Sports have always played a significant role in American culture, fostering a sense of community, competition, and entertainment. With each passing year, the popularity of various sports continues to evolve, driven by factors such as media exposure, athlete performance, and fan engagement.
In this blog, we present the top 10 most popular sports in the USA. We have some interesting details about these sports in the USA that are trending in 2023.
The top sports played in the USA are not just limited to one or more than 2 categories but are dispersed into numerous categories. Several professional sports leagues are organized every year to entertain adults and youth in the USA.
Table Of Contents
List Of Top Sports Played In The USA
- Wrestling
- Boxing
- Golf
- Softball
- Tennis
- Soccer
- Ice Hockey
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Football
Conclusion
List Of Top Sports Played In The USA
To start with the top popular sports game in the USA, we will discuss their highest-paid players, league stats, fan following numbers, and their big events.
Let’s start with our list of top sports watched and played in the USA.
1. Wrestling
The wrestling we are going to discuss is linked with the Olympic games, and in the USA, professional wrestlers are extremely famous.
- Popular Player:
Tamyra Mensah, the freestyle wrestler’s net worth is more than $1 Million, and she won the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics 2021.
- Leagues:
Olympic wrestling is recorded among the top popular games in the USA, with more than 52 USA Wrestling Chartered Clubs generating top-class players in recent years.
- Fan Following:
More than 233 thousand fans are following wrestling games in all states of the USA. The registered athlete’s numbers grew to ten thousand, making Wrestling among the top popular sports in the USA in 2022.
2. Boxing
Boxing has been widely popular in the USA since the early ’60s’60s. Mohammad Ali and Mike Tyson set the professional boxing platform for the younger generation in the USA. Boxing numbers are rapidly increasing, with fresh athletes winning titles in MGM Grand and Madison Square Garden, making this sport popular every day.
- Popular Player:
Errol Spence, the highest-paid boxer in 2022, has a net worth of $8 million. Another great player Terence Crawford closed the gap to become the greatest professional American boxer in history.
- Leagues:
Cleveland National Boxing qualifiers are getting major attention from young athletes across the USA, with training camps in Colorado Springs getting packed actively. The local events are organized every year in all major states of the USA, creating the best opportunity for kids and professional adults to get drafted in national leagues.
- Fan Following:
The percentage of men participating in boxing is 70 percent, and women are more than 30 percent. The number of female boxers is gradually rising, with 60% of young athletes under the age of 40 being a major part of this amazing game.
3. Golf
Golf was known as a rich people’s game, but in the USA, it is considered among the oldest sports played by all races. The club and ball sports are played by American Presidents, and young players are slowly shifting to Golf in recent years.
- Popular Player:
Tiger Woods and Xander Schauffele are professional Golf players with a net worth of $800 Million in 2022.
- Leagues:
PGA Tour and LPGA are famous Golf leagues in the USA. Players such as Nelly Korda recently won the Olympic gold in Tokyo, creating more opportunities for young players to present America in the Olympics in future games.
- Fan Following:
More than 25 million people played Golf in 2021/2022, and the numbers are growing with new entrants showing their skills in PGA tour events.
4. Softball
The women’s favorite game is trending in 2022, and young college professional players are heavily involved in slowpitch and fastpitch tournaments. USA Softball recently announced the 2022 Women’s National Team World Games Rooster to encourage young athletes that can become a part of the American squad.
- Popular Player:
Gabbie Plain and Megan Faraimo are among the best players in USA softball, with a net worth of $2 million in 2022. The softball stats show the female percentage is high as compare to any other game play in the USA, making it the most popular sport in the USA.
- Leagues:
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) is the famous softball league played in the USA, and in 2022, they plan to expand the sport across the globe. The Softball International Cup is another grand stage for women to participate in softball sports.
- Fan Following:
The NCAA College Softball is the major sport for young athletic girls, and around 66 million players worldwide participate in Slowpitch and fastpitch games. In the USA, softball is the most popular, and we put this game among the top sports played by girls and boys.
5. Tennis
Tennis, an amazing sport played with the racket, net, and ball, is view by many audiences in the USA. Several best players in tennis played great games in the USA, including Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Tennis is the top five famous games familiar to most American citizens and admire by youth.
- Popular Player:
Serena Williams is the best player representing the USA in major international tournaments by winning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with a net worth of $240 million in 2022.
- Leagues:
The US Open is the greatest tennis tournament win by professional players, and the Miami Open and Hall of Fame Open are among the top American leagues.
- Fan Following:
More than 20% of global searches for tennis sports are recorded from the USA. Washington DC, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are active states that like to watch tennis games every season.
6. Soccer
The world’s most famous game is getting popular in the USA, with young players showing their talent in famous leagues, including EPL and LA LIGA. Soccer has roughly four billion fans globally, and numbers will keep rising in 2022. In the USA, soccer is the most popular sport because the MLS league captured the attention of young athletes who are joining the USMNT to play for the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.
- Popular Player:
Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, Sergino Dest, and Weston McKennie are the top best players of USMNT, representing America in global leagues. 45 Tyler Adams’s net worth of 4 million Euros makes him the highest demanding soccer player in the world.
- Leagues:
MLS (Major League Soccer) is the most-view soccer league in the USA. USMNT men/women players have won great titles, including the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final 2019 and the CONCACAF Nations League final in 2021, which was view by thousands of viewers in the USA.
- Fan Following:
Around 50% of the American community watches soccer games every year, and their numbers are expanding with top players participating in major league cup games.
7. Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is among our top most popular sports in the USA because it is the best game which is play by fans in the northern states and view by several fans in America.
- Popular Player:
Shane Wright, who plays for Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, has a net worth of around $5 Million. Brad Lambert is another great player with excellent skating and handling skills.
- Leagues:
The NHL (National Hockey League) is widely popular in the USA because it helps great players to show their talent in front of the ice hockey community.
- Fan Following:
Approximately 2.5 million viewers see NHL games in the USA, and 1 million viewers used sports tv services for the latest matches.
8. Basketball
There are millions of basketball fans worldwide, and in the USA, this sport is listed in the top 3 most popular sports in 2022. The NBA is the third most view sports after baseball and American football.
- Popular Player:
Lebron James is the global star representing basketball in the international sports community with a net worth of more than five hundred million dollars.
- Leagues:
The NBA (National Basketball Association) is the major league in the USA and is a highly professional platform to get a chance in the national team for the Olympics.
- Fan Following:
The basketball sport is view by billions of fans, and the USA All-star game is view by 7 million fans in all major states of the USA.
9. Baseball
Baseball is similar to softball but has more fans than Slowpitch or fastpitch games. MLB is a national league in which great players show their skills and are view by millions in the USA. Baseball is the most popular sport in the USA, with international tournaments and the Olympics making it the highest-class sport for Americans in 2022.
- Popular Player:
Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are the top players in MLB that are trending in the USA in 2022. Mike Trout’s net worth is around $60 million, and Bryce Harper’s $70 million, making them the highest-paid athletes in the USA.
- Leagues:
MLB (Major League Baseball) is the official league organized for professional players that is view by 8.3 million in 2021. MLB is in the top 5 list of the world’s most valuable global sports leagues.
- Fan Following:
MLB fans are popular in New York, Washington DC, Cleveland, Colorado, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, and San Francisco.
10. Football
Football is on the top number of our list of most popular sports in the USA. NFL players have high salaries and popular by international sports fans. In the USA, football is more popular than soccer or cricket. Celebrities watch the Super Bowl every year to support their favorite team in the USA.
- Popular Player:
Ed Reed from Houston Texans and Julius Peppers from Carolina Panthers are among the popular players in 2022.
- Leagues:
NFL is the biggest league in the USA, with 32 registered teams that give their best to entertain their fans globally. Billions of fans across the globe view American football national tournaments to witness the best games in history.
- Fan Following:
Not only sports fans but Hollywood stars are the biggest followers of the NFL. Several movie platforms show movie trailers during the Super Bowl event, which are popular among fans
Conclusion
The sports landscape in the USA is ever-evolving, reflecting its diverse population’s dynamic tastes and preferences. In 2023, the country’s top 10 most popular sports continue to captivate audiences with their thrilling competitions and passionate fan bases. Sports provide entertainment and serve as a platform for unity, inspiration, and personal growth. They bring people together, crossing boundaries of age, gender, race, and background.
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So, grab your uniforms, rally your friends, and immerse yourself in the excitement of the top 10 most popular sports in the USA. From the thunderous roar of the crowd at a basketball game to the thrilling tackles on the football field, there’s a sport for everyone to enjoy and be part of the American sporting legacy.
