Los Angeles isn’t all movie stars and shopping. The professional sports scene is alive and well. While there isn’t a professional football team, Los Angeles takes great pride in basketball with two NBA (National Basketball Association) teams and one WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) team. No matter what time of the year you decide to rent an RV in Los Angeles, you’ll be able to catch a professional game. While the NBA (basketball) and NHL (hockey) seasons are on hiatus, the MLB (baseball) season resumes.
Below we will list teams and information on professional and college sports in Los Angeles.
Basketball
- NBA: National Basketball Association
- WNBA: Women’s National Basketball Association
- NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association
- LOS ANGELES LAKERS
- NBA (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Staples Center
- NBA Season: October to April, 2 months of playoffs follow
- The LA Lakers hold the record for the longest consecutive win streak in US professional team sports.
- LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
- NBA (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Staples Center
- NBA Season: October to April, 2 months of playoffs follow
- The Los Angeles Clippers won their first NBA playoff game in 13 years during the 2005-2006 season.
- LOS ANGELES SPARKS
- WNBA (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Staples Center
- WNBA Season: May to August, 2 months of playoffs follow
- In 2001, the LA Sparks became the first WNBA team to go undefeated at home games for an entire season.
- UCLA BRUINS BASKETBALL – MEN’S & WOMEN’S
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Pauley Pavilion
- NCAA Basketball Season: November to February, the tournament in March follows
- From 1964 to 1975 (the UCLA Basketball Dynasty), the UCLA Bruins won 10 titles in 12 seasons.
- USC TROJANS BASKETBALL – MEN’S & WOMEN’S
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Galen Center
- NCAA Basketball Season: November to February, the tournament in March follows
- The USC Trojan’s men’s basketball team has more than 1,000 victories in college basketball.
Football
Unfortunately, Los Angeles hasn’t had a professional football team in the NFL since 1994.
- NFL: National Football League
- NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association
- UCLA BRUINS FOOTBALL
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Rose Bowl
- NCAA Football Season: August to December
- The UCLA Bruins football team was nicknamed “Gutty Little Bruins” in the 60s because of their small physical size being offset by their speed, determination, and teamwork.
- USC TROJANS FOOTBALL
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Los Angeles Sports Arena and Coliseum
- NCAA Football Season: August to December
- The USC Trojans and Notre Dame have had a rivalry since 1926. This rivalry is considered the greatest intersectional rivalry of all college athletics.
Baseball
- MLB: Major League Baseball
- NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association
- LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
- MLB (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- MLB Season: April to September, three rounds of playoffs follow
- The Angels were owned by Disney. Disney sold the Angels on May 15, 2003.
- LOS ANGELES DODGERS
- MLB (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Dodger Stadium
- MLB Season: April to September, three rounds of playoffs follow
- During the 2006 season, making it the fourth time in baseball history and the first time the final home run tied the game, four home runs were scored by the Dodgers in the ninth inning.
- UCLA BRUINS BASEBALL
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Jackie Robinson Stadium
- NCAA Baseball Season: February to June, the tournament in June follows
- Jackie Robinson Stadium is named after a former Bruins baseball player, Jackie Robinson.
- USC TROJANS BASEBALL
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Dedeaux Field
- NCAA Baseball Season: February to June, the tournament in June follows
- Dedeaux Field is named after the Trojans’ legendary baseball coach, Rod Dedeaux, who coached the team from 1942 to 1986.
Hockey
- NHL: National Hockey League
- LOS ANGELES KINGS
- NHL (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Staples Center
- NHL Season: October to April, 2 months of playoffs follow
- The LA Kings were transformed into a top NHL team after they successfully acquired Wayne Gretzky in 1988. Canadians were deeply disappointed by this trade. Gretzky was considered the NHL’s best player.
- ANAHEIM DUCKS
- NHL (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: Honda Center
- NHL Season: October to April, 2 months of playoffs follow
- Disney originally owned the “Mighty Ducks of Anaheim”. The Ducks’ original name came from the movie, The Mighty Ducks. Their name was officially changed to Anaheim Ducks in January of 2006.
Soccer
- MLS: Major League Soccer
- NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association
- LOS ANGELES GALAXY
- MLS (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: The Dignity Health Sports Park
- MLS Season: April to November, championship match follows
- Major League Soccer began play in 1996 and the Los Angeles Galaxy are one of ten founding members.
- CLUB DEPORTIVO CHIVAS USA (CHIVAS USA)
- MLS (Pro)
- Los Angeles Home: The Dignity Health Sports Park
- MLS Season: April to November, championship match follows
- Chivas USA is mostly made up of Latin players. The team’s main language is Spanish.
- UCLA BRUINS SOCCER – MEN’S & WOMEN’S
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: Drake Stadium
- NCAA Soccer Season: August to November, championship match follows
- The Drake Stadium has been home to the UCLA soccer teams since 1969. It was revamped in 1999 at a cost of $1.5 million which was made possible by Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. The field is called Frank W. Marshall Field. Marshall has been a fan of UCLA soccer for a long time and was a member of the men’s team in 1967.
- USC TROJANS SOCCER
- NCAA (College)
- Los Angeles Home: McAlister Soccer Field, north of the University Park Campus
- NCAA Soccer Season: August to November, championship match follows
- Jim Millinder took over coaching in 1996, resulting in the Trojans making it to the NCAA tournament seven times.
