The state of Indiana is home to two major professional sport franchises, and a number of college sports teams. Indiana is also prominent in auto racing.
Professional sports teams
Indiana has a rich basketball heritage that reaches back to the formative years of the sport itself. Although Canadian educator and inventor James Naismith developed basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891, Indiana is where high school basketball was born. In 1925, Naismith visited an Indiana basketball state finals game along with 15,000 screaming fans and later wrote "Basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport." The 1986 film Hoosiers is inspired by the story of the 1954 Indiana state champions Milan High School.
Indiana has produced more National Basketball Association (NBA) players per capita than any other state. Muncie has produced the most per capita of any American city, with two other Indiana cities in the top ten. Professional basketball player Larry Bird was born in West Baden Springs and was raised in French Lick. He went on to lead the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
The Indiana Pacers of the NBA play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse; they began play in 1967 in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and joined the NBA when the leagues merged in 1976.
Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference. The Colts have roots back to 1913 as the Dayton Triangles. They became an official team after moving to Baltimore, MD, in 1953. In 1984, the Colts relocated to Indianapolis, leading to an eventual rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens. After calling the RCA Dome home for 25 years, the Colts currently play their home games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. While in Baltimore, the Colts won the 1970 Super Bowl. In Indianapolis, the Colts won Super Bowl XLI, bringing the franchise total to two. In recent years the Colts have regularly competed in the NFL playoffs.
List of current major professional teams ClubSportEstablishedLeagueVenueIndiana FeverBasketball2000Women's National Basketball AssociationGainbridge FieldhouseIndiana PacersBasketball1967National Basketball AssociationGainbridge FieldhouseIndianapolis ColtsFootball1953/1984National Football LeagueLucas Oil Stadium
List of other current professional teams ClubSportEstablishedLeagueVenueEvansville OttersBaseball1995Frontier LeagueBosse FieldEvansville ThunderboltsIce hockey2016Southern Professional Hockey LeagueFord CenterFishers FreightIndoor football2023Indoor Football LeagueFishers Event CenterFort Wayne FCSoccer2019USL League OneRuoff Mortgage StadiumFort Wayne KometsIce hockey1952ECHLAllen County War Memorial ColiseumFort Wayne TinCapsBaseball1993Midwest LeagueParkview FieldGary SouthShore RailCatsBaseball2002American AssociationU.S. Steel YardHamilton County HuskersBasketball2026The Basketball LeagueSAC ArenaIndiana SentinelsIce hockey2025Federal Prospects Hockey LeagueHamilton Community Center & Ice ArenaIndianapolis AlleyCatsUltimate2012American Ultimate Disc LeagueGrand Park Events CenterIndianapolis IndiansBaseball1902International LeagueVictory FieldIndy ElevenSoccer2014USL ChampionshipIU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer StadiumIndy FuelIce hockey2014ECHLFishers Event CenterKokomo BobKatsBasketball2020The Basketball League Memorial GymnasiumLebanon LeprechaunsBasketball2021The Basketball LeagueRosenstihl GymnasiumNoblesville BoomBasketball2007NBA G LeagueRiverview Health Arena at Innovation MileSouth Bend CubsBaseball1988Midwest LeagueFour Winds FieldIndy IgniteIndoor volleyball2025Major League VolleyballFishers Event Center
List of current amateur teams ClubSportEstablishedLeagueVenue1927 SCSoccer1927Midwest Premier LeagueCrestwood PanthersCollegiate summer baseball2017Northern LeagueDubois County BombersCollegiate summer baseball1998Prospect LeagueLeague StadiumElkhart County MiracleCollegiate summer baseball2023Northern LeagueFort Wayne SpacemenJunior ice hockey2012United States Premier Hockey LeagueGriffith GeneralsCollegiate summer baseball2014Northern League Indy Eleven (Women)Soccer2021USL W LeagueGrand ParkIndianapolis ImpalasRugby1980USA RugbyIndianapolis World Sports ParkKokomo Creek ChubsCollegiate summer baseball2026Prospect LeagueLafayette AviatorsCollegiate summer baseball2015Prospect LeagueLoeb StadiumLake County Corn DogsCollegiate summer baseball2022Northern LeagueNorthwest Indiana OilmenCollegiate summer baseball2012Northern LeagueRichmond Flying MummiesCollegiate summer baseball2026Northwoods LeagueSouthland VikingsCollegiate summer baseball2011Northern LeagueTerre Haute RexCollegiate summer baseball2010Prospect League Bob Warn Field
List of former major professional teams ClubSportYearsLeagueAnderson Packers / Duffey Packers / ChiefsBasketball1946–1951NBL, NBA, NPBLEvansville Crimson GiantsFootball1921–1922NFLFort Wayne KekiongasBaseball1866–1871National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, National Association of Base Ball PlayersFort Wayne Pistons / Zollner PistonsBasketball1937–1957NBL, BAA, NBAHammond ProsFootball1920–1926National Football LeagueIndianapolis BluesBaseball1878National LeagueIndianapolis HoosiersBaseball1884American AssociationIndianapolis HoosiersBaseball1887–1889National LeagueIndianapolis Jets/Kautskys/Oilers/Pure OilsBasketball1931–1949NPBL, MBC, NBL, BAAIndianapolis OlympiansBasketball1949–1953NBAIndianapolis RacersIce hockey1974–1978World Hockey AssociationMuncie/Congerville/Jonesboro FlyersFootball1905–1926APFA/NFL, Independent
List of other former professional and amateur teams ClubSportYearsLeagueChi-Town ShootersIce hockey2008–2011All American Hockey LeaguePine Village VillagersAmerican Footballearly 1900's-1910'sIndependentElkhart ExpressBasketball2006–2009International Basketball LeagueEvansville CrushIndoor Soccer2010–2013Premier Arena Soccer LeagueEvansville IceMenIce hockey2008–2010All American Hockey LeagueEvansville IceMenIce hockey2010–2016ECHLEvansville Jr. ThunderboltsJunior ice hockey2015–2019North American 3 Hockey LeagueEvansville KingsIndoor Soccer2013–2014Premier Arena Soccer LeagueFort Wayne FeverSoccer2003–2009USL Premier Development LeagueFort Wayne General ElectricsBasketball1936–1948AAU, MBC, NBL, NIBLGary SteelheadsBasketball2000–2008International Basketball LeagueIlliana BlackbirdsJunior ice hockey2012–2016MnJHL/USPHLIndiana BlizzardIce hockey2010–2011All American Hockey LeagueIndiana IceJunior ice hockey2004–2014United States Hockey LeagueIndiana InvadersSoccer1998–2011USL Premier Development LeagueIndianapolis ClownsBaseball1944–1962Negro American League, independent barnstormingIndianapolis CrawfordsBaseball1940Negro American LeagueIndianapolis ABCsBaseball1913–1926Negro National LeagueIndianapolis ABCsBaseball1931–1933NNL(I), NSL, NNL(II)Indianapolis ABCsBaseball1938Negro American LeagueIndianapolis ABCsBaseball1939Negro American LeagueIndianapolis AthleticsBaseball1937Negro American LeagueRichmond GiantsBaseball1918–1919Independent
College sports
Indiana has had great sports success at the collegiate level. NCAA Division I athletic programs in the state are:
Team City Type Conferences Ball State Cardinals Muncie State Mid-American Conference (FBS) Butler Bulldogs Indianapolis Private / non-sectarian Big East Conference / Pioneer Football League (FCS) Evansville Purple Aces Evansville Private / Methodist Missouri Valley Conference (non-football) Indiana Hoosiers Bloomington State Big Ten Conference (FBS) Indiana State Sycamores Terre Haute State Missouri Valley Conference / Missouri Valley Football Conference (FCS) IU Indy Jaguars Indianapolis State Horizon League (non-football) Notre Dame Fighting Irish South Bend Private / Catholic Atlantic Coast Conference / FBS independent Purdue Boilermakers West Lafayette State Big Ten Conference (FBS) Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Fort Wayne State Horizon League (non-football) Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles Evansville State Ohio Valley Conference (non-football) Valparaiso Beacons Valparaiso Private / Lutheran Missouri Valley Conference / Pioneer Football League (FCS)
NCAA Division II athletic programs in the state are:
Team City Type Conferences Indianapolis Greyhounds Indianapolis State Great Lakes Valley Conference Purdue Northwest Pride Hammond State Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (non-football)
NCAA Division III athletic programs in the state are:
Team City Type Conferences Anderson Ravens Anderson Private HCAC DePauw Tigers Greencastle Private North Coast Earlham Hustlin' Quakers Richmond Private HCAC Franklin Grizzlies Franklin Private HCAC Hanover Panthers Hanover Private HCAC Manchester Spartans North Manchester Private HCAC Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers Terre Haute Private HCAC St. Mary's Belles Notre Dame Private Michigan Trine Thunder Angola Private Michigan Wabash Little Giants Crawfordsville Private North Coast
NAIA athletic programs in the state are:
Team City Type Conferences Bethel Pilots Mishawaka Private Crossroads CCSJ Crimson Wave Whiting Private Chicagoland Goshen Maple Leafs Goshen Private Crossroads Grace Lancers Winona Lake Private Crossroads Holy Cross Saints Notre Dame Private Chicagoland Huntington Foresters Huntington Private Crossroads Indiana Tech Warriors Fort Wayne Private Wolverine–Hoosier Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats Marion Private Crossroads IU Columbus Crimson Pride Columbus State River States IU East Red Wolves Richmond State River States IU Kokomo Cougars Kokomo State River States IU Northwest Redhawks Gary State Chicagoland IU South Bend Titans South Bend State Chicagoland IU Southeast Grenadiers New Albany State River States Marian Knights Indianapolis Private Crossroads Saint Francis Cougars Fort Wayne Private Crossroads Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Pomeroys St. Mary's Private River States Taylor Trojans Upland Private Crossroads
NJCAA athletic programs in the state are:
Team City Type Conferences Ancilla Chargers Donaldson Private MCCAA Ivy Tech Titans Fort Wayne State OCCAC Vincennes Trailblazers Vincennes State MWAC
Motorsport Indiana has an extensive history with motorsport. Indianapolis hosts the Indianapolis 500 mile race over Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway every May since 1911. The name of the race is usually shortened to "Indy 500" and also goes by the nickname "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." The race attracts over 350,000 people every year, making it the largest single day sporting event in the world. The track also hosts the Brickyard 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series since 1994. From 2000 to 2007, it hosted the United States Grand Prix (Formula One). From 2008 to 2015, it hosted the Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix.
Indiana features the world's largest and most prestigious drag race, the NHRA's U.S. Nationals, held each Labor Day weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.
The United States Auto Club is headquartered next to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and sanctions the Indiana Midget Week in June and the Indiana Sprint Week in July. Notable short ovals in Indiana include Indianapolis Raceway Park (NASCAR Trucks and USAC Silver Crown), Anderson Speedway (Little 500 and ARCA/CRA Redbud 400), Salem Speedway (ARCA, USAC Silver Crown), Terre Haute Action Track (USAC Silver Crown Sumar Classic, Hut Hundred, Hulman Classic), and Winchester Speedway (USAC Silver Crown and ARCA/CRA Winchester 400). The Indiana State Fairgrounds used to host the USAC Silver Crown Hoosier Hundred from 1953 to 2020.
Ironman Raceway hosts annual rounds of the Grand National Cross Country since 1995 and the AMA Motocross Championship since 2014. In addition, the AMA Supercross Championship visited the RCA Dome from 1998 to 2008, and the Lucas Oil Stadium has hosted a round since 2009.