Fort Wayne, Indiana is home to three minor league sports teams. These include the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps of baseball's Midwest League.
Fort Wayne has also been home to three former professional sports teams. These include the NBA's Fort Wayne Pistons (now in Detroit), the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and the Fort Wayne Kekiongas of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (an early predecessor to the current MLB).
Intercollegiate sports in the city include Fort Wayne in the NCAA Division I Summit League as well as NAIA schools Indiana Tech and University of Saint Francis.
Fort Wayne has been home to a few sports firsts. On June 2, 1883, Fort Wayne hosted the Quincy Professionals for one of the first lighted baseball games ever recorded. Fort Wayne has been credited for being the birthplace of the NBA when Fort Wayne Pistons owner Fred Zollner brokered the merger of the BAA and the NBL in 1949 from his kitchen table. Also, on March 10, 1961, Wilt Chamberlain became the first player in the NBA to reach 3,000 points in a single season while competing at Memorial Coliseum.
Fort Wayne hosted two NBA Finals Games in 1955 and 1956, as well as the third city to host the NBA All-Star Game in 1953. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was also venue to the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Volleyball Championship matches, in addition to hosting the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Mid-Continent Conference Men's Basketball Tournaments. Fort Wayne also annually hosts the U.S.S.S.A. National and Boys State Championships, held at Spiece Fieldhouse.
On November 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons defeated the Minneapolis Lakers with a final score of 19 to 18 in the lowest scoring game in NBA history.
Wildcat Baseball League was a baseball league in Fort Wayne formed by Dale McMillen in April 1960 as an alternative to Little League Baseball. Fort Wayne was rated the "Best Place in the Country for Minor League Sports" in a 2007 issue of Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal.
Fort Wayne Warriors Football Continental Football League 1965 Zollner Stadium
Rob Bowen, MLB (2003–2008) Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics
Dottie Collins, AAGPBL (1944–1950) Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies
David Doster, MLB (1996, 1999) Philadelphia Phillies
Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901) Chicago Colts/Orphans, Washington Senators
Louie Heilbroner, manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
Butch Henline, MLB (1921–1931) New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924) Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators
Eric Wedge, player, MLB (1991–1994) Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies; manager, MLB (2003–2009) Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners
Paul "Curly" Armstrong, NBA (1948/49-1950/51) Fort Wayne Pistons
Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91-1991/92) Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
Ralph Albert "Ham" Hamilton, NBA (1948/49) Fort Wayne Pistons
Henry James, NBA (1990/91-1997/98) Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
Bobby Milton, player and manager of Harlem Globetrotters
Brad Miller, NBA (1998/99-present) Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49-1949/50) Chicago Stags, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Bombers
George Yardley, NBA (1953/54-1959/60) Fort Wayne Pistons/Detroit Pistons
Barry McManus, BMX racer in 1980-'90s
Scott Yoquelet, BMX racer in 1990–2000s
Joey Marks, BMX dirt freestyle 1998–2010
Brian Doty, BMX racer 1980-'90s
Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983) New York Jets
Jason Baker, NFL (2001–present) San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
Roosevelt Barnes, NFL (1982–1985) Detroit Lions
Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950) Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
Johnny Bright, CFL (1952–1964) Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident"
Bob Cowan, NFL (1947–1949) Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts
John Diettrich, NFL (1987)Houston Oilers
Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995) New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–present) Cincinnati Bengals
Eric England, NFL (1994–1996) Arizona Cardinals
Trai Essex, NFL (2005–present) Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XL champion
Jason Fabini, NFL (1998–2008) New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
James Hardy, NFL (2008–present) Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–present) Baltimore Ravens
Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–present) Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans
Emil Sitko, NFL (1950–1952) San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cardinals
Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003) Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–present) Dallas Cowboys
Rod Woodson, NFL (1987–2003) Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Pro Football Hall of Famer
Justin Wynn, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
Amanda Blumenherst
Billy Kratzert, golfer and sportcaster
Cathy Kratzert Gerring
Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000–2003/04) New York Rangers
Adam Bobay, UFC
Jon Fitch, UFC
Dave Herman, MMA fighter with EliteXC (Elite Xtreme Combat)
DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers F.C. of the Scottish Premier League, U.S. national team, MLS Chicago Fire
Jamar Beasley, MLS New England Revolution, Chicago Fire
Bronn Pfeiffer, Fort Wayne Flames, Indiana Kicks, Chicago Power, and Detroit Rockers in the National Professional Soccer League.
Mike Harper, Baton Rouge Bombers of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League.
Jeff Richey, Chicago Storm, U.S. Futsal National Team.
Olympic swimming and diving
Mark Virts, diver, participated in boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics led by President Jimmy Carter
Matt Vogel, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics
Sharon Wichman, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics
Dan Zehr, swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics
Olympic track and field
LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 Summer Olympics
Angie Akers, professional beach volleyball player
Lloy Ball, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics
Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in "Sports Illustrated"'s 101 most influential minorities in sports
Art Smith, aviator, invented "loop the loop"
Jessie Lopez, US National Rugby Union Team, 1978
- Rod Woodson
- Johnny Bright
- George Yardley
- Everett Scott
- Len Thornson
- Bobby McDermott
- Don Lash
- DeDee Nathan
- Lloy Ball
- Cathy Gerring
- Bill Kratzert
- Matt Vogel
- Sharon (Wichman) Jones
- Emil Sitko
- Eugene "Bubbles" Hargrave
- Dottie Wiltse Collins
- Willie Long
- Bob Cowan
- Eddie Long
- Paul "Curly" Armstrong
- Bill Wambsganss
- MaChelle Joseph
- Steve Hargan
- Henry James
- Gene Hartley
- Bill West
- Bernie Kampschmidt
- Joanne Weaver
- Herm Schaefer
- Lionel Repka
- Vaughn Dunbar
- Walter Jordan
- Bruce Miller
- Lashanda Harper
- Nel Fettig
- Terry Pembroke
- Steve Platt
- Tom Beerman
- Cathey Tyree
- Jason Fabini
- Tiffany Gooden
- Lamar Smith
- Leslie Johnson
- Tom Bolyard
- Roosevelt Barnes
- Conan Myers
- Lee Ann Reed
- Tom Kelley
- Mike Augustyniak
- Colin Chin
- Peter Dager
