How Many Sports Teams Does California Actually Have?

California is a massive playground for sports fans. From big‑time franchises to college powerhouses and local minor‑league clubs, the Golden State packs a serious punch. If you’ve ever wondered just how many teams call California home, you’re in the right place.

Major professional teams by league

Let’s start with the headline‑makers – the teams you see on national TV. In the five major U.S. leagues California fields:

NFL (football): 4 teams – the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Oakland‑era Raiders (now the Las Vegas Raiders, so California currently has three active NFL teams).

NBA (basketball): 2 teams – the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

MLB (baseball): 2 teams – the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.

NHL (hockey): 2 teams – the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks.

MLS (soccer): 3 teams – LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, and the San Jose Earthquakes.

That’s 11 major‑league franchises, and they each have a huge fan base across the state.

College powerhouses and other levels

College sports add another layer. The NCAA Division I schools with big programs include UCLA, USC, Stanford, California‑Berkeley, San Diego State, and many more. In total, California has over 60 Division I schools, each fielding teams in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and a slew of other sports.

Beyond the big colleges, there are dozens of Division II, Division III, and community‑college teams. If you count every varsity squad, you easily pass the 100‑team mark.

Then there are the minor‑league and semi‑professional clubs. Baseball’s Triple‑A Pacific Coast League has teams like the Sacramento River Cats and the Las Vegas Aviators (formerly a California team). Hockey’s AHL, indoor soccer, and independent baseball leagues each add a handful of clubs.

All told, California hosts roughly:

• 11 major‑league franchises
• ~60 Division I college teams (each with multiple sport squads)
• ~30‑40 additional college programs across lower divisions
• ~15‑20 minor‑league and semi‑pro teams across baseball, hockey, soccer, and basketball

When you add every squad from every sport, the number climbs past 100, making California one of the most sports‑dense states in the country.

So whether you’re cheering for the Lakers on a Sunday night, rooting for the Bruins during college season, or catching a minor‑league baseball game on a weekend, you’re part of a huge, diverse sports community. That’s the California sports scene in a nutshell – big, varied, and always exciting.