Most Popular Sports Teams in Indiana

Watching sports is one of the best ways to bring people together. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your background is, or anything else. If you root for the same team, you’re going to be connected forever. There’s also no better feeling than watching a game in person. Getting to cheer from the top of your lungs and high-five random strangers is a rush you can’t get anywhere else really, other than maybe a bar.

One of the most passionate places for sports is Indiana. The community easily comes together to root for their teams. There are also many famous programs and teams within the state. If you ever find yourself in Indiana and are looking for a team to go and watch, consider these teams. Athletes aren’t the only stars from this state, by the way. Click here for more information about the biggest musicians from Indiana.

To narrow down the most beloved sports teams in Indiana, 24/7 Tempo consulted many different outside sources. These include WNBA.com, NFL.com, and NBA.com.

The NFL is king in the United States. For a long time, the Colts were an afterthought of a franchise. They had success in Baltimore until they packed up overnight and fled to Indianapolis without telling anyone. The Colts would be suffering in mediocrity until Peyton Manning showed up in 1998.

During his time with the Colts, he won four MVP trophies and one Super Bowl. The famous quarterback had a decade long rivalry with Tom Brady, making Colts games must watch television. The team did so well thanks to Manning they were able to build a new stadium where there are many different events that take place.

These include the NFL Combine, Big 10 Championship, and numerous Final Fours. The Colts have an interesting prospect at quarterback named Anthony Richardson, who sadly got hurt early in his rookie season. Fans will be interested to see if Richardson can bring them back to the place Peyton Manning once took them to.

Basketball in Indiana is thought of as special. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Hoosiers,” then you know it’s taken as seriously as football is in the south. The Indiana Pacers were part of the ABA until they came over and joined forces with the NBA. One of the greatest shooters in the history of the league, Reggie Miller, played his entire career in Indiana.

During this time, he was a five time all star, part of the illustrious 50-40-90 club, and brought the team to the 2000 NBA Finals where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan had a strong rivalry with each other, as meeting in the playoffs was common for the two successful teams. These days, players like Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner are leading the way. There’s a strong case the Pacers will make a deep run with all of their young talent.

One of the reasons basketball in Indiana is so iconic is due to the success of the Indiana Hoosiers. Assembly Hall has been the home to some of the greatest moments in basketball, including the unforgettable shot by Christian Watford to beat number one Kentucky.

Whenever there’s a video hyping college basketball, this shot is on it. Aside from just that shot, the Hoosiers have won five National Championships, with the most recent coming in 1987. Mike Woodson is at the helm of the team trying to get them back to their glory days. He’s a former player, so fans can feel confident he’s going to pour his heart and soul into the team.

Even though it’s not a NASCAR race, the Indianapolis 500 is one of the most watched races of the year. The legendary track is home to some of the most memorable racing moments. The event is capped off by the winner kissing the bricks and chugging milk. People from all over the world flock to Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Memorial Day weekend, making it one of the summer kickoff events.

There are four drivers who have won here, including A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves. The 500 mile race  means drivers have to go around the track 200 times before a winner is crowned. Josef Newgarden is the most recent winner of the race and will be looking to defend his title in the 2024 running of the cars.

Some fan bases are different than others when it comes to passion and fervor. Notre Dame Fighting Irish football fans would be in that category. You can find them all around the world, especially in Ireland. Being a college football team and having a reach that spans the globe is impressive.

South Bend and Notre Dame Stadium come to a screeching stop so everyone in town can watch on Saturdays. Over the years, they’ve won 11 National Championships and played in the 2012 National Championship against Alabama. They have made the prestigious College Football playoff twice since its inception in 2015, which is remarkable given the fact only four teams make it each year.

One of the most unique parts of Notre Dame football is they don’t play in a specific conference. This means they can schedule whoever they want to help bolster their playoff chances. They also don’t have to split any television money, so their contract with NBC means they get to reap all of the benefits. Marcus Freeman is the new coach at his former college and is making sure fans have to keep an eye on the Irish.

As previously mentioned, basketball is one of the fabrics of Indiana. The Indiana Fever of the WNBA are one of the most prestigious franchises in the league. They won the title back in 2012 thanks to Tamika Catchings, one of the greatest players in WNBA history. The team has also been to the championship in 2009 and 2015.

They’re also one of the few teams that’s played their entire duration as a franchise in one city. The Fever play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which is also where the Big 10 plays their basketball conference tournament at each year. Kelsey Mitchell has been the face of the team ever since she got drafted in 2018. She made her first all star team in 2023 and has plenty more in the tank for upcoming seasons.

The NBA G League has become one of the most important facets for NBA teams. Young players aren’t forced to sit on the bench and watch anymore. They can play in what is the equivalent of the minor leagues and get in game reps, the most important thing for a basketball player.

The Indiana Mad Ants are the team where the Pacers can send players they want to develop more and not just sit on the bench. The Mad Ants also play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ad won the championship in 2014. From 2007 to 2023, the team was located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They moved up to Indianapolis to make it easier on players when they get called up.

Even though they aren’t around anymore, it’s important to mention the Indianapolis Clowns. Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, there was the MLB and the Negro Leagues. The Clowns are one of the teams that was a force in the Negro Leagues.

In fact, they were one of the first professional teams Hank Aaron played for. He’s arguably one of the greatest baseball player ever. The Clowns disbanded in 1962, after joining the Independent League when the Negro League dissolved. The market was fully taken up by Major League Baseball leaving no room for smaller leagues like this one.

Knowing the history of professional teams like the Clowns is important, so we can appreciate just how far society has come. For a similar story, click here to read more about the most popular sports stars from Colorado.