There are no major league sports franchises in the American state of Montana due to the state's relatively small and dispersed population, but a number of minor-league teams play in the state.

Baseball is the minor-league sport with the longest heritage in the state, and Montana is home to four Minor League baseball teams, all members of the Pioneer Baseball League. Many athletes move out of Montana to pursue their professional career in other states.

Football and basketball are the two most popular sports at the high school level. Montana is one of the few states where the smallest high schools participate in six-man football leagues. Numerous other sports are played at the club and amateur level, including softball, rugby, and soccer.

A number of Montanans have become notable for their involvement in a wide range of sport. Dave McNally is a baseball player who was a starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles for 13 years. Phil Jackson is a basketball player and head coach who has been voted one of the Top 10 Coaches in National Basketball Association History. Football players and coaches from Montana include Dave Dickenson, Pat Donovan, Jerry Kramer, and Jan Stenerud. Dickenson played quarterback in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) before becoming a head coach in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions. Pat Donovan was ranked the top football player and number five overall athlete from Montana in the 20th century. Donovan played left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, was a four-time Pro Bowler, and played in three Super Bowls, winning one. Jerry Kramer played offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers, was a three-time Pro Bowler, and a five-time All-Pro, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jan Stenerud is a Norwegian who went to college in Montana on a ski jumping scholarship. He was a placekicker in the American Football League (AFL) and NFL for 19 years, mostly for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the first soccer-style kicker in the NFL and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 1904, a group of young Native-American women from Montana, after playing undefeated during their last season, went to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, and defeated all challenging teams and were declared to be world champions. For this they received a large silver trophy with the inscription "World's Fair – St. Louis, 1904 – Basket Ball – Won by Fort Shaw Team".Full Court Quest. Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press: 2008.

Baseball

+ Baseball players from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Ref(s) 1963–present Born and raised in Billings Major League Baseball pitcher (1987–1994) 1933–2013 Born and raised in Livingston Major League Baseball first baseman (1955–1962) 1969–present Born in Butte Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1993–1998) 1891–1975 Born in Vaughn Major League Baseball pitcher (1917–1925) 1956–present Born in Havre Major League Baseball second baseman (1983) 1896–1969 Born in Radersburg Major League Baseball pitcher (1922) 1962–present Born in Great Falls Major League Baseball catcher (1984, 1986); manager (2004–2008) 1917–2004 Born in Plevna Minor league baseball pitcher (1938–1942, 1946, 1950–1951); Major League Baseball coach (1960–1964) and scout (1965–1985) 1982–present Born in Anaconda Major League Baseball catcher (2007–present) 1961–present Attended high school in Great Falls Major League Baseball pitcher (1987, 1990) 1947–present Born in Wolf Point Major League Baseball outfielder, designated hitter, and utilityman (1970–1985) 1951–present Born in Billings Major League Baseball starting pitcher (1974–1975) 1942–2002 Born and lived in Billings Major League Baseball starting pitcher (1962–1975) 1959–present Born in Helena Major League Baseball left fielder (1984–1988) 1944–present Born in Billings Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1969–1973) 1951–present Born in Lewistown Major League Baseball pitcher (1974–1981) 1928–2014 Born in Helena Major League Baseball infielder (1956–1959) 1946–2020 Moved to Montana when an infant, attended high school in and lives in Billings Major League Baseball pitcher (1967–1969) 1970–present Born in Miles City Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1995) 1983–present Born in Missoula Major League Baseball relief pitcher (2006–present) 1987–present Born in Glendive Major League Baseball relief pitcher (2011–present) 1911–1995 Born in Florence Major League Baseball outfielder (1943) 1892–1979 Born in Cascade Major League Baseball pitcher (1914–1916)

Basketball

+ Basketball players from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Ref(s) 1972–present Born and raised in Hysham; attended college in Bozeman Women's National Basketball Association small forward (1999–2002) 1950–present Born in Billings National Basketball Association small forward (1976) 1959–present Born in Fort Benton Olympic gold medalist (1984); professional basketball player in France with Ligue Féminine de Basketball, winning two national championships (1986, 1987) 1956–present Born in Billings National Basketball Association shooting guard (1980–1982) 1945–present Born and lived for several years in Deer Lodge National Basketball Association (NBA) power forward (1968–1980) and head coach (1990–2011); voted one of the Top 10 coaches in NBA history 1932–2019 Attended high school in Anaconda National Basketball Association center (1955–1957) 1964–present Born in Missoula; raised in Shelby; finished high school in Missoula National Basketball Association power forward (1986–1996) and head coach (2007–2008) 1946–present Born in Missoula American Basketball Association center (1969–1974) 1984–present Born in Glendive National Basketball Association small forward (2006–2010) 1953–present Born in Outlook Coach of University of Montana women's team (1978–2016); ranked 8th in winning percentage among coaches of college women's basketball teams 1970–present Born in Libby National Basketball Association center (1994–1997)

Boxing

+ Boxers from Montana Name Lifetime Montana connection Comments Ref(s) 1951–present Born in Ronan; lived in Missoula World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion (1980–1981) 1962–present Born in Browning First Native American heavyweight champion (1999) 1967–present Born in Great Falls Golden Gloves light welterweight national champion (1987); Olympics competitor (1988); professional boxer

Gridiron football