The Golden State of Sports: California crowned home of America's most popular sports teams – NBC Los Angeles

There’s something magical about the California sun.
It’s where dreams are born in backyards and blacktops, in Little Leagues and Pop Warner fields. It’s where legends lace up—then light up—prime time. And now, it’s more than just the entertainment capital of the world, California is officially the epicenter of American sports fandom. 
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According to a new study conducted by SportsMillions, the Golden State produces the most popular professional sports teams in the nation, claiming the top spot ahead of New York and Texas. And leading the charge? The Los Angeles Lakers—crowned America’s most popular sports team.
It’s not just about wins and rings anymore. It’s about reach. The study, which analyzed over a year’s worth of Google search trends and Instagram engagement, gave California an unmatched index score of 100, nearly doubling runner-up New York’s 60.2. Texas, which rounds out the top three, posted 51.28.
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At the heart of this dominance is Los Angeles—a city that doesn’t just host stars, it builds them.
The Lakers, the Dodgers, the Rams, Chargers, Clippers, Kings, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Sparks, and more, combined they are the beating heart of professional sports in the City of Angels. 
Of all the 12 professional sports teams in Los Angeles, the Lakers sit atop the throne with an index score of 70.42, fueled by 3.6 million monthly searches and an Instagram following north of 25 million. But what truly sets them apart? Engagement—the kind that turns followers into purple and gold faithful.
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With an estimated 187,000 actively engaged followers at any time, the Lakers aren’t just the second most-followed sports team on Instagram—they boast the most actively engaged fanbase in the country. When they post, the nation listens. When they win, America watches.
From Magic to the Black Mamba, and now to King James and Luka Dončić, the Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They are a cultural phenomenon—a reflection of what sports can be when storytelling meets superstars.
Not far behind them are the reigning World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who placed second on the team list with a score of 66.43. Fueled by nearly 6 million monthly searches and over 4.9 million Instagram followers, the Dodgers’ true power lies in interaction.
Their 2.46% engagement rate—the highest of any top-10 team—proves that when the Boys in Blue post, fans don’t just scroll past. They stop. They like. They comment. They connect.
And why wouldn’t they? With a history that stretches from Brooklyn to Chavez Ravine, and stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani rewriting the record books, the Dodgers have become more than a baseball team. They’re a brand, a heartbeat, a movement.
The numbers don’t lie. California sports teams generated over 28.6 million searches per month, dwarfing totals from every other state. From the Golden State Warriors and their dynasty days in the Bay, to the San Francisco 49ers reigniting red-and-gold fever, to the San Diego Padres fans tapping in, the state owns the digital playing field.
Across Instagram, California teams combine for nearly 600,000 engaged followers—a fanbase bigger than the population of Sacramento. It’s a number that speaks to the passion, presence, and power of West Coast sports.
New York still holds strong with institutions like the Yankees and Bills. Texas, with its Cowboys and rising Astros, commands attention. But California? California commands loyalty.
It’s a rivalry as old as America’s pastime—East vs. West. New York’s Yankees sit third in the popularity rankings, boasting the second-highest search volume of any team at 6.2 million per month. Their 27 World Series titles and pinstripe tradition remain iconic.
But the Bronx Bombers trail both LA teams in total score, dragged down by lower Instagram engagement.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys may be “America’s Team” in name, but their online numbers tell a different story. Despite leading all teams in monthly searches at 8.7 million, their social media engagement was the weakest in the top 10 at just 0.36%.
The research reveals a new truth: the way we watch, follow, and fall in love with teams is evolving. It’s no longer just about who wins championships, or has a front page headline in the local newspaper—it’s about who can command the spotlight, spark a conversation, and bring people together across platforms and time zones.
And nobody does that better than California.
The Golden State isn’t just producing stars; it’s producing stories. Narratives that stretch from Steph Curry’s deep threes in San Francisco to Shohei Ohtani’s two-way dominance in Los Angeles. From gritty underdogs to glamorous dynasties, California delivers every flavor of sports entertainment—and fans across the country can’t get enough.
If sports are a stage, then California is Broadway, Hollywood, and the Super Bowl halftime show all rolled into one.
So whether you’re in Montana watching Lakers highlights at midnight, or in Miami repping Dodger blue, one thing is clear:
California isn’t just on the map—it’s setting the pace.
Source: Study conducted by SportsMillions, the home of Fantasy Sports Pick’em.

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