What Sports Teams Does Arizona Have?

In the state of Arizona, there are five major professional sports teams for fans to watch, enjoy, and cheer for. There are two basketball teams and one team each for hockey, football, and baseball fans. All five teams play their games in the greater Phoenix area. We will list and discuss each team in greater detail below.

What Are the Biggest Sports Teams in Arizona?

Below are the professional sports teams located in Arizona:

• Arizona Cardinals
• Arizona Coyotes
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Phoenix Mercury
• Phoenix Suns

Arizona Cardinals

• Sport: Football
• League: NFL
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Stadium: State Farm Stadium
• Founded: 1898
• Championships: 2 (pre-Super Bowl Era)

One of the NFL’s original charter franchises, the Arizona Cardinals franchise was founded way back in 1898, more than 20 years before the NFL started. They were originally known as the Morgan Athletic Club and were founded in Chicago, Illinois. They have gone by several names over the years, most notably the Chicago Cardinals (1922-1943, 1945-1959), then moving to St. Louis and becoming the St. Louis Cardinals (1960-1987), before finally moving to Phoenix and becoming the Phoenix Cardinals (1988-1994). The team finally became the Arizona Cardinals in 1994. As for championships, the team won two NFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl Era, in 1925 and 1947, although they have yet to win a Super Bowl.

Arizona Coyotes

• Sport: Hockey
• League: NHL
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Stadium: Mullett Arena
• Founded: 1971
• Championships: 0

Originally a member of the World Hockey Association (WHA), the Arizona Coyotes were founded in 1971. They were initially based in Winnipeg and called the Winnipeg Jets, where they remained from 1971-1996, through their merger into the NHL in 1979. In 1996, they moved to Phoenix and became the Phoenix Coyotes, taking the name Arizona Coyotes in 2014. Unfortunately for Coyotes’ fans, the team has yet to win a Stanley Cup or even make it to a Stanley Cup Finals. Their fanbase will be looking for some more success in the near future.

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Sport: Baseball
• League: MLB
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Stadium: Chase Field
• Founded: 1998
• Championships: 1

One of the youngest teams in MLB, the Arizona Diamondbacks were an expansion franchise founded in 1998. They have been the Arizona Diamondbacks for the entirety of their 25 years of existence. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, the Diamondbacks already have one World Series title to their name. They won it all in just their third year of existence, taking home the World Series Trophy in 2001. They have also won the NL West division on five occasions (1999, 2002, 2002, 2007, and 2011). While they have fallen on hard times in recent years, fans hope that their nucleus of young players will bring more success to the team in the near future.

Phoenix Mercury

• Sport: Basketball
• League: WNBA
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Stadium: Footprint Center
• Founded: 1997
• Championships: 3

One of the eight original franchises of the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury have been one of the league's most successful teams. The Mercury were one of the eight founding teams when the WNBA began play in 1997. After losing the WNBA Finals in the second season of the league in 1998, the Mercury have gone on to win three championships (2007, 2009, and 2014). All three of their title runs were led by WNBA legend and all-time great Diana Taurasi, who is currently the league’s all-time leading scorer. In 2022, the Mercury experienced their first losing season since 2016, so they will look to rebound and get back to their winning ways in the future.

Phoenix Suns

• Sport: Basketball
• League: NBA
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Stadium: Footprint Center
• Founded: 1968
• Championships: 0

The final major sports team in Arizona, the Phoenix Suns are the second basketball team on this list. They are an expansion franchise that was founded in 1968, and they have been the Phoenix Suns that entire time. While they have yet to win a championship, they do have three NBA Finals appearances. In 1976, 1993, and 2021, the Suns came close to winning it all, but they were defeated each time in the Finals by the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, and the Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. Suns fans are hoping the talented roster they have in place will keep them in title contention for years to come.

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