Las Vegas has concerts, theater, celebrity chefs, UFC, boxing and golf. But did you know it’s also home to a lot of professional sports teams, the smallest market with that many teams? What makes Vegas especially interesting to see a game in is that it draws visitors from all over, including fans from opposing teams.

Vegas Golden Knights

Las Vegas’ transformation into a professional sports city began with this expansion team, its first major professional sports league entry. The Vegas Golden Knights entered the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League in 2017, playing at T-Mobile Arena, and took the Stanley Cup in 2023. The team enjoyed huge success from the start, with regular sellouts. Preseason games began in September this year, with 82 regular season games to follow.

Fun Fact: Chance, the Golden Knights mascot, is actually a Gila monster.

Las Vegas Aces

Another team with a huge local following, the Aces played as the Utah Starzz and the San Antonio Stars before moving to Las Vegas in 2017 to play at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. Since then, this incredibly talented women’s basketball team has won two WNBA championships (in 2022 and 2023). In 2025, after 44 regular season games, the Aces clinched a playoff berth, and WNBA Finals start Oct. 3. Barring an upset, expect to see the Aces there.

Fun Fact: Competition on the court took a different turn this year, when a baby-crawling contest erupted in massive cheers when tiny Ada took the lead, and midcrawl decided to stand up and walk to Mom, with the sold-out crowd cheering her on.

Las Vegas Raiders

Formed in 1960 in the American Football League, the Raiders played both in Oakland and L.A. before moving to Las Vegas in 2020, where a dedicated fan base expanded even more. They now play at Allegiant Stadium just across Interstate 15 from the Strip (there’s even a walkway over the freeway to get to the stadium) and have a 17-game schedule in the season. This week, the Raiders play the Bears in Vegas on Sept. 28 and head out of town to Indianapolis for Oct. 4. They return to face the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 12.

Fun Fact: In 2024, the Super Bowl was at Allegiant Stadium, with the Kansas City Chiefs besting the San Francisco 49ers 25-22.

Las Vegas Aviators

The history of minor league baseball is long and winding, and the Las Vegas Aviators had its genesis in Portland, Ore., in 1919 in the Pacific Coast League. The Portland Beavers played from 1919 to 1972, then changed names and cities, becoming the Stars in 1983. The Stars evolved into the 51s and then the Aviators, who now play in the Summerlin community at the Las Vegas Ballpark in the PCL, and as the minor league affiliate for the Athletics. The Aviators enjoy widespread community support in Vegas, with reasonable tickets and fun games.

Fun Fact: The team name pays homage to Howard Hughes, the film producer, aerospace engineer and businessman who had massive holdings in the Las Vegas Valley in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Las Vegas Lights Football Club

Photo by: Lucas Peltier

The Las Vegas Lights FC weren’t the first soccer team to be located in Las Vegas, but are certainly the longest lasting. The team plays at Cashman Field near downtown Las Vegas, where the Las Vegas Stars/51s played for many years. Affordable tickets are paired with many promotions, making sure that the excitement goes beyond the field. The Lights wraps up its 30-game season in the United Soccer League against the Oakland Roots on Oct. 11.

Fun Fact: The first pro soccer team in Vegas was the Las Vegas Quicksilvers, who played for just one season in 1977. The Las Vegas Seagulls also played here for one season in 1979.

Vegas Knight Hawks

Playing football during the heat in Las Vegas might not seem like a good idea, but it hits different when it’s in an indoor arena (air conditioning!). The Vegas Knight Hawks play at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson from the end of March to the end of August. Fun promotions and a family-friendly atmosphere make this a locals favorite.

Fun Fact: This year, the Knight Hawks won the championship of the Indoor Football League for the first time, on the final play of the game.

Henderson Silver Knights

Silver Knights games are also played at Lee’s Family Forum. The Silver Knights play in the American Hockey League, and moved to Nevada in 2020, changing names from the San Antonio Rampage. Preseason and regular season games in the 2025-’26 season start on Oct. 11 and run through April, with the last home game on April 14.

Fun Fact: The Vegas Golden Knights and the Henderson Silver Knights have the same owner.

Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Photo by: Courtesy

A relatively new addition to Las Vegas’ pro teams, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs are an expansion team of the National Lacrosse league, with its first season in 2022-’23. This box lacrosse team plays its home games in Henderson’s Lee’s Family Forum, with an 18-game season that start in December. Nine of those are in the Las Vegas Valley. For the 2025-’26 season, games start Oct. 20.

Fun Fact: Box lacrosse features a 30-second shot clock, giving fans even more chances to cheer.

Las Vegas Thrill

Photo by: Steve Marcus

When Major League Volleyball was formed in 2023, Las Vegas was the last team to be awarded a franchise, and began playing in 2024. This pro women’s volleyball team plays in Lee’s Family Forum from January through May. The team has proven to be a big draw for local volleyball fans. (The Thrill is currently on hiatus.)

Athletics

The Major League Baseball team will move to Las Vegas in 2028, after the completion of a ballfield on the site of the former Tropicana.

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