Analyzing the Most Popular Sports in America: NFL Dominance and the Rapid Rise of Pickleball
Here's a look at the most popular sports in America and how the rankings are shifting in 2025. From the roar of packed stadiums to the buzz of backyard courts, sports remain woven into the very fabric of US culture. The "Big Four" (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) still dominate, but fast-rising challengers like soccer, MMA, and pickleball are rewriting the rankings and capturing new audiences. Meanwhile, women's sports are experiencing unprecedented growth, with the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL posting record-breaking viewership and attendance numbers.
According to CEOWORLD magazine, American football remains the undisputed favorite among US adults. But the story of 2025 isn’t just about the giants holding ground. It’s also about new contenders rewriting the playbook for American sports.
American Football: The Most Popular Sport in the US
No other sport comes close to football’s cultural pull. A full 36% of US adults call it their favorite, and It’s easy to see why. Drama, strategy, and spectacle collide every weekend.
The NFL stands as a financial juggernaut, reported to have surpassed $23 billion in 2024 and drawing over 67,000 fans per game, estimated to be more than any league in the world. Its crown jewel, the Super Bowl, isn’t just a game; it’s an American holiday, commanding over 100 million viewers and billions in ad spend.
College football holds sacred ground, especially in the South. In states like Alabama, Georgia, and Arkansas, team pride isn’t just tradition, it’s identity.
Basketball and Baseball: The Twin Pillars of American Identity
Behind football’s empire stand two timeless forces, basketball and baseball, second and third in national popularity at 12% and 11%. Both sports connect generations, inspire loyalty, and continue to evolve.
Basketball (NBA, WNBA & NCAA)
Fast, global, and star-powered, basketball is the most played team sport in America with 24.4 million active participants.
The NBA remains a global force, with Finals viewership often reaching 15-20 million and international talent reshaping the league.
At the same time, the WNBA is experiencing a historic surge, with 2024 viewership averaging over 1.2 million per game and league attendance climbing 48 percent year over year.
College Energy: Every spring, NCAA March Madness grips the country. In Indiana especially, basketball passion borders on religion.
Baseball (MLB)
Baseball may no longer hold the top spot, but its legacy runs deep. Dubbed “America’s pastime,” MLB still attracts millions each season, generating over $10 billion annually and maintaining the second-highest average attendance of any US league.
From Little League fields to the World Series, baseball’s enduring charm lies in its rhythm, timeless, nostalgic, and unmistakably American.
The New Wave: Soccer, Hockey, and MMA
While the classics reign, a powerful new wave is redefining the American sports hierarchy.
Soccer (MLS and NWSL Growth)
Once considered niche, soccer has become the fourth most popular sport in the US MLS continues to rise, drawing an average of 22,100 fans per game, while the NWSL is experiencing its own surge, averaging over 11,000 fans per match in 2024 and surpassing 2 million total attendees for the first time.
Nearly 70 percent of Gen Z and Millennials follow soccer, a demographic shift that signals the sport’s explosive future across both the men’s and women’s game.
Ice Hockey (NHL and PWHL)
Hockey is gaining momentum in the United States, with both participation and fan interest on the rise. The NHL remains the sport’s anchor, averaging 5.2 million viewers for the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals and regularly drawing 70,000-plus fans to Winter Classic games. With 29 percent of NHL players now American, the league is benefiting from a growing pipeline of homegrown talent.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is amplifying that growth. In just two seasons, it has attracted more than 1.2 million fans, with US markets like Minnesota, Boston, and New York delivering some of its strongest crowds. Single-game attendance has topped 20,000, and national broadcasts have helped the league become one of the fastest-rising properties in women’s sports - underscoring hockey’s expanding footprint across both the men’s and women’s game.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
The UFC has turned Mixed Martial Arts into one of the fastest-growing sports in America. Fueled by the charisma of stars like Conor McGregor, it has shattered pay-per-view and attendance records, proving that fans crave intensity, and MMA delivers every punch.
Pickleball: America's Fastest Growing Sport
Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America for four consecutive years (2021–2024), and the phenomenon shows no signs of slowing in 2025. No sport better explains its own rise. It’s accessible, social, and appeals to players of all ages and skill levels.
Explosive Participation Growth: Pickleball participation has surged 311% since 2021, reaching 19.8 million active American players. Some sources estimate as many as 50 million Americans have picked up a paddle in the past year, making it one of the most popular recreational sports in the country.
Infrastructure Investment: The sport's rapid expansion has created an estimated $900 million demand for new pickleball courts nationwide. Between 2017 and 2024, outdoor courts skyrocketed by 650%, reflecting unprecedented demand.
Professional League Development: With high-profile investors like LeBron James and Drew Brees, and the 2023 merger of PPA and MLP into the United Pickleball Association (UPA), the sport is professionalizing rapidly. The PPA Tour Asia debuting in 2025 underscores pickleball's global ambitions beyond American borders.
Blending tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, pickleball’s accessibility makes it the sport for everyone, from retirees to pro athletes. It’s casual, competitive, and completely contagious.
The Future of American Sports: Tradition Meets Transformation
The American sports landscape in 2025 is a fusion of legacy and disruption. The NFL still commands the spotlight, but basketball’s global reach, soccer’s youth movement, and pickleball’s meteoric rise reveal a new era of diversity and growth.
For fans, brands, and leagues alike, this mix of tradition and innovation creates endless opportunity, proof that in America, the game never stops evolving.
Frequently Asked Questions About American Sports
What is the most popular sport in America?
American football is the most popular sport in America, with 36% of US adults calling it their favorite according to CEOWORLD magazine. The NFL generates over $23 billion annually and the Super Bowl commands more than 100 million viewers, making it the undisputed leader in American sports culture.
What is the fastest growing sport in the US?
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, holding that title for four consecutive years (2021–2024). Participation has surged 311% since 2021, reaching 19.8 million active players. The sport's accessibility and social nature have driven demand for an estimated $900 million in new courts nationwide.
Are women's sports growing in popularity?
Yes, women's sports are experiencing unprecedented growth across multiple leagues. WNBA viewership averaged over 1.2 million per game in 2024 with attendance climbing 48% year over year. The NWSL surpassed 2 million total attendees for the first time, while the PWHL has attracted more than 1.2 million fans in just two seasons, making women's sports one of the fastest-rising segments in American athletics.
What sports are most popular with younger fans?
Soccer has emerged as the sport of choice for younger Americans, with nearly 70% of Gen Z and Millennials following the game. This demographic shift is driving growth in both MLS and NWSL, with younger fans drawn to soccer's global connections, fast pace, and accessibility. Basketball also maintains strong appeal across younger audiences, particularly through the NBA's international stars and the WNBA's rising visibility.
