago PowerSoccerAmerican Indoor Soccer Association (1988–1990)
National Professional Soccer League (1990–1996)
1988–1996
Chicago RockstarsBasketballAmerican Basketball Association2006–2007
Chicago RushFootballArena Football League2001–2008, 2010–2013
Chicago ShamroxLacrosseNational Lacrosse League2006–2008
Chicago SkylinersBasketballAmerican Basketball Association2000–2001Moved to Nevada and became the Las Vegas Slam
Chicago SlaughterFootballIndoor Football League2006
Chicago StagsBasketballNational Basketball Association1946–1950
Chicago StingSoccerNorth American Soccer League (1975–1984)
Major Indoor Soccer League (1984–1988)
1975–1988
Chicago ThunderVolleyballUnited States Professional Volleyball League2002
Chicago TigersFootballAmerican Professional Football Association1920
Chicago WindsFootballWorld Football League1975
Danville DashersIce hockey Federal Prospects Hockey League2011–2020
FootballNational Football League (1920–1921)1919–1920 (Decatur)
1921 (Chicago)
1922–present (Chicago Bears)
Moved to Chicago to become the Chicago Staleys and then changed their name to the Chicago Bears.
Lake County FieldersBaseballNorthern League (2010)
North American League (2011)
2010–11
Normal CornBeltersBaseballFrontier League2009–2018Moved to the Prospect League
Peoria RivermenIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League2005–2013Moved to Utica, New York, to become the Utica Comets.
Peoria RivermenIce hockeyECHL1996–2005Ownership obtained an American Hockey League franchise.
Peoria RivermenIce hockeyInternational Hockey League1984–1996Moved to San Antonio, Texas, to become the San Antonio Dragons.
Peoria PiratesFootballAF21999–2009
Peoria PrancersIce hockeyInternational Hockey League1982–1984Became the Peoria Rivermen
Quad City FlamesIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League2007–2009Moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, as the Abbotsford Heat
Quad City MallardsIce hockeyUnited Hockey League1995–2007
Quad City MallardsIce hockeyInternational Hockey League
Central Hockey League
ECHL
2009–2018
Quad City SteamwheelersFootballAF21999–2009
Quad City ThunderBasketballContinental Basketball Association1987–2001
Rockford LightningBasketballContinental Basketball Association1986–2006
BaseballAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League1943–1954
Rockford RampageSoccerMajor Indoor Soccer League2005–2012
Rockford RiverHawks/AviatorsBaseballFrontier League1993–2008, 2011–2015
Rockford ThunderFastpitch softballNational Pro Fastpitch2007–2009
Schaumburg FlyersBaseballNorthern League1993–2010
Southern Illinois MinersBaseballFrontier League2007–2021
Tri-Cities BlackhawksBasketballNational Basketball League1946−1951The 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 BobcatsIce hockey Southern Professional Hockey League2021−2023The Bobcats ceased operations in mid-season on February 9, 2023.

See also