This is a list of professional sports leagues.
A sports league is a professional body that governs the competition of its teams. They make the rules for competition and behavior and disciplines its members as necessary. This is done through a structure that varies by league. Some are made up of a board of governors that have a commissioner or president, while others are single entity organizations where the league owns the franchises and therefore does not have a board of governors.
This list attempts to show those sports leagues for which all players and teams are paid to play. In other words, these players can be considered to play their chosen sport as their profession. Some leagues don't pay well enough to allow players to use them as their primary or only source of income, but because the players are paid, it's still considered professional, or semi-professional. As such, some leagues listed here may not be fully professional.
Arena Racing USA
American Le Mans Series
Asian Le Mans Series
British Touring Car Championship
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (German Touring Car Masters)
D1 Grand Prix
European Le Mans Series
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM)
Formula One
Formula D
Fórmula Truck
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
Grand-Am Road Racing
International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)
INDYCAR
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
Pirelli World Challenge
Stock Car Brasil
Super GT
TC 2000 Championship
Top Race V6
Turismo Carretera
Supercars Championship (Australia)
FIA World Endurance Championship
World Rally Championship (WRC)
World Touring Car Championship
England
National Badminton League
India
Premier Badminton League
Bandy
Finland
Bandyliiga
Suomi-sarja
Russia
Russian Bandy Super League
Russian Bandy Supreme League
Sweden
Elitserien
Allsvenskan
United States and Canada
Major League Baseball:
AL – American League
NL – National League
Minor League Baseball:
AAA: IL – International League
AAA: PCL – Pacific Coast League
AA: EL – Eastern League
AA: SL – Southern League
AA: TL – Texas League
A+: CalL – California League
A+: CarL – Carolina League
A+: FSL – Florida State League
A: MwL – Midwest League
A: SAL – South Atlantic League
SSA: NYPL – New York–Penn League
SSA: NwL – Northwest League
R+: ApL – Appalachian League
R+: PL – Pioneer League
R: AzL – Arizona League
R: GCL – Gulf Coast League
Independent baseball:
American Association of Independent Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball
Empire Professional Baseball League
Frontier League
Pacific Association
Pecos League
United Shore Professional Baseball League
Little League Baseball
Junior, Senior & Big League Baseball
Colombia
Colombian Professional Baseball League
Dominican Republic
Dominican Summer League (Official Minor League Affiliate)
Dominican Professional Baseball League
Mexico
Mexican League
Liga Mexicana del Pacífico
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League
Panama
Panamanian Professional Baseball League
Puerto Rico
Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente
Venezuela
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
China:
China Baseball League
Republic of China (Taiwan):
Chinese Professional Baseball League
South Korea:
Major: KBO League
Minor: KBO Futures League
Japan:
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Major:
Central League
Pacific League
Minor:
Eastern League
Western League
Independent:
Baseball Challenge League
Shikoku Island League Plus
Australia
ABL – Australian Baseball League
Austria
Austrian Baseball League
France
Division Élite
Germany
Bundesliga
Italy
Major: Italian Baseball League 1D
Minor: Italian Baseball League 2D
Netherlands
Major: Honkbal Hoofdklasse (relegation to Honkbal Overgangklasse)
Minor: Honkbal Overgangsklasse (promotion to Honkbal Hoofdklasse)
Minor: Honkbal Rookie League
Sweden
Elitserien
1. A SKL – known for sponsorship reasons as Liga Telemach (Slovenia)
A-1 Liga (Croatia)
ACB – Liga ACB (Spain, men's first level)
ABA
Liga ABA, also known as Adriatic League (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia)
American Basketball Association
ABL – ASEAN Basketball League (ASEAN countries)
Basketball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina
BBL
Baltic Basketball League (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Sweden)
Basketball BundesLiga (Germany)
British Basketball League (United Kingdom)
BLB – Basketball League Belgium
BLK – Basket Liga Kobiet (women's first level in Poland)
BLNO (Norway)
BSN – Baloncesto Superior Nacional (Puerto Rico)
CBA – Chinese Basketball Association
DBL – Dutch Basketball League
EuroLeague – Pan-European competition for elite clubs
EuroCup – known as the ULEB Cup from 2002–2008. Is the second-tier transnational professional basketball competition in Europe.
EuroChallenge – is the top Men's Basketball competition directly run by FIBA Europe. The competition was created in 2003 following the defection of several top European basketball teams from the former European Champions' Cup which heralded the formation of the Euroleague under the umbrella of Euroleague Basketball.
Greek Basket League (Greece, first level)
Greek A2 Basket League (Greece, second level)
IBL – International Basketball League
ISL – Iranian Basketball Super League (Iran)
KBL – Korean Basketball League (South Korea)
Korisliiga (Finland)
KLS – Basketball League of Serbia
LBL – Latvijas Basketbola līga
LEB – Liga Española de Baloncesto (Spain, men's second level)
Lega Basket Serie A (Italy, first level)
LFB – Liga Femenina de Baloncesto (Spain, women's first level)
Israeli Basketball Premier League (Israel)
LKL – Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (Lithuania)
LNB
Liga Nacional de Básquet (Argentina)
Ligue Nationale de Basket (France), itself divided into two fully professional leagues, Pro A and Pro B
LNBP – Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (Mexico)
NBA – National Basketball Association (United States & Canada)
NBA D-League – NBA Development League
NBB – Novo Basquete Brasil
NBL
National Basketball League (Australia) (Australia with one team in New Zealand)
National Basketball League (New Zealand) (New Zealand only)
Indonesian Basketball League (Indonesia)
Montenegrin Basketball League (Montenegro)
PBA – Philippine Basketball Association (Philippines)
PBL
Russian Professional Basketball League (men's first level)
Premier Basketball League (United States)
PLK – Polska Liga Koszykówki (men's first level in Poland)
Russian Basketball Super League 1 (men's second level)
SBL – Super Basketball League (Taiwan)
Serie A2 Basket (Italy, second level)
TBL – Thailand Basketball League (Thailand)
TBSL – Turkish Basketball Super League
TKBL – Türkiye 1. Kadınlar Basketbol Ligi, or Turkish Women's Basketball League in English
TPBL – Texas Pro Basketball League
USBL – United States Basketball League
VTB United League – Russia, the Baltics, Finland, Poland, and Ukraine.
WBA – World Basketball Association
WBA/WABA – Women's American Basketball Association
WKBL – Women's Korean Basketball League (South Korea)
WNBA – Women's National Basketball Association
WNBL – Women's National Basketball League (Australia)
Hong Kong Basketball League, All-Hong Kong Youth Basketball League
Major promotions
Top Rank Boxing
Golden Boy Promotions
Don King Promotions
DiBella Entertainment
Sauerland Events
Major sanctioning bodies
World Boxing Association (WBA)
World Boxing Council (WBC)
International Boxing Federation (IBF)
World Boxing Organization (WBO)
The Ring magazine (unofficial sanctioning body)
Professional Bowlers Association
West Indies
Caribbean Premier League
Professional Cricket League
Regional Super50
Australia
Sheffield Shield
Ford Ranger One Day Cup
Big Bash League
Women's Big Bash League
New Zealand
Plunket Shield
Super Smash
State League
World Curling Tour
United States
National Bicycle League (BMX)
American Bicycle Association (BMX)
International
UCI World Tour
United States
National Football League
Fall Experimental Football League
Indoor: Arena Football League
Canada
Canadian Football League
Japan
X-League
Germany
German Football League and German Football League 2
Mexico
Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional
Australian Football League
Argentina
Argentine División de Honor de Futsal
Brazil
Liga Futsal
Indonesia
Indonesia Pro Futsal League
Iran
Iranian Futsal Super League
Italy
Serie A1
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Futsal League
Japan
F.League
South Korea
FK-League
Portugal
Liga Portuguesa de Futsal
Spain
Primera División de Futsal
Russia
Russian Futsal Super League
Thailand
Futsal Thailand League
Turkey
Turkish Futsal League
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Futsal League
American Fencing League
PGA Tour (United States)
PGA European Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Asian Tour (Asia outside Japan)
PGA Tour of Australasia (Australia and New Zealand)
Sunshine Tour (southern Africa, mainly South Africa)
OneAsia Tour (joint venture between the Japan, Australasia, China, and Korean tours)
PGA Tour Champions (United States)
European Senior Tour
Web.com Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the PGA Tour)
Challenge Tour (second-tier European tour)
Japan Challenge Tour (second-tier Japanese tour)
PGA Tour Canada (feeds to the Web.com Tour)
PGA Tour China (feeds to the Web.com Tour)
PGA Tour Latinoamérica (feeds to the Web.com Tour)
Satellite Tour, a group of four third-level tours recognised by the European Tour:
Alps Tour (jointly sanctioned by the golf associations of Austria, France, Italy, Morocco and Switzerland)
Pro Golf Tour (based in Germany)
Nordic Golf League (operating in the Nordic countries)
Nordea Tour (men's version is a Swedish tour included in the Nordic League competition)
PGA EuroPro Tour (based in the UK)
Gateway Tour (third-tier US tour)
Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour (low cost fourth-tier US tour)
Swing Thought Tour (third-tier US tour)
LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association; United States)
LPGA of Japan Tour
Ladies European Tour
LPGA of Korea Tour (South Korea)
Ladies Asian Golf Tour (Asia outside Japan and Korea)
ALPG Tour (Australia)
Legends Tour (United States)
Symetra Tour (second-tier US tour, operated by the LPGA)
Ladies European Tour Access Series, LETAS, the official feeder tour to the Ladies European Tour, has been formed to give players not part of a major tour an opportunity to compete and progress on to the Ladies European Tour.
Step Up Tour (second-tier Japanese tour, operated by the LPGA of Japan)
Nordea Tour (women's version is a second-tier tour in Sweden, feeding to the Ladies European Tour)
Americas
Canada and United States
National Hockey League (major)
American Hockey League (high minor)
ECHL (mid-minor)
United States only
Southern Professional Hockey League (low minor)
Federal Hockey League (low minor)
Asia
Japan, South Korea, and China
Asia League Ice Hockey
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Hockey Championship
Eurasia
Russia, Belarus, China, Croatia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Slovakia
Kontinental Hockey League (major)
Russia only
Russian Major League (high minor)
Russian Hockey League (low minor)
Turkey
Turkish Ice Hockey Super League
Europe
Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Italy
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga
Austrian National League
Belarus
Belarusian Extraleague
Czech Republic
Czech Extraliga
1st Czech Republic Hockey League
Denmark
Metal Ligaen
France
Ligue Magnus
Finland
Liiga
Mestis
Germany
Deutsche Eishockey Liga
DEL2
Oberliga
Hungary and Romania
MOL Liga
Italy
Serie A
Latvia
Latvian Hockey Higher League
Lithuania
Lithuania Hockey League
Netherlands and Belgium
Eredivisie
Norway
GET-ligaen
Poland
Polska Hokej Liga
Slovakia
Slovak Extraliga
Slovak 1.Liga
Switzerland
National League A
National League B
Sweden
Swedish Hockey League
HockeyAllsvenskan
Hockeyettan
Ukraine
Professional Hockey League
United Kingdom ( England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
Elite Ice Hockey League
English Premier Ice Hockey League
Oceania
Australia
Australian Ice Hockey League
Ligue Elite (France)
National Roller Hockey League (United States)
Major League Roller Hockey (United States)
Professional Inline Hockey Association (United States)
United States and Canada
NLL – National Lacrosse League (United States and Canada) [Major]
WLA – Western Lacrosse Association (Canada) [high minor]
MSL – Major Series Lacrosse (Canada) [high minor]
CLax – Canadian Lacrosse League (Canada) [mid minor]
CILL- Continental Indoor Lacrosse League (United States) [low minor]
USLL- United States Lacrosse League (United States) [low minor]
MLL – Major League Lacrosse (United States)
ALL - American Lacrosse League (United States)
United States: Ultimate Fighting Championship (Premier American/International Organization)
United States: Bellator MMA (Second Tier American Organization)
United States: World Series of Fighting (Minor American Organization)
United States: King of the Cage (Minor American Organization)
United States: Shark Fights (Minor American Organization)
United States: Titan Fighting Championships (Minor American Organization)
United States: Tachi Palace Fights (Minor American Organization)
United States: Invicta Fighting Championships (Minor American Organization)
Japan: DREAM (Premier Japanese Organization)
Japan: Shooto (Second Tier Japanese Organization)
Japan: Pancrase (Minor Japanese Organization)
Japan: DEEP (Minor Japanese Organization)
Japan: ZST (Minor Japanese Organization)
Japan: RisingOn (Minor Japanese Organization)
South Korea: ROAD Fighting Championship (Premier Korean Organization)
South Korea: TOP Fighting Championship (Second Tier Korean Organization)
Brazil: Jungle Fight (Premier Brazilian Organization)
Russia: M-1 Global (Premier Russian-based Organization)
Canada: Maximum Fighting Championship (Premier Canadian Organization)
England: BAMMA (Premier English Organization)
Netherlands: United Glory (Premier Dutch Organization)
Poland: Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (Premier Polish Organization)
Finland: Finnfight (Premier Finish Organization)
China: Art of War Fighting Championship (Premier Chinese Organization)
Singapore: ONE Championship (Premier Singaporean Organization)
Hong Kong: Legend Fighting Championship (Premier Hong Konger Organization)
Philippines: Universal Reality Combat Championship (Premier Filipino Organization)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP)
Superbike World Championship (SBK)
AMA Superbike Championship
Denmark:
Danish Speedway League
Poland:
Speedway Ekstraliga
Sweden:
Elitserien
Allsvenskan
United Kingdom:
Elite League
Premier League
National League
Australia
National Rugby League (also includes New Zealand Warriors)
Queensland Cup
Intrust Super Premiership NSW
Ron Massey Cup
France
French Rugby League Championship
England
Super League (also includes Catalans Dragons in France)
Championship (also includes Toulouse Olympique in France)
League 1 (also includes North Wales Crusaders, South Wales Scorpions, and Toronto Wolfpack)
Lebanon
Lebanon Championship
New Zealand
New Zealand Rugby League
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea National Rugby League
Russia
Russian Championship
United States
USA Rugby League (USARL)
World Rugby Sevens Series
Argentina
Super Rugby
Australia
Super Rugby
National Rugby Championship
England
Aviva Premiership
Greene King IPA Championship (second level; fully professional from 2009–10)
France
National Rugby League (France)
Top 14
Rugby Pro D2
Italy
Guinness Pro12 (since 2010–11)
National Championship of Excellence (effectively second tier since 2010–11, but not linked to Pro12)
Ireland
Guinness Pro12
Japan
Super Rugby
New Zealand
Super Rugby
Mitre 10 Cup (split into two divisions in 2011, but both remain fully professional)
Russia
Rugby Premier League
Scotland
Guinness Pro12
South Africa
Super Rugby
Currie Cup
Premier Division
First Division
United States
PRO Rugby
Wales
Guinness Pro12
Welsh Premier Division
United States
National Pro Fastpitch
United Kingdom
National Softball League
World
International Table Tennis Federation
USA Table Tennis
China Table Tennis Super League
European Table Tennis Union
International Table Tennis Federation Africa
Latin America Table Tennis Federation
Team handball
Danish Handball League
Handball-Bundesliga
Liga ASOBAL
Championnat de France de handball
Association of Tennis Professionals
Women's Tennis Association
World TeamTennis
Track and field
IAAF Diamond League
United States
Major League Ultimate
American Ultimate Disc League
United States
Major League Gaming
China
League of Legends Pro League (top level)
South Korea
Ongamenet Starleague
Global StarCraft II League
League of Legends Champions Korea (top level)
Taiwan/ Hong Kong/ Macau
League of Legends Master Series (top level)
Southeast Asia
Garena Premier League (second level)
League of Legends Championship Series (top-tier, Europe and North America)
Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) (beach volleyball)
Chinese Volleyball League (CVL) (both men and women)
Enterprise Volleyball League (TVL) (both men and women)
A1 Ethniki Volleyball (men)
Iranian Volleyball Super League (men)
Lega Pallavolo Serie A (men)
Male Superior Volleyball League (men)
Female Superior Volleyball League (women)
Dominican Republic Volleyball League (both men and women)
V.League (both men and women)
V-League (both men and women)
Men's Volleyball Thailand League (men)
Pro A (men)
Russian Volleyball Super League (men)
Brazilian Men's Volleyball Superliga (men)
PlusLiga (men)
Orlen Liga (women)
Turkish Volleyball League (both men and women)
Australian National Water Polo League
A1 Ethniki Water Polo
Serie A1
FINA
United States
World Wrestling Entertainment
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Japan
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Noah
Mexico
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
