Whether you’re a sports fanatic — or just look good in Badger Red and White — when it comes to sports, Madison has no shortage of teams to support. Our city is home to some of the most loyal fans in the country — they even set world records.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Madison sports, so whether you’re already a devoted Madison sports fan or you’re new to the area, we hope it can serve as a valuable resource.

The Wisconsin men's basketball team participated in the NCAA tournament for 19 consecutive seasons (1999-2017). | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
| Wikimedia Commons

University of Wisconsin Athletics | Est. 1870

The UW-Madison athletic department has a storied history. They’ve been primarily competing in the Big Ten Conference for all sports since the 1896-97 season. The women’s hockey team (ahem, national champions) competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while the men’s crew team (ahem, national champions) compete in the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges. They have 23 varsity teams, including football (ahem, national champions), basketball (ahem, national champions), men’s hockey (ahem, national champions), women’s volleyball (ahem, national champions), and men’s and women’s cross country (ahem, national champions for both), among other teams.

Where they play: Camp Randall Stadium, Kohl Center, UW Field House, among other facilities.

Camp Randall is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten Conference (built in 1917)
It is the 40th largest stadium in the world, with a current seating capacity of 80,321
It is a place to “Jump Around”

Mascot: Buckingham “Bucky” U. Badger

First seen in 1940
Mascot Hall of Fame inductee in 2006

Team colors: Badger Red and white

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Major accomplishments:

Wisconsin has had two Heisman Trophy winners (Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne), and has had 16 former players and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
Men’s basketball has made it to the Final Four four times in its history, winning the National Championship in 1941
The men's basketball team participated in the NCAA tournament for 19 consecutive seasons (1999-2017)
Men’s hockey have been national champions six times over
Bob Suter, who played for the Badgers, was a member of the Miracle on Ice 1980 US Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal
No college has won more women’s hockey national titles than the Wisconsin Badgers
The women’s volleyball team has had 33 All-Americans

See the teams’ schedules.

The Madison Mallards are a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league team in the Northwoods League. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons | Wikimedia Commons

Madison Mallards | Est. 2001

The Madison Mallards are a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league team in the Northwoods League. They also bring more fans to their stadium than any other collegiate summer baseball team in the country. It doesn’t hurt that they serve beer-filled boots.

Where they play: Warner Park

Capacity: 6,750
Nicknamed “The Duck Pond”
Former home of the Madison Muskies, the Madison Hatters, and Madison Black Wolf

Mascot: Maynard G. Mallard

He had a blast on his 21st birthday
Maynard will make an appearance at events at local nonprofits at no charge

Team colors: Blue, yellow, green, and tan

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Major accomplishments:

The Mallards have won the Northwoods League championship in 2004 and 2013
Several players have made it to the big leagues

See the team’s schedule.

Christian Enriquez vs. Greenville Triumph in 2021. | Photo via Forward Madison FC

Forward Madison FC* | Est. 2018

The soccer team played their inaugural season in 2019 and competes in USL League One, a Division III league operated by United Soccer League. It’s one of 12 teams that plays 32 regular season games, followed by the playoffs (that the team made just last season).

Where they play: Breese Stevens Field

Capacity: 5,000
Built in 1925, it is the city’s oldest sports park

Mascot: Lionela Bessi

She’s a cow
When she had a calf, the club adopted her as a mascot, as well. Her name is Rose Cowbelle

Team colors: Pink and blue

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Major accomplishments:

Fans are called Mingos, after flamingos, after plastic flamingo lawn ornaments, the official bird of Madison
Their inaugural season had the highest average home attendance of any time in USL League One

*Professional women’s soccer is coming to Madison as early as 2025. Forward Madison FC owners will be adding a team in expansion of the USL Super League.

See the team’s schedule.

The Madison Radicals are part of the Central Division of the American Ultimate Disc League. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons | Wikimedia Commons

Madison Radicals | Est. 2013

Nerd alert - Madisonians like ultimate frisbee. We like it so much we have a semi-professional team. Part of the Central Division of the American Ultimate Disc League, the team has won five regular season division titles since its inception in 2013, winning the championship in 2018.

Where they play: Breese Stevens Field

Capacity: 5,000
The historic field has held special exhibition games with MLB teams such as the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Browns
Negro League teams also played there, including the Havana La Palomas

Mascot: No mascot

Team colors: Blue and green

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Major accomplishments:

Became the first AUDL team to surpass 100 wins in 2022
Had a 27-straight regular season home game winning streak (2013-2017)

See the team’s schedule.

The Madison Capitols are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League.
| Photo via Madison Capitols
| Madison Capitols

Madison Capitols | Est. 1984

Wisconsinites like hockey.* The Madison Capitols are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League.

Where they play: Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena

Capacity: 2,611
It was built in 1999 under the leadership of US Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Suter
There’s an “Eagle’s Nest” where one can purchase a ticket for all you can eat while you watch the game

Mascot: D.C. Eagle

Team Colors: Blue, gray, red, and white

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Major accomplishments:

The Madison Capitols began as a team in 1984, coached by Bob Suter
From 1991-1995 they were rebranded as the Wisconsin Capitols
Since 2014 they’ve been called the Madison Capitols
In the 2021-22 season they made it to the championship game, losing to the Sioux City Musketeers

See the team’s schedule.

* There are other hockey teams in the area, including a semi-professional team in Sun Prairie, the Killer Bees.

Madison has its own Australian Rules Football team. | Photo via Wisconsin Wombats
| Wisconsin Wombats

Wisconsin Wombats | Est. 2017

Madison has its own Australian Rules Football team. What IS Australian Rules Football? Good question.

Where they play: Reindahl Park and other locations

The park will soon be home to an Imagination Center

Mascot: Did you know that wombats poop cubes?

Team Colors: Red and black

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Major accomplishments:

The USAFL was organized in 1997 and is based in Sun Prairie
There are 48 member clubs nationally
Milwaukee also has a team called the Bombers

See the team’s schedule.

This list doesn’t encompass all the teams in Mad City. Madison College (Go, WolfPack) has an athletics department, as does Edgewood College (Go, Eagles).

Also, there’s professional volleyball coming into existence. Madison also has Gaelic football and, yes, log rolling.