What Sports Teams Does New York Have?

As the fourth most-populated state in the United States, New York has plenty of sports fans. When it comes to professional sports teams in the state, the vast majority of them are located in the New York City metropolitan area, but there are a few located in upstate New York as well. Below, each major professional team in New York is briefly discussed.

What Are The Biggest Sports Teams in New York?

Below are the professional sports teams located in New York, listed in alphabetical order:

• Brooklyn Nets
• Buffalo Bills
• Buffalo Sabers
• New York City FC
• New York Giants
• New York Gotham FC
• New York Islanders
• New York Jets
• New York Knicks
• New York Liberty
• New York Mets
• New York Rangers
• New York Red Bulls
• New York Yankees

Brooklyn Nets

• Sport: Basketball
• Stadium: Barclays Center
• Location: Brooklyn, New York
• Established: 1967
• League: NBA, Atlantic Division
• Championships: 2
• Television Network: YES Network, WWOR-TV
• Radio Network: WFAN-AM 660AM

The first of two New York basketball teams, the Brooklyn Nets play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Originally, when they were first established in 1967, the Nets were a part of the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). They won two ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 before the NBA absorbed the ABA in 1977. Since joining the NBA, the Nets have yet to win a championship.

Buffalo Bills

• Sport: Football
• Stadium: Highmark Stadium
• Location: Orchard Park, New York
• Established: 1960
• League: NFL, AFC East Division
• Championships: 2
• Television Network: WCBS-TV
• Radio Network: WGR 550

One of the two major professional sports teams residing in upstate New York, the Buffalo Bills are an NFL team that play their games just outside of Buffalo in Orchard Park, New York. Since the Jets and Giants both play in New Jersey, the Bills are technically the only NFL team that actually plays in New York. Like the Jets, the Bills were originally in the AFL prior to the two leagues merging in 1970. Prior to the merger, the Bills won two AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. Since the merger, however, they have yet to win a Super Bowl, losing four straight from 1991-1994. 

Buffalo Sabers

• Sport: Hockey
• Stadium: KeyBank Center
• Location: Buffalo, New York
• Established: 1970
• League: NHL, Atlantic Division
• Championships: 0
• Television Network: MSG Network, MSG Plus
• Radio Network: WGR 550

The Buffalo Sabers are an NHL team that play their games in downtown Buffalo, New York. They joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1970, and since then, they have yet to win a Stanley Cup. They have reached the Stanley Cup Finals three times, but they were defeated on all three occasions. 

New York City FC

• Sport: Soccer
• Stadium: Yankee Stadium
• Location: The Bronx, New York
• Established: 2013
• League: MLS, Eastern Conference
• Championships: 1
• Television Network: Yes Network
• Radio Network: WFAN-AM 660AM; WFAN-FM101.9FM

The opposite of the Yankees, New York City FC (NYCFC) are the youngest pro sports team in New York. NYCFC is a soccer team that plays in Major League Soccer (MLS). NYCFC play their home games in Yankee Stadium, proving it to be one of many multi-purpose sports facilities in New York City. Despite being less than 10 years old, NYCFC already have a championship, taking home the MLS Cup in 2021.

New York Giants

• Sport: Football
• Stadium: MetLife Stadium
• Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Established: 1925
• League: NFL, NFC East Division
• Championships: 8
• Television Network: WNBC
• Radio Network: WFAN-AM 660AM; WFAN-FM101.9FM

The second-oldest pro sports team in New York, the New York Giants are a professional football team that play in the National Football League. Although they have the New York name, the Giants play their games in New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from the city. The Giants were one of five teams who joined the NFL in 1925, and they are the only one of the five still playing today. They have won eight NFL Championships, known since 1967 as the Super Bowl.

New York Gotham FC

• Sport: Soccer
• Stadium: Red Bull Arena
• Location: Harrison, New Jersey
• Established: 2007
• League: NWSL
• Championships: 1
• Television Network: NA
• Radio Network: NA

The first women’s sports team on this list, New York Gotham FC (originally known as Sky Blue FC until 2021) are a member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). They share a stadium with the New York Red Bulls, so they also play in Harrison, New Jersey. Sky Blue FC were an original member of the now-defunct Women's Professional Soccer League (WPSL) before joining the NWSL in 2013. They won the first WPSL championship in 2009 but have yet to take home the championship in the NWSL.

New York Islanders

• Sport: Hockey
• Stadium: UBS Arena
• Location: Elmont, New York
• Established: 1972
• League: NHL, Metropolitan Division
• Championships: 4
• Television Network: MSG Network, MSG Plus
• Radio Network: WBBR 1130 AM, WRHU 88.7FM

The second hockey team on this list, the New York Islanders play in the National Hockey League (NHL) alongside the Sabers and the Rangers. Appropriately named, the Islanders are the only one of New York’s major sports teams to play on Long Island, playing their games in Elmont, New York. An NHL expansion team created in 1972, the Islanders have four NHL championships, known as Stanley Cups. They won all four in a row from 1979-1982.

New York Jets

• Sport: Football
• Stadium: MetLife Stadium
• Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Established: 1960
• League: NFL, AFC East Division
• Championships: 1
• Television Network: WCBS-TV
• Radio Network: WEPN-FM 98.7FM

The Giants’ younger brother, in a sense, the New York Jets are the other NFL team in New York. Since they share a stadium, the Jets also technically play their home games in New Jersey. When they were established in 1960, the Jets were a member of the NFL’s rival, the American Football League (AFL). Eventually, the two leagues merged in 1970 after playing a championship game against each other for three years. The Jets won the third of those championships in 1969, still their only Super Bowl to date.

New York Knicks

• Sport: Basketball
• Stadium: Madison Square Garden
• Location: New York, New York (Manhattan)
• Established: 1946
• League: NBA, Atlantic Division
• Championships: 2
• Television Network: MSG Network
• Radio Network: WEPN-FM 98.7FM

The older of the two NBA teams in New York, the New York Knicks were established in 1946 as one of the founding members of the NBA. The Knicks were one of 11 founding members of the league that has become the biggest basketball league in the world. They have won two championships in their long history, winning them both in a four-year span in 1970 and 1973.

New York Liberty

• Sport: Basketball
• Stadium: Barclays Center
• Location: Brooklyn, New York
• Established: 1997
• League: WNBA, Eastern Conference
• Championships: 0
• Television Network: YES Network
• Radio Network: N/A

The second of the two women’s teams on this list, the New York Liberty are a member of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Sticking with the theme of founding franchises, the Liberty are one of the eight original WNBA teams founded in 1997. Despite being one of the original teams, the Liberty have yet to win a WNBA championship. They have reached the WNBA finals three times, but they lost each time.

New York Mets

• Sport: Baseball
• Stadium: Citi Field
• Location: Queens, New York
• Established: 1962
• League: MLB, National League East
• Championships: 2
• Television Network: SportsNet New York; WPIX
• Radio Network: WCBS-AM 880 AM

The New York Mets are a professional baseball team that are a part of Major League Baseball (MLB). They were created in 1962 in response to the city of New York having lost the New York Giants (now in San Francisco) and Brooklyn Dodgers (now in Los Angeles) a few years earlier. They have won two championships, known as the World Series in the MLB, in their history, with victories in 1969 and 1986.

New York Rangers

• Sport: Hockey
• Stadium: Madison Square Garden
• Location: New York, New York (Manhattan)
• Established: 1926
• League: NHL, Metropolitan Division
• Championships: 4
• Television Network: MSG Network, MSG Plus
• Radio Network: WEPN-FM 98.7FM

The oldest of New York’s hockey teams, the New York Rangers are one of the original six NHL teams. Unlike the NFL, all six original NHL teams from 1926 are still in existence today. The Rangers share Madison Square Garden with the Knicks since the arena is a multi-purpose facility, like Yankee Stadium. Throughout their history, they have won four Stanley Cups (1928, 1933, 1940, 1994). 

New York Red Bulls

• Sport: Soccer
• Stadium: Red Bull Arena
• Location: Harrison, New Jersey
• Established: 1995
• League: MLS, Eastern Conference
• Championships: 0
• Television Network: MSG Network, MSG Plus
• Radio Network: WFAN-AM 660AM; WFAN-FM101.9FM

Yet another foundational team located in New York, the New York Red Bulls helped to establish the MLS in 1995. Like the Jets and Giants, the Red Bulls play their games across the Hudson River in Harrison, New Jersey. Originally, they were known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, but their name was changed when they were sold to Red Bull GmbH in 2006. Although they are 18 years older than NYCFC, they have yet to take home an MLS Cup. They did reach the final in 2008, however, they lost to the Columbus Crew 3-1.   

New York Yankees

• Sport: Baseball
• Stadium: Yankee Stadium
• Location: The Bronx, New York
• Established: 1901
• League: MLB, American League East
• Championships: 27
• Television Network: YES Network, WWOR-TV
• Radio Network: WFAN-AM 660AM; WFAN-FM 101.9FM

Without a doubt, the most recognizable sports team in New York (and perhaps the world), the final team on our list is the New York Yankees. Like the Mets, the Yankees are a professional baseball team that play in the MLB. They are the oldest professional sports team in the state of New York, having been established in 1901. They are also by far the most successful team in the history of the MLB, having 27 World Series titles to their name. For context, the St. Louis Cardinals are second with 11 World Series. The Yankees are perhaps the most famous sports team in America and have cemented themselves as a vital part of the country and city’s culture.