Sports in Sacramento, California facts for kids
The City of Sacramento and the Sacramento metropolitan area are exciting places for sports! It's home to two major professional teams: the Sacramento Kings for basketball and the Athletics for baseball. You'll also find many smaller teams and great places for fun activities.
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Founded | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | MLB | Baseball | Sutter Health Park | 1901 (2025) | 9 World Series titles (5 in Philadelphia, 4 in Oakland, California) |
| Sacramento Kings | NBA | Basketball | Golden 1 Center | 1945 (1985) | 1 NBA, 1 NBL (as Rochester Royals) |
| Sacramento River Cats | PCL | Baseball | Sutter Health Park | 1978 (2000) | 3 Triple-A, 5 League |
| Sacramento Republic FC | USLC | Soccer | Heart Health Park | 2012 | 2014 USL Pro Championship |
Contents
Professional Sports Teams
Professional sports teams have players who are paid to play. Sacramento is home to some exciting ones!
Sacramento Kings Basketball
The Sacramento Kings are a basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They moved to Sacramento from Kansas City in 1985. The Kings play their home games at the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento.
Sacramento River Cats Baseball
The Sacramento River Cats are a minor league baseball team. They are linked to the San Francisco Giants, a major league team. The River Cats started playing in Sacramento in 2000. They play at Sutter Health Park, which is located in West Sacramento.
Athletics Baseball Team
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. They played their games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento starting in 2025. This was a temporary home for them before they move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Sacramento Republic FC Soccer
The Sacramento Republic FC is a professional soccer team. They play in the USL Championship league. The team was founded in 2012 and won a championship in 2014. They play their games at Heart Health Park.
Former Professional Teams
Sacramento has also been home to other professional sports teams in the past.
Sacramento Monarchs Basketball
The Sacramento Monarchs were a women's basketball team. They were one of the first teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) when it began in 1997. The Monarchs won the WNBA Championship in 2005. This was a big win, as they were the first major professional sports team in Sacramento to win a championship. The team stopped playing in 2009.
Other Past Teams
Other teams that used to play in Sacramento include the Sacramento Solons. They were a minor league baseball team that played for many years. The city also hosted professional football teams like the Sacramento Surge, who won a championship in 1992.
Semi-Pro and Amateur Sports
Besides professional teams, Sacramento has many semi-professional and amateur sports groups. These teams often have players who play for fun or for smaller payments.
Local Teams and Events
The Sacramento Heatwave is a basketball team in the American Basketball Association. They play their games at Folsom High School. Sacramento has also hosted big events like the USA Olympic Track & Field Trials in 2000 and 2004.
The California International Marathon is a popular running event. It started in 1983 and finishes near the Capitol building. Many runners try to qualify for the Boston Marathon at this event. The Sacramento Mile is a famous motorcycle racing event.
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Founded | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Capitals | WTT | Tennis | Allstate Stadium | 1987 | 5 |
| Sacramento Heatwave | ABA | Basketball | Natomas H.S. Event Center | 2003 | |
| Sacramento Gold | NPSL | Soccer | Cosumnes River College | 2003 | 1 |
| Sacramento Sirens | IWFL | Football | Foothill High School | 2001 | 1 WAFL, 3 IWFL |
| Sacramento Pride | WPSL | Soccer | Lincoln High School | 1995 | |
| Sacramento Surge | PASL | Indoor Soccer | McClellan Park | 2012 | |
| Sacramento Suns | USAFL | Australian Football | Various | 2009 | 2 D2, 1 D3 |
College and High School Sports
Sacramento is also a great place for college and high school sports.
College Sports Programs
The area has two major college sports programs. Sacramento State has 21 different sports teams. UC Davis has 23 sports teams. Both compete in NCAA Division 1, which is the highest level of college sports. Sacramento has also hosted NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It has also hosted early rounds of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.
High School Rugby
High school rugby is very popular in Sacramento. Jesuit High School has won national championships many times. Their rival, Christian Brothers High School, has also done very well in national competitions.
Recreation and Outdoor Fun
Sacramento offers many places for people to enjoy sports and outdoor activities.
American River Parkway
The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is a long path that runs between Old Sacramento and Folsom Lake. This trail is part of the American River Parkway, a beautiful natural area. It has over 5,000 acres (20 km²) of undeveloped land. Many cyclists and horseback riders from all over the state enjoy this area.
Discovery Park
Discovery Park is a large park covering 275 acres (1.1 km²). It has many trees and open grassy areas. This park is located where the American River flows into the Sacramento River. It's a great spot for outdoor fun.
California State Fair
The California State Fair is held in Sacramento every year in July. It's a big event that attracts many people.
Famous Olympians
Sacramento has been home to many famous Olympic athletes. These include swimmers like Mark Spitz, Debbie Meyer, Mike Burton, and Summer Sanders. Billy Mills, a track athlete, also lived here. Coach Sherm Chavoor trained many of these Olympic swimmers at his Arden Hills Swim Club.
