Pro City, Pro Sports
While most sports fanatics know Louisville as a college basketball town serving as the home of the University of Louisville Cardinals and the Kentucky Derby, Bourbon City is home to multiple pro sports teams that play across several tiers of play from soccer, football, baseball, and more!
Kentucky Derby
Churchill Downs has served as the site for the annual Running of the Roses and the fastest two-minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby! Not only is the Kentucky Derby the longest continuously running sporting event in the United States, it’s steeped in tradition. From the kick-off to the Kentucky Derby Festival with the largest airshow and fireworks display in the United States to watching the jockeys warm up on cool crisp mornings on the track’s backside, there is something for spectators of all ages.
Louisville City FC
Since starting play in 2015, Louisville City FC has consistently raised the standard of American men’s professional soccer both on and off the field. Louisville City is a member of the USL Championship, America’s second division league, and anticipates entering the planned USL first division launching in 2027 or 2028.
The Championship’s all-time winningest club, LouCity won the league title in both 2017 and 2018, making it the only team in league history to win back-to-back titles. Additionally, City won Eastern Conference crowns in 2019 and 2022 before claiming its first Players’ Shield, awarded for a regular season title, in 2024.
Racing Louisville
Since starting play in 2021, Racing Louisville FC has blazed a trail as its city’s only top-tier professional sports team.
Named as an ode to Louisville’s Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Racing competes in the National Women’s Soccer League, the world’s premier women’s professional soccer league. NWSL stars regularly take part in the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, among other notable international competitions.
In 2021, Racing won the inaugural Women’s Cup at Lynn Family Stadium, defeating German power Bayern Munich in a penalty kick shootout. In 2023, the team finished runner-up in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, marking the club’s first appearance in an NWSL final.
Louisville Kings
The Louisville Kings will kick-off play in the United Football League (UFL) beginning March 2026 at Lynn Family Stadium!
The Louisville Kings celebrate the deep history and rich heritage of one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachians. The name builds off the literal royal connections to its namesake France’s King Louis XVI, and the prestigious Kentucky Derby, the start of the Triple Crown and a sport known as the “Sport of Kings”. The noble name also plays homage to the city's legacy as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” hometown to the great Muhammad Ali among other historical figures and cultural influences that define our nation today.
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats are a minor league baseball team and Tiple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
The team plays at Louisville Slugger Field and hosts a variety of community events and nights. The stadium includes a playground for children and is within walking distance of some of Louisville’s hottest spots, including Nulu, Louisville Waterfront Park, Butchertown Stadium District, Whiskey Row, and more!
Louisville Cardinals
The University of Louisville Cardinals, or better know as the CARDS, have deeply rooted traditions and success both on the field and off the court.
Home to dozens of national championships across 23 intercollegiate varsity sports teams, you’ll regularly find famous alumni and fans cheering on the CARDS including Golden Globe and Academy Award Winner Jennifer Lawrence, MTV Video and Billboard Music Award Winner Jack Harlow, and Heisman Trophy Winner Lamar Jackson!