How Many Professional Sports Teams Does Florida Have?
Luana B. Gann, Editor
7/24/2026
Quick Answer: Florida is home to 11 major professional sports teams spanning five leagues — three in the NFL, two in MLB, two in the NBA, two in the NHL, and two in MLS. That places Florida among the top three or four states in the country for major league team density, trailing only California and New York, and running roughly neck-and-neck with Texas depending on how you count. And yet, despite all that team density, Florida has one conspicuous gap that sports fans across the state bring up constantly: as of 2026, it's still one of the largest states in America with zero WNBA franchises.
In This Article
The Full Count: Florida's 11 Major Professional Teams
The Full Count: Florida's 11 Major Professional Teams
Florida's professional sports landscape spans the five leagues most Americans think of when they hear "major league sports" — the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS. According to FloridaSmart's comprehensive overview of the state's professional sports scene, that adds up to 11 total franchises — a genuinely substantial number for a single state, and one that places Florida in rare company nationally.
Here's the breakdown at a glance: 3 NFL teams, 2 MLB teams, 2 NBA teams, 2 NHL teams, and 2 MLS teams. No other state in the Southeast comes close to matching that density, and depending on the exact count used, Florida ranks somewhere between third and fourth nationally — a detail worth unpacking a bit further down, because different sources genuinely count it differently.
🏆 Florida's 11 Teams at a Glance NFL: Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
MLB: Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays
NBA: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic
NHL: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning
MLS: Inter Miami CF, Orlando City SC
NFL: Three Teams, Three Very Different Fan Bases
Florida's three NFL franchises each carry genuinely distinct histories and identities, which is part of what makes the state's football culture so layered.
The Miami Dolphins joined the NFL in 1966 and remain the league's only franchise to complete a perfect season, having gone undefeated in 1972 — a record that has stood untouched for more than five decades and remains one of the most cited achievements in NFL history. The Dolphins play at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and are valued at approximately $3.42 billion, according to franchise valuation data compiled by Florida Beaches' detailed team-by-team breakdown.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, founded in 1976, play at Raymond James Stadium and carry a valuation of approximately $2.94 billion — and hold the distinction of being Florida's only Super Bowl-winning NFL franchise to capture a title on home turf, doing so during the 2020 season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, founded in 1993, are Florida's youngest NFL franchise and play at TIAA Bank Field, with a valuation of roughly $2.075 billion.
MLB, NBA, and NHL: Florida's Six Other Big Four Franchises
Florida's baseball presence is split between two very different markets. The Miami Marlins, based at LoanDepot Park, are valued at roughly $990 million, while the Tampa Bay Rays, playing out of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, are valued at approximately $1.055 billion. Both franchises have historically faced real attendance challenges relative to other MLB markets — a genuine, often-discussed issue among Florida sports commentators, even as both teams have fielded competitive rosters in recent seasons.
On the basketball side, the Miami Heat carry three NBA championships and a valuation around $1.95 billion, making them one of Florida's most successful and financially valuable franchises across any sport. The Orlando Magic, valued at approximately $1.46 billion, play at Amway Center and have built one of the more passionate regional fan bases in the NBA's Southeast footprint.
Florida's two NHL franchises have delivered some of the state's most dramatic recent sports moments. The Florida Panthers, playing at FLA Live Arena, are valued at roughly $295 million and captured back-to-back genuine championship runs in recent seasons — a remarkable achievement for a franchise historically based in a non-traditional hockey market. The Tampa Bay Lightning, valued at approximately $650 million, have built one of the most successful modern NHL dynasties, with multiple championships secured over the past decade.
MLS: Florida's International Soccer Presence
Florida's Major League Soccer footprint reflects the state's genuinely international character. Inter Miami CF joined MLS in 2020 and has become one of the most socially followed teams in North American sports — according to Zoomph's 2026 analysis of the most-followed pro sports teams in North America, Inter Miami's social media growth has been driven substantially by international star power, a direct reflection of South Florida's deep, ongoing connection to global soccer culture.
Orlando City SC, which joined MLS in 2015, was one of the league's earlier Florida entries and has built a genuinely dedicated regional following in Central Florida, playing its home matches at Inter&Co Stadium in downtown Orlando.
Where Florida Actually Ranks Nationally
Here's where the numbers get genuinely interesting, because different sources land on slightly different rankings depending on methodology.
FloridaSmart's analysis places Florida third nationally, behind only California and New York, based on its 11 major league franchises. A separate ranking cited in a widely viewed YouTube breakdown of states with the most professional teams places Florida tied with Texas at 11 teams each, with California leading at 18 and New York following at 10 — a reasonable discrepancy that reflects how differently sources define "major league" (whether MLS counts, for instance, or how teams are attributed when a metro area straddles state lines).
Either way, the consistent takeaway across every source is the same: Florida sits firmly in the top three or four states nationally for major professional sports team density — a genuinely remarkable statistic for a state that, unlike New York or California, doesn't have a single mega-metro area anchoring most of its teams. Florida's professional sports presence is instead spread across three genuinely distinct metro regions — South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Central Florida — each supporting multiple franchises independently.
Interestingly, a broader "best sports state" study reported by Yahoo Sports ranked Florida a surprising 26th overall when factoring in criteria beyond just professional team count — including high school and youth sports participation rates, where Florida underperforms relative to its professional sports density. It's a genuinely useful reminder that raw team count and broader "sports culture" aren't quite the same measurement.
The Notable Gap: Why Doesn't Florida Have a WNBA Team?
This is the part of Florida's professional sports story that generates real, ongoing frustration among fans — and it's worth addressing directly, because it's a genuinely legitimate question with real search interest behind it.
As of 2026, Florida has zero WNBA franchises. The league's current footprint spans cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Toronto, Washington, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Phoenix, Golden State, Portland, and Seattle, according to the WNBA's official team directory — and none of them are in the Sunshine State.
Florida did once host a WNBA franchise: the Orlando Miracle, which played from 1999 to 2003 before relocating to become the Connecticut Sun. Florida sports fans on Reddit and social media have repeatedly raised the question of a return, particularly given the WNBA's ongoing national expansion and the genuine fan enthusiasm the league has generated in recent years. One especially pointed social media discussion put the frustration bluntly, asking whether the league's absence in Florida (and near-absence across the broader South) reflects a deliberate market strategy or simply a gap that hasn't yet been addressed.
Given Florida's existing sports infrastructure — arenas already built and operated by the Heat and Magic that could plausibly host a WNBA tenant, a large and growing population, and a state with genuinely proven appetite for professional sports across every other major league — the absence of a WNBA franchise stands out as a real anomaly rather than an obvious market decision. Whether that changes as the WNBA continues its current expansion wave remains an open and genuinely interesting question for Florida sports fans to watch.
Florida Sports Teams FAQ
How many professional sports teams does Florida have? Florida has 11 major professional sports teams across the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS: three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams, two NHL teams, and two MLS teams.
Which NFL teams are in Florida? Florida has three NFL teams: the Miami Dolphins (Miami Gardens), the Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa). No other state outside California and Texas has more NFL franchises.
Does Florida have a WNBA team? No. As of 2026, Florida has no WNBA franchise, despite having 11 major men's professional teams and a large, growing population. Florida previously hosted the Orlando Miracle from 1999 to 2003 before the franchise relocated to become the Connecticut Sun. This remains a genuine point of frustration among Florida sports fans as the WNBA continues its national expansion.
How does Florida rank nationally for professional sports teams? Florida generally ranks third in the nation for major professional sports teams, behind California and New York, and is roughly tied with Texas depending on the exact count and methodology used.
What professional soccer teams does Florida have? Florida has two Major League Soccer teams: Inter Miami CF, which joined MLS in 2020 and has built a large following partly through international star power, and Orlando City SC, which joined MLS in 2015.
Why doesn't Florida have more professional teams given its population size? It's not entirely clear-cut — Florida actually already ranks among the top three or four states nationally for major professional team density. The more notable gap is the complete absence of a current WNBA franchise, despite Florida having existing arena infrastructure, a large population base, and proven fan demand across every other major league.
Sources
FloridaSmart — Professional Sports in Florida
Florida Beaches — Professional Florida Sports Teams and College Sports
WNBA — Official Team Directory: wnba.com/teams
Zoomph — Most Followed Pro Sports Teams in North America: 2026
Yahoo Sports — A New Study Has Ranked the 10 Best Sports States in America
Wikipedia — List of Professional Sports Teams in the United States and Canada
YouTube (Travel with Brian) — Top 7 States with the Most Pro Sports Teams
Florida Current covers lifestyle, weather, outdoor life, and everything that comes with living in the Sunshine State. Browse our Florida Living section for regional guides, seasonal activity calendars, retirement guides and practical advice from people who actually live here.
Florida native Luana B. Gann brings more than 30 years of publishing, editing, and journalism experience to Florida Current. With a deep appreciation for the Sunshine State's culture, lifestyle, and ever-changing landscape, she is dedicated to helping readers discover what's new, noteworthy, and uniquely Florida.
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