The following is a list of current and former professional sports teams in Illinois.
Current professional sports teams Major professional teamsClubSportLeagueFoundedNoteChicago CubsBaseballMajor League Baseball1875Chicago White SoxBaseballMajor League Baseball1894Based in Chicago since 1900Chicago BullsBasketballNational Basketball Association1966Chicago SkyBasketballWomen's National Basketball Association2005Chicago BearsFootballNational Football League1919Chicago BlackhawksIce hockeyNational Hockey League1926Chicago HoundsRugby unionMajor League Rugby2022Chicago Fire FCSoccerMajor League Soccer1997Chicago Red StarsSoccerNational Women's Soccer League2007
Minor professional teams Club Sport League Founded NotePeoria ChiefsBaseballMidwest League1983Kane County CougarsBaseballAmerican Association1991Chicago DogsBaseballAmerican Association2018Gateway GrizzliesBaseballFrontier League2001Joliet SlammersBaseballFrontier League2002Schaumburg BoomersBaseballFrontier League2012Windy City ThunderBoltsBaseballFrontier League1995Formerly the Cook County CheetahsWindy City BullsBasketballNBA G League2016Quad City SteamwheelersFootballIndoor Football League2018Chicago WolvesIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League1994Rockford IceHogsIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League1991Bloomington BisonIce HockeyECHL2024Peoria RivermenIce hockeySouthern Professional Hockey League2013Quad City StormIce hockeySouthern Professional Hockey League2009Founded as the Louisiana IceGatorsChicago SteelIce hockeyUnited States Hockey League2000Chicago MustangsIndoor soccerMajor League Indoor Soccer2012Chicago Fire FC IISoccerMLS Next Pro2021Peoria CitySoccerUSL League Two2020Windy City RollersRoller DerbyWomen's Flat Track Derby Association2005Chicago UnionUltimateAmerican Ultimate Disc League2013Founded as Windy City Wildfire
Former professional sports teams Club Sport League Seasons NoteBloomington EdgeFootballUnited Indoor FootballIndoor Football LeagueChampions Professional Indoor Football LeagueX-League Indoor FootballChampions Indoor Football2006–2018 Was known as the Bloomington Extreme from 2006 to 2011Chicago American GearsBasketballNational Basketball LeagueProfessional Basketball League of America1944–1947Chicago BanditsFastpitch softballNational Pro Fastpitch2005–2021Chicago BlazeIce hockeyAll American Hockey League2009Chicago BlitzFootballUnited States Football League1983–1984Chicago BruisersFootballArena Football League1987–1989Chicago Cardinals FootballNational Football League1898–1959Moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Cardinals, moved again to the Phoenix area and are now the Arizona CardinalsChicago CatsSoccerAmerican Soccer League1975–1976Chicago CondorsBasketballAmerican Basketball League1998Chicago CougarsIce hockeyWorld Hockey Association1972–1975Chicago EnforcersFootballXFL2001Chicago ExpressIce hockeyECHL2010–2011Chicago FireAmerican footballWorld Football League1974Chicago Fire PremierSoccerUSL Premier Development League2001–2016Chicago HoundsIce hockeyUnited Hockey League2006–2007Chicago HustleBasketballWomen's Professional Basketball League1978–1981Chicago MachineLacrosseMajor League Lacrosse2006–2010Chicago MustangsSoccerNorth American Soccer League1967–1968Chicago Packers/Chicago ZephyrsBasketballNational Basketball Association1961–1962 (Packers) 1962–1963 (Zephyrs)Moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Bullets, moved again to Washington, D.C., and are now the Washington WizardsChicago PowerSoccerAmerican Indoor Soccer Association (1988–1990) National Professional Soccer League (1990–1996)1988–1996Chicago RockstarsBasketballAmerican Basketball Association2006–2007Chicago RushFootballArena Football League2001–2008, 2010–2013Chicago ShamroxLacrosseNational Lacrosse League2006–2008Chicago SkylinersBasketballAmerican Basketball Association2000–2001 Moved to Nevada and became the Las Vegas SlamChicago SlaughterFootballIndoor Football League2006Chicago StagsBasketballNational Basketball Association1946–1950Chicago StingSoccerNorth American Soccer League (1975–1984) Major Indoor Soccer League (1984–1988)1975–1988Chicago ThunderVolleyballUnited States Professional Volleyball League2002Chicago TigersFootballAmerican Professional Football Association1920Chicago WindsFootballWorld Football League1975Danville DashersIce hockey Federal Prospects Hockey League2011–2020Decatur Staleys FootballNational Football League (1920–1921)1919–1920 (Decatur) 1921 (Chicago) 1922–present (Chicago Bears) Moved to Chicago to become the Chicago Staleys and then changed their name to the Chicago Bears.Lake County FieldersBaseballNorthern League (2010)North American League (2011)2010–11Normal CornBeltersBaseballFrontier League2009–2018Moved to the Prospect LeaguePeoria RivermenIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League2005–2013Moved to Utica, New York, to become the Utica Comets.Peoria RivermenIce hockeyECHL1996–2005Ownership obtained an American Hockey League franchise.Peoria RivermenIce hockeyInternational Hockey League1984–1996Moved to San Antonio, Texas, to become the San Antonio Dragons.Peoria PiratesFootballAF21999–2009Peoria PrancersIce hockeyInternational Hockey League1982–1984Became the Peoria RivermenQuad City FlamesIce hockeyAmerican Hockey League2007–2009Moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, as the Abbotsford HeatQuad City MallardsIce hockeyUnited Hockey League1995–2007Quad City MallardsIce hockeyInternational Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueECHL2009–2018Quad City SteamwheelersFootballAF21999–2009Quad City ThunderBasketballContinental Basketball Association1987–2001Rockford LightningBasketballContinental Basketball Association1986–2006Rockford Peaches BaseballAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League1943–1954Rockford RampageSoccerMajor Indoor Soccer League2005–2012Rockford RiverHawks/AviatorsBaseballFrontier League1993–2008, 2011–2015Rockford ThunderFastpitch softballNational Pro Fastpitch2007–2009Schaumburg FlyersBaseballNorthern League1993–2010Southern Illinois MinersBaseballFrontier League2007–2021Tri-Cities BlackhawksBasketballNational Basketball League1946−1951The team played 13 games as the Buffalo Bison during the 1946–47 season before moving to Moline, Illinois. Moved to Milwaukee and became the Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1955), moved again to St. Louis, Missouri (1955–1968), then moved once more and are now the Atlanta Hawks (1968–Present). They are the only professional sports team to have played in five cities.Vermilion County BobcatsIce hockey Southern Professional Hockey League2021−2023The Bobcats ceased operations in mid-season on February 9, 2023.
See also List of developmental and minor sports leagues Professional sports leagues in the United States Sports in the United States
References