Maryland has a number of major and minor professional sports franchises. Two National Football League teams play in Maryland, the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and the Washington Commanders in Prince George's County. The Baltimore Orioles compete as Major League Baseball franchise in Baltimore.

Other professional sports franchises in the state include five affiliated minor league baseball teams, one independent league baseball team, the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, two indoor football teams, two low-level Basketball teams, and three low-level outdoor soccer teams.

The Congressional Country Club has hosted several professional golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Championship, Kemper Open and Quicken Loans National.

Maryland has had famous athletes including baseball's Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers, Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. and George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, who played for the old Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and especially won fame with the New York Yankees. Plus Olympic swimming medalists Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Chase Kalisz, and Katie Hoff.

Since 1962, the official state sport of Maryland is jousting. Lacrosse was named the official team sport in 2004,^[1] and Sports Illustrated wrote the sport "has always been the showcase for the flower of Maryland manhood."^[2] In 2008, intending to promote physical fitness for all ages, Maryland declared walking the official state exercise and became the first state with an official state exercise.^[3]

Major professional teams

Maryland has major professional sports teams in the city of Baltimore and in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. Two major league teams play in Baltimore — the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and MLB's Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, the NFL's Baltimore Colts played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983 before moving to Indianapolis.

The Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins) play in Landover, Maryland. The NHL's Washington Capitals and the NBA's Washington Wizards (formerly the Baltimore Bullets, then Washington Bullets) used to play in Maryland before moving in 1997 to a newly constructed Verizon Center arena in downtown Washington in the District of Columbia.

Other current professional and semi-pro teams

Baseball

Basketball

Football

Hockey

Soccer

Former professional and semi-pro teams

Baseball

The following table details baseball teams which were located in Maryland. For minor league teams that changed affiliations, each affiliation is listed as a separate team.

Basketball

Football

Hockey

Inline Hockey

Lacrosse

Soccer

Other sports

Collegiate sports

NCAA Division I

Coppin State University

The Coppin State University sports teams participate in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for most sports, with baseball competing in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Its teams are called the Eagles.

Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team, founded in 1883, is the school's most prominent sports team, which has won 44 national titles. The Blue Jays play at Homewood Field (pictured right). Lacrosse is the only sport in which Hopkins participates as an NCAA Division I member; both the men's and women's lacrosse teams compete at that level in the Big Ten Conference. All other Hopkins sports compete in NCAA Division III, in which athletic scholarships are not allowed. Hopkins is one of a small number of Division III schools authorized by the NCAA to continue awarding scholarships in their Division I sports.

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola fields 17 varsity teams and 22 club teams. The varsity teams, known as the Greyhounds, participate in the NCAA's Division I. All Loyola varsity teams compete in the Patriot League in the following sports:

Morgan State University

The Morgan State University athletic teams are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Bears and compete in the following sports:

• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Bowling – Women's
• Cheer – Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Football – Men's
• Softball – Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field – Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

Mount St. Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's University was one of the founding members of the Northeast Conference, but moved in 2022 to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Mountaineers and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's
• Softball – Women's
• Soccer – Men's & women's
• Swimming – Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
• Water Polo – Men's & Women

Towson University

The athletics teams of Towson University participate in the NCAA's Division I and are members of the Colonial Athletic Association, as well as CAA Football, the technically separate football league operated by that conference. Some sports compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Tigers, and the mascot of the University is named Doc.

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy participates in NCAA Division I in 30 varsity sports.^[6] It also fields teams in 12 club sports.^[7] The Academy is a non-football member of the Patriot League, a football-only member of the American Athletic Conference, and a member of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (men), Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (men), Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges, Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League (men), and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. Navy is also one of approximately 300 members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Although the teams have no official name, they are usually referred to as "Navy", "Midshipmen", or "Mids". The Academy competes in the following sports:

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County sports teams participate in the NCAA's Division I, and is member of the America East Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Retrievers, and the mascot of the University is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever which has been referred to as both True Grit and Fever.

University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland, College Park sports teams participate in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Prior to 2014, the school participated in Division I as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member. Its teams are called the Terrapins, and its mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo.

NCAA Division II

Bowie State University

The Bowie State University athletic teams are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Their teams are called the Bulldogs and compete in the following sports:

• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Bowling – Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Football – Men's
• Softbal – Women's
• Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

Frostburg State University

The Frostburg State Bobcats began a transition from Division III to Division II in July 2019, joining the Mountain East Conference. The Bobcats will be eligible for Division II national championships in the 2022–23 school year. The following sports are sponsored:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Football – Men's
• Lacrosse – Women's (plays in the East Coast Conference because the Mountain East sponsors lacrosse only for men)
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

NCAA Division III

Goucher College

Goucher College athletic teams are members of the Landmark Conference. Their teams are called the Gophers and compete in the following sports:

• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Equestrian – Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

Johns Hopkins University

Except for the men's and women's lacrosse teams, Johns Hopkins athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Crew – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Fencing – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Men's
• Football – Men's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's
• Water Polo – Men's & Women's
• Wrestling – Men's

Hood College

Hood College's athletic teams are members of the Middle Atlantic Conferences. Their teams are called the Blazers and compete in the following sports:

• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Golf – Men's & Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's & Women's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

McDaniel College

McDaniel College athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference. Their teams are called the Green Terror and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Football – Men's
• Golf – Men's and Women's
• Lacrosse - Men's and Women's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's
• Wrestling – Men's

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame athletic teams are members of the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Gators and compete in the following sports:

• Basketball – Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Lacrosse – Women's
• Soccer – Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Swimming – Women's
• Tennis – Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's College athletic teams are members of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference, but will move to the North Eastern Athletic Conference after the 2020–21 school year. Their teams are called the Seahawks and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's
• Sailing – Men's & Women's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Volleyball – Men's & Women's

Salisbury University

Salisbury University athletic teams are members of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference except for the football team, which plays in the Empire 8. Their teams are called the Seagulls and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Football – Men's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Track & Field – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

Stevenson University

Stevenson University athletic teams are members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference as well as the Middle Atlantic Conferences. Their teams are called the Mustangs and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Cheer – Men's & Women's
• Cross Country – Men's & Women's
• Dance – Women's
• Golf – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Football – Men's
• Ice Hockey – Men's (2016–17) and Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Volleyball – Men's & Women's

Washington College

Washington College athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference, except for the sailing team which competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. Their teams are called the Shoremen/Shorewomen and compete in the following sports:

• Baseball – Men's
• Basketball – Men's & Women's
• Field Hockey – Women's
• Lacrosse – Men's & Women's
• Rowing – Men's & Women's
• Sailing – CoEd
• Soccer – Men's & Women's
• Softball – Women's
• Swimming – Men's & Women's
• Tennis – Men's & Women's
• Volleyball – Women's

Collegiate Summer Baseball

Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League

The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Of the eight teams in the league, five play home games in Maryland.

MLB Draft League

The MLB Draft League is a collegiate summer baseball league that began play in 2021. Created by Major League Baseball (MLB) and Prep Baseball Report, the league serves as a showcase for top draft-eligible prospects leading up to each summer's MLB draft. The league's initial six teams were formerly members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League, Eastern League, and Carolina League before MLB's reorganization of the minors for 2021.

High school

Baltimore Catholic League

The Baltimore Catholic League (BCL), is a competitive basketball association composed of private Catholic high schools in the Baltimore, Maryland geographic area.

• St. Frances Academy
• Calvert Hall College High School
• Loyola Blakefield (originally Loyola High School)
• St. Maria Goretti High School
• The Cardinal Gibbons School (originally Cardinal Gibbons High School)
• Archbishop Spalding High School
• Mount Saint Joseph College (high school)

Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland

The Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (or IAAM), established 1993, is a girls’ sports conference for parochial / private / independent high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore.

Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association

The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (or MIAA) established 1993, is a boys' sports conference for parochial / private / independent high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore.

Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) oversees public high school sporting contests in the state of Maryland.

Member High schools

Allegany County

• Allegany High School, Cumberland
• Mountain Ridge High School, Frostburg
• Fort Hill High School, Cumberland

Anne Arundel County

• Anne Arundel County Public Schools
• Annapolis High School, Annapolis
• Arundel High School, Gambrills
• Broadneck High School, Annapolis
• Chesapeake High School, Pasadena
• Glen Burnie High School, Glen Burnie
• Meade Senior High School, Fort Meade
• North County High School, Glen Burnie
• Northeast Senior High School, Pasadena
• Old Mill High School, Millersville
• Severna Park High School, Severna Park
• South River High School, Edgewater
• Southern High School, Harwood

Baltimore City

• Baltimore City College, Baltimore
• Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore
• Banks High School, Baltimore
• Carver Vocational Technical High School, Baltimore
• Doris M. Johnson High School, Baltimore
• Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Baltimore
• Edmondson-Westside High School, Baltimore
• Frederick Douglass Senior High School, Baltimore
• Forest Park Senior High School, Baltimore
• Lake Clifton/Eastern High School, Baltimore
• Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School, Baltimore
• Northwestern High School, Baltimore
• Patterson High School, Baltimore
• Reginald F. Lewis High School, Baltimore
• Dr. Samuel L. Banks High School, Baltimore
• Southwestern High School, Baltimore
• Walbrook High School, Baltimore
• W. E. B. Dubois High School, Baltimore
• Western High School, Baltimore

Baltimore County

• Catonsville High School, Catonsville
• Chesapeake High School, Essex
• Dulaney High School, Timonium
• Dundalk High School, Dundalk
• Eastern Technical High School, Essex
• Franklin High School, Reisterstown
• Hereford High School, Parkton
• Kenwood High School, Essex
• Lansdowne Academy of Finance, Lansdowne
• Loch Raven High School, Towson
• Milford Mill Academy, Baltimore
• Overlea High School, Baltimore
• Owings Mills High School, Owings Mills
• Parkville Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science, Parkville
• Patapsco High School, Dundalk
• Perry Hall High School, Perry Hall
• Pikesville High School, Pikesville
• Randallstown High School, Randallstown
• Sparrows Point High School, Sparrows Point
• Towson Law & Public Policy High School (Towson High School), Towson
• Western Technical High School, Catonsville
• Woodlawn High School, Woodlawn

Calvert County

• Huntingtown High School Huntingtown
• Northern High School (Owings, Maryland)
• Calvert High School (Prince Frederick, Maryland)
• Patuxent High School Lusby

Caroline County

• Colonel Richardson High School, Federalsburg
• North Caroline High School, Ridgely

Carroll County

• Century High School, Sykesville
• Francis Scott Key High School, Union Bridge
• Liberty High School, Eldersburg
• Manchester Valley High School, Manchester
• North Carroll High School, Hampstead
• South Carroll High School, Sykesville
• Westminster Senior High School, Westminster
• Winters Mill High School, Westminster
• Manchester Valley High School, Manchester

Cecil County

• Elkton High School, Elkton
• North East High School, North East
• Perryville High School, Perryville
• Rising Sun High School, Rising Sun

Charles County

• Henry E. Lackey High School, Indian Head
• La Plata High School, La Plata
• Maurice J. McDonough High School, Pomfret
• North Point High School, Waldorf
• Thomas Stone High School, Waldorf
• Westlake High School, Waldorf

Dorchester County

• Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, Cambridge
• North Dorchester High School, Hurlock

Frederick County

• Brunswick High School, Brunswick
• Catoctin High School, Thurmont
• Frederick High School, Frederick
• Governor Thomas Johnson High School, Frederick
• Linganore High School, Frederick
• Oakdale High School, Frederick
• Middletown High School, Middletown
• Tuscarora High School, Frederick
• Urbana High School, Urbana
• Walkersville High School, Walkersville

Garrett County

• Northern Garrett High School, Accident
• Southern Garrett High School, Oakland

Harford County

• Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen
• Bel Air High School, Bel Air
• C. Milton Wright High School, Bel Air
• Edgewood High School, Edgewood
• Fallston High School, Fallston
• Harford Technical High School, Bel Air
• Havre De Grace High School, Havre De Grace
• Joppatowne High School, Joppa
• Patterson Mill High School, Bel Air
• North Harford High School, Pylesville

Howard County

• Atholton High School, Columbia
• Centennial High School, Ellicott City
• Glenelg High School, Glenelg
• Hammond High School, Columbia
• Howard High School, Ellicott City
• Long Reach High School, Columbia
• Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriotsville
• Mount Hebron High School, Ellicott City
• Oakland Mills High School, Columbia
• Reservoir High School, Fulton
• River Hill High School, Clarksville
• Wilde Lake High School, Columbia

Kent County

• Kent County High School, Worton

Montgomery County

• Albert Einstein High School, Kensington
• Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda
• Clarksburg High School, Clarksburg
• Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School, Rockville
• Damascus High School, Damascus
• Gaithersburg High School, Gaithersburg
• James Hubert Blake High School, Silver Spring
• John F. Kennedy High School, Silver Spring
• Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring
• Northwest High School, Germantown
• Northwood High School, Silver Spring
• Paint Branch High School, Burtonsville
• Poolesville High School, Poolesville
• Quince Orchard High School, Gaithersburg
• Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville
• Rockville High School, Rockville
• Seneca Valley High School, Germantown
• Sherwood High School, Sandy Spring
• Springbrook High School, Silver Spring
• Thomas Edison High School of Technology, Silver Spring
• Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School, Rockville
• Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda
• Walter Johnson High School, Bethesda
• Watkins Mill High School, Gaithersburg
• Wheaton High School, Wheaton
• Winston Churchill High School, Potomac

Prince George's County

• Prince George's County Public Schools
• Bladensburg High School, Bladensburg
• Bowie High School, Bowie
• Central High School, Capitol Heights
• Crossland High School, Temple Hills
• Frederick Douglass High School, Upper Marlboro
• Forestville Military Academy, Forestville
• DuVal High School, Lanham
• Fairmont Heights High School, Capitol Heights
• Charles Herbert Flowers High School, Springdale
• Friendly High School, Fort Washington
• Gwynn Park High School, Brandywine
• High Point High School, Beltsville
• Largo High School, Upper Marlboro
• Laurel High School, Laurel
• Northwestern High School, Hyattsville
• Oxon Hill High School, Oxon Hill
• Parkdale High School, Riverdale
• Potomac High School, Oxon Hill
• Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt
• Suitland High School, Forestville
• Surrattsville High School, Clinton

Queen Anne's County

• Kent Island High School, Stevensville
• Queen Anne's County High School, Centreville

St. Mary's County

• Chopticon High School, Morganza
• Great Mills High School, Great Mills
• Leonardtown High School, Leonardtown

Somerset County

• Crisfield High School, Crisfield
• Washington High School, Princess Anne

Talbot County

• Easton High School, Easton
• St. Michaels Middle/High School, St. Michaels

Washington County

• Boonsboro High School, Boonsboro
• Clear Spring High School, Clear Spring
• Hancock High School, Hancock
• North Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown
• Smithsburg High School, Smithsburg
• South Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown
• Williamsport High School, Williamsport

Wicomico County

• James M. Bennett High School, Salisbury
• Mardela Middle and High School, Mardela Springs
• Parkside High School, Salisbury
• Wicomico High School, Salisbury

Worcester County

• Pocomoke High School, Pocomoke City
• Snow Hill High School, Snow Hill
• Stephen Decatur High School, Berlin

Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference or WCAC is a high school athletic league for boys, girls, and co-ed Catholic high schools located around and in Washington, D.C., United States.

• Academy of the Holy Cross
• Archbishop Carroll High School
• Bishop Ireton High School
• Bishop O'Connell High School
• Bishop McNamara High School
• DeMatha Catholic High School
• Elizabeth Seton High School
• Gonzaga College High School
• Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
• Paul VI Catholic High School
• St. John's College High School
• St. Mary's Ryken High School

Horse racing

Horse racing has a very long history in Maryland going back to colonial days. The Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel in the Triple Crown, is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Presently, Maryland has four Thoroughbred tracks and two Harness Tracks.