9 Lesser Known (But Just as Exciting) Sports Team to Watch in Detroit

Sport: All of them!

Let’s start out with the sports teams of Wayne State, a university in midtown Detroit. Root for the Warriors, whether you are a fan of basketball, football, golf, tennis, volleyball, cross country, swimming and diving, and more.

Things to do nearby Wayne State: Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Science Center, Ford Piquette Plant, Motown Museum

Sport: Roller derby

Detroit Roller Derby is the place to see (or play!) this fast-paced quad roller skating sport in Detroit. DRD, as it’s called, is known as Michigan’s premier roller derby league and was founded back in 2005.

They have both home and travel teams for women, men, and juniors. Catch a home game, played at the iconic Masonic Temple.

Things to do nearby Masonic Temple: Motor City Casino, Little Caesars Arena, Michigan Science Center, Detroit Institute of Arts

Sport: Ice hockey

Love ice hockey but looking for something different than the Red Wings? Check out the Motor City Rockers - a professional minor league hockey team based in Fraser, Michigan, with home games at Big Boy Arena.

They also happen to be one of the newest and most exciting professional sports teams in Metro Detroit, having only played their first game in 2022.

Things to do nearby Big Boy Arena in Fraser: Harrington Trails Park, Free Play Pinball Arcade, Ford House, Nautical Mile

Sport: Basketball

Motor City Cruise are a professional basketball team in Detroit, that play home games at Wayne State Fieldhouse.

Their logo may look familiar to you: they’re affiliated with the Pistons, after being purchased and relocated to Detroit in 2021, and are officially part of the NBA’s “G league” (also known as minor league basketball).

Things to do nearby Wayne State Fieldhouse: Explore downtown Detroit, Motown Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Museum

Sport: Baseball

The Utica Unicorns are an independent baseball team that play at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica, in Metro Detroit. They are part of the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL).

USPBL is an independent league based solely at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica, where the Utica Unicorns along with three other baseball teams from Metro Detroit play from May through September.

Catch one of their games and chances are you’ll be witnessing a future minor or major league baseball player at their roots!

Things to do nearby Jimmy John’s Field in Utica: Clinton River Trail System, The Reptarium, Dave & Busters

Sport: Baseball

The Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers are another independent baseball team within the United Shore Professional Baseball League.

Representing Birmingham and Bloomfield Township in Metro Detroit, you can see them face up against the Utica Unicorns and the other USPBL teams at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica.

Things to do nearby Jimmy John’s Field in Utica: Clinton River Trail System, The Reptarium, Dave & Busters

Sport: Soccer

Are you a soccer fan (or football as the rest of the world knows it)? If so, check out Detroit’s own professional soccer club: Detroit City Football Club.

Currently, Detroit City FC is in the USL Championship, which is the tier below major league soccer. There are both men’s and women’s teams, and last year the men’s Le Rouge team made it to the USL Championship playoffs.

Catch a home game at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck the next time you’re in Detroit. Better yet, arrive early to Fowling Warehouse, the official prematch bar, and you can join other passionate fans in the “March to the Match.”

Things to do nearby Keyworth Stadium: Fowling Warehouse, Polish Art Center, Hamtramck Disneyland, explore Hamtramck

Sport: Football

Detroit Venom is the city’s very own semi-professional women’s tackle football team. They are part of the Women’s Football Alliance, which is considered the premier competitive women’s tackle football league in the world.

You’re sure to get a good game: in 2019 and 2021, they won the D2 national conference! Catch a home game at the Detroit Renaissance High School field.

Things to do nearby Detroit Renaissance High School: Motor City Soul Food, Detroit Zoo, Rouge Park and Golf Course, Royal Oak

Sport: Cricket

If you’re a fan of cricket, then you can’t miss Detroit Cricket League. With 28 years of history, they are now the largest cricket league in Michigan with about 800 players across their 39 teams.

You can catch their games across Metro Detroit, including Founders Park (Farmington Hills), Canton Heritage Park (Canton), Borden Park (Rochester Hills), Ella Mae Power Park (Novi), and more.