What Sports Teams Does Minnesota Have?

For sports fans, Minnesota is known as one of the toughest places for opposing teams to play in. If frigid temperatures aren’t enough, Minnesota is also home to some of the most fanatical fanbases in the sports world. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the teams that call Minnesota home.

What Are the Biggest Sports Teams in Minnesota?

Below are the professional teams located in Minnesota:

• Minnesota Lynx
• Minnesota ROKKR
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Minnesota Twins
• Minnesota United FC
• Minnesota Vikings
• Minnesota Whitecaps
• Minnesota Wild
• Minnesota Wind Chill

Minnesota Lynx

• Sport: Basketball
• League: WNBA
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Stadium: Target Center
• Founded: 1999
• Championships: 4

The Lynx began their first season at the turn of the century in 1999, and soon became one of the best teams in the WNBA. In fact, the Lynx are tied for the most WNBA Championships with four titles in a span of just six years. Out of the 23 seasons the team has played in the league, the Minnesota Lynx have made the playoffs in 11 of them. Maya Moore is known as one of the greatest players in team history, as she played an instrumental part in winning all four of the team’s titles.

Minnesota ROKKR

• Sport: Esports
• League: Call of Duty League
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Stadium: N/A
• Founded: 2019
• Championships: 0

Representing the upper midwest in the Call of Duty Esports league, the Minnesota Rokkr were founded in 2019. The team is owned by Wise Ventures, a private investment fund belonging to the Wilf family, the owners of the Minnesota Vikings. The ties to the Vikings explain the similar logo and Norse name, which is roughly translated as “Twilight of the Gods.” The team’s regular season runs from December to May, with playoffs beginning in January. The Rokkr have not won a league championship, but have won one stage title during the 2021 campaign. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Sport: Basketball
• League: NBA
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Stadium: Target Center
• Founded: 1989
• Championships: 0

Founded as an expansion team in 1989, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a rough introduction to the NBA. Things finally got better for them after the selection of forward Kevin Garnett in the 1995 NBA Draft, who would soon become the best player in the history of the franchise. The team has no NBA Championships, and the closest the Timberwolves have come to a Finals appearance was in the 2004 Western Conference Finals, where they lost in six games to a star-studded Lakers roster. In total, the team has 10 playoff appearances in their 34 seasons, along with a record of 1080-1612. The future does look bright for the Timberwolves, though, as the team’s number one draft pick in 2020, Anthony Edwards, has blossomed into a star over the past few seasons.

Minnesota Twins

• Sport: Baseball
• League: MLB
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Stadium: Target Field
• Founded: 1901
• Championships: 2

Founded in 1901 as the Washington Senators, the team that would become the Twins arrived in Minnesota for the 1961 MLB season. The move has worked out, as the team has seen much more success playing in Minneapolis than it did in the nation’s capital. Since the relocation, the Twins have reached the playoffs 14 times, won three pennants, and have been crowned World Series champions twice. The best player in team history is Walter Johnson, who was one of the best pitchers of all time during his career with the Senators. Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew are among the best batters in team history, with both players being inducted into the Hall of Fame after retiring.

Minnesota United FC

• Sport: Soccer
• League: MLS
• Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Stadium: Allianz Field
• Founded: 2015
• Championships: 0

The 23rd club to join the MLS, the “Loons” are still trying to get over the inherent difficulties that come with being an expansion team. Founded in 2015, ownership of Minnesota United was awarded to a group of Minnesota sports team owners, including the owners of the Wild and the Timberwolves. The club played their first and second seasons on the campus of the University of Minnesota before finally settling down in St. Paul, the first team on this list to play in the state’s capital city. Minnesota United’s best finish in the MLS was seventh place in 2019; the team has struggled to finish in the top 10 since then.

Minnesota Vikings

• Sport: Football
• League: NFL
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
• Founded: 1960
• Championships: 0

The Vikings have always been one of the better teams in the league ever since they were founded in 1960, but surprisingly, they have not won a single Super Bowl. The team has had several talented players on its roster throughout its history, including Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, and Randy Moss. They boast an all time record of 516-425-11, but also hold a more unfortunate record: four Super Bowl appearances without a win, which is tied with the Bills for the most in league history. However, the team has a bright future and an exciting offense filled with stars like Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook.

Minnesota Whitecaps

• Sport: Hockey
• League: PHF
• Location: Richfield, Minnesota
• Stadium: Richfield Ice Arena
• Founded: 2004
• Championships: 2 (1 Clarkson Cup, 1 Isobel Cup)

The Minnesota Whitecaps are one of seven teams that make up the Premier Hockey Federation, a women's hockey league that was formerly known as the NWHL, and which operates in the United States and Canada. Based in the Twin Cities’ suburb of Richfield, the Whitecaps were founded in 2004 as a member of the Western Women’s Hockey League. After the league was dissolved in 2011, the Whitecaps played exhibition games against college ice hockey teams before joining the PHF in 2018. The Whitecaps won the Isobel Cup, the PHF’s championship, in their inaugural 2018-2019 campaign.

Minnesota Wild

• Sport: Hockey
• League: NHL
• Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Stadium: Xcel Energy Center
• Founded: 2000
• Championships: 0

Founded right at the start of the 21st century in 2000, the Wild brought professional hockey back to Minnesota after the Minnesota North Stars left for Dallas in 1993. The team’s 845-642-55-167 (W-L-T-OTL) record is a good mark for an expansion team, thanks especially due to how competitive the team was during its infancy, reaching the NHL Conference Finals in only its third season. The team has made the playoffs 12 times in 22 seasons, but has not yet made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Some of the better players in the team’s history are winger Marian Gaborik and center Mikko Koivu.

Minnesota Wind Chill

• Sport: Ultimate Frisbee
• League: AUDL
• Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Stadium: Sea Foam Stadium
• Founded: 2013
• Championships: 0

The Wind Chill was founded in 2013 as Minnesota’s professional ultimate frisbee team. They joined the American Ultimate Disc League a year after it was founded and have experienced some success in the regular season, but not in the playoffs. The season takes place from May to August, and opponents include teams throughout the Midwest. In 2022, the team finished seventh in league standings. Tickets for adults are $12, youth tickets are $5, and kids 10 and under can go to the games for free, making it a very family friendly environment.

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