What are the Most Popular Sports in America?  American Football (NFL) is the most popular sports in USA in 2023 and then Baseball (MLB), Basketball (NBA), Hockey, Golf and others.

America places the top priority on sports and has won the most medals in the Olympics. In America, marks are not just for entertainment. They see it as a source of unity, pride, and excellence.

The US sports market is the most affluent in the world, with a reasonable $69 billion market value. Popularity is based on various factors when identifying the most popular sports in America.

Despite being one of the most popular sports in the world, cricket is not the most watched sport in America. And they do not call that white ball a football; it's a Soccer. 

 Below we have listed the top 15 most popular sports in USA. 

15. Badminton

Badminton is a sport that has been around since the 16th century.
Source : badmintonavenue

The sport of badminton is extremely popular all across the world. Especially, China and South Korea are two Asian nations where it is most played.

Over 1,362,000 Americans regularly play badminton year-round in the United States. The most accomplished American badminton player is Beiwen Zhang. She has a record of 290 wins and 170 losses.

This game is enjoyed by many people. Moreover, badminton is a straightforward sport that you can play anywhere at any time. The main places where this game is played most frequently are colleges, 

14. Bowling

The biggest international bowling league is the US
Source : wtop

Americans are reverting to a traditional pastime, ranking bowling as the country's top participatory sport. 

The US Bowling Union is the world's most significant competitive bowling association. Since 1932, the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), a nonprofit organization, has represented the bowling industry.

Bowling is becoming increasingly popular with Americans as an entertaining and reasonably priced sport.

With a participation level of nearly a quarter of the population, bowling rolled by such popular sports to secure the number one ranking sport.

13. Lacrosse

Lacrosse ranks 76th most popular sports in terms of participation on a global scale.
Source : collegecrosse

Lacrosse is the oldest organized sport in the states, and the game's popularity in the USA and other countries has been increasing.

It is a universal sport that anyone can play, as seen by its popularity in the Olympics and the degree of inclusivity for all participants. 

Native Americans in North America first played lacrosse, later modified by European settlers in the 13th century. In terms of participation, lacrosse is the 76th most popular sport on a global level.

According to studies, Lacrosse has a higher growth rate than other popular sports in the USA, including swimming, bowling, soccer, ice hockey, and more.

The popularity of lacrosse in the USA has seen such a considerable increase that high-school level lacrosse players have increased.

12. Bocce

Bocce is a popular sport in the United States.
Source : sportsbrowser

Bocce has become well-known in America since it first got popular in California in 1989.

In the United States, bocce is played by an estimated 1,300,000 people. Due to its widespread popularity, many restaurants, bars, and clubs have constructed courts for their guests

Bocce was featured for the first time in the 1996 Olympics as well as a Special Olympics event. It is played on a level surface.

A game can be played between two players or between two teams of two, three, or four players.

Additionally, the sport is popular in the eastern side of the Adriatic, particularly in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

11. Volley Ball

Volleyball is majorly played at the high school and university levels in the United States.
Source : olympics

In the US, players of all ages enjoy playing volleyball, both male and female. Nearly 37 million Americans are active in playing volleyball.

Today, volleyball is one of the world's most well-liked games and the most popular team sport among American high school and college girls. Volleyball is passion, and the game is played with strength, symbolizing women in sports.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has named USA Volleyball the official National Governing Body for indoor, beach, and sitting volleyball in the country.

Beach volleyball has also grown in popularity over the past few years due to the Olympic Games' extensive media coverage.

10. WWE

Wrestling is the popular American sport and it is watched by huge audience.
Source : skysports

WWE is America's most famous fighting sport. World Wrestling is followed widely, and around 233,000 professional wrestlers are in the country.

Many people watch the sport on television. Boxing and wrestling were both first practiced in the 19th century.

The professional wrestling promotion, which was started in 1953, has continued to be popular despite the company's diversification into other industries like American football and film.

More than 450 wrestling matches occur each year, and 900 million homes worldwide watch them in 28 different languages. Dwayne Johnson, better known as "The Rock," is a famous actor and former wrestler.

9. Motor Sports

Motor sports are widely popular in the United States.
Source : wikipedia

Motor Sports are widely popular in the United States. 

Without a doubt, this sport has occasionally attracted large crowds of viewers. There are currently about 15 million fans.

The popularity of motorsports has increased in terms of professional sports in America. Formula One, the sport with the highest global popularity, is less popular in the United States.

The first season of Formula Drift, often called Formula D, took place in 2004. Formula Drift is regarded as the top North American professional drifting championship series with 60 presently registered drivers competing in Pro and Pro 2.

8. Boxing

The most famous boxers are from the United States.
Source : theguardian

Boxing originated in the United States in the 19th century. 

In the 1800s, boxing became popular mainly in major cities like Boston, New York City, and New Orleans after it was introduced to the country from England in the late 1700s.

The International Amateur Boxing Association was founded in 1946 as a global amateur boxing association.

Boxing significantly contributed to African-American athletes' rise to prominence in sports and, on a larger scale, to the fight against racism in the nation. There are 6,530,000 licensed boxers in the US. Over the past few years, American boxers including Floyd Mayweather have carried on the legacy of Muhammad Ali, who was a prominent figure in the 20th century.

The Harris Poll surveyed over 2000 people in 2021, and 33% said they loved boxing.

7. Golf

Golf is a popular pastime in the US with more than 24 million Americans playing the game.
Source : co

With over 24 million Americans playing the game, golf is a trendy sport in the US.

Golf is primarily a leisure activity, although several American players have become international superstars, most notably Jack Nicklaus, regarded as one of the best golfers of all time. Throughout his career, he amassed a total of 18 major championships. 

Many Americans play golf because of the social aspects of the game. Golfers can discuss business or meet up with old acquaintances as they put while taking breaks between strokes.

Golf is played in a quiet environment surrounded by lush greenery trees, lakes, ponds, and beaches rather than in noisy stadiums. Golfers can play in peace because of this aesthetically beautiful aspect.

6. Tennis

tennis is one of the most popular and most followed sports around the world.
Source : forbes

Tennis is one of the world's most widely played sports worldwide.

The decrease in major events in the US and the lack of American college tennis scholarships are only two of the many factors that contributed to the sport's previous stagnation in the US. 

Serena Williams, Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Venus Williams, Andy Roddick, and several others are among the most notable tennis players from the United States.

After a decline that lasted nearly two decades, however, its popularity is now beginning to increase once more.

Tennis is gaining popularity quickly with 292 million viewers annually.

5. Ice-Hockey

 Ice hockey is played in the NHL in both the United States and Canada.
Source : nhl

Ice hockey is a popular sport in the US, however, it is rarely just called "hockey" there. The sport of hockey was first played in the United States in 1894, and today it is most often played in the upper Midwest and northeast.  

There are 25 American teams and 7 Canadian teams in the National Hockey League, and they are all Stanley Cup contenders.

The league was extended to the South of the country during the 1990s when the sport began to gain popularity.

Ice hockey draws a sizable audience due to its fast-paced, thrilling, and action-packed games. The NHL continues to draw millions of viewers despite its declining audience.

4. Soccer (MLS)

Soccer is the most enjoyed and popular game around the world.
Source : jstor

Soccer also called Major League Soccer (MLS) in USA, typically called football by the British and Europeans, is the fourth most popular sport in the United States behind American football, baseball, and basketball.

According to surveys, soccer is currently more popular in the US than ice hockey. The game is rapidly evolving into a "first choice" sport for young people, which is significant for the sport's future in the USA.

High school soccer's highest growth was seen, as participation increased by 32% between 2002 and 2019.

The women's national soccer team is renowned for being the greatest in the world, having won four Women's World Cup championships in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019. In the United States, there are 4,200,000 licensed football and soccer players.

3. Baseball

Baseball game has been part of United States culture for over 150 years.
Source : nytimes

Baseball was the first professional sport in the United States, and it is the sport that makes Americans feel the most nostalgic.

Most Americans prefer Major League Baseball over the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. It's been more than 150 years since professional baseball first entered American culture.

In comparison to other nations, America is a powerful country. America, unlike other nations, does not have a thousand years of history to draw from and remain steady in.  

It remains one of the most enjoyable and peaceful sports to watch in the United States, even though its popularity has recently been declining and television ratings are not as high as they were in the 1990s.

2. Basketball

the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the third most profitable sports league in the United States.
Source : wikipedia

Basketball is the second most popular sport in the United States after American football. 

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, basketball is the most popular team sport in America, with over 26 million players.

James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor from Springfield, Massachusetts, invented basketball in 1891.

In 1898, the first professional basketball league was established. The National Basketball Association (NBA), which has clubs in both the United States and Canada, is now the top professional basketball league in the world.

The basketball immediately became well-liked due to its specific equipment needs, ability to be played indoors, competitive nature, and simple-to-comprehend rules. 

1. American Football

American football is the most popular sport in the United States in terms of broadcast viewership audience.
Source : opro

The number one popular sport in the United States is American Football. 

In the US, American football evolved from the games of rugby and soccer. The first American football match was played on n November 6, 1869.

NFL is one of the biggest and most well-liked leagues in the USA, and it has a sizable following across all states and generations. According to Gallup.com, 37% of U.S. adults picked football as their favorite sport to watch

One of the most viewed club sporting events in the world is the Super Bowl, which serves as its championship game. The league is the most valuable sports league in the world, generating an estimated $15 billion in revenue annually.

There are other professional leagues all over the world, but the sport is not as well known abroad as other American sports like baseball or basketball.