Austin is home to some hardcore sports and even more hardcore fans. Austinites take every single game day seriously. You will witness nothing but fans decked out in their sports gear, bars and restaurants showing the game on the big screen, support signs everywhere, and so much more. Besides the fun-to-watch basic sports like soccer and college football, Austin also has some unique sports such as Roller Derby and Women’s Football! That being said, here is a guide to Austin’s sports scene.

Texas Longhorns
Austinites are hardcore college sports fans, mainly for the Texas Longhorns. From football to basketball, the University of Texas at Austin has many sports teams with many national championship titles, including a range of Big 12 Conference titles. When attending game day at DKR or the Frank Erwin Center, make sure to show your longhorn pride by wearing burnt orange gear and putting your horns up.

Austin FC
Can you believe that the city of Austin had no major league professional sports team before Austin FC’s debut in 2021? Austin FC is an official professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Their home is currently the brand new Q2 Stadium in North Austin, where everyone shows up wearing the notable “verde” colors. Fun fact: Austin’s very own Matthew McConaughey is an investing partner for the team.

Austin Spurs
Besides supporting the Longhorns in college basketball, Austinites are also out there supporting their city’s basketball team. The Austin Spurs are a part of the NBA G League and currently hold two championship titles. The team has a long history — they were founded in Georgia in 2001, soon relocated to Austin and became the Austin Toros, and are now owned by the San Antonio Spurs. They currently play at HEB Center in Cedar Park, so make sure you head to a game and take pics with their mascot named Da Bull. You will not be disappointed.

Texas Stars
Even in this heat, Austin knows its way around a hockey puck. The Texas Stars is Austin’s official hockey team and the primary affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars that was formed in 2009. Their game seasons are from October through April and their home stadium is also at the HEB Center at Cedar Park. They have won a handful of titles, such as two division championships titles and three conference championships. If you plan on attending their games and sit in the frontlines, make sure you bring a sweater and a lot of willpower to cheer.

Round Rock Express
Baseball is the most family-friendly sport out there, and Austin has got you covered. The Round Rock Express is a minor league baseball affiliate of the Houston Astros and play at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. Pick up some tickets, buy some peanuts and enjoy the baseball ambience while cheering on the Round Rock Express with their mascot, Spike the Bulldog.

Austin Gilgronis
Ah, the AGs. Austin Gilgronis was founded in 2017 as the Austin Elite, but recently changed their name when the team was under new ownership. The AGs are a part of Major League Rugby, and their home is at Bold Stadium located in the well-known Circuit of Americas. Rugby is already a “violent” sport that combines elements of soccer and football, but The Austin Gilgronis always bring intense action to their games — something an Austinite can’t miss out on.

Austin Valkyries
Why, yes, we also have a premiere women’s rugby team. The Austin Valkyries are known for being the “Powerhouse of Texas” when it comes to rugby. They have teams in both division 1 and division 2, making them one of the biggest women’s rugby clubs in the nation. Not only are the teams incredible in the field, the atmosphere of an AV game is phenomenal. So put on their red/black colors, head to one of their games and cheer your butt off!

Texas Roller Derby
“Roller Derby is not a crime!” Roller Derby is a HUGE sport in Austin, as it even inspired a book written by former roller derby athlete Shauna Cross and a film directed by Drew Barrymore. The Texas Roller Derby League is a banked-track roller derby league, known for their modern roller derby revival. There are 5 unique roller derby teams — each team full of bad asses with cool names and cute derby outfits. TXRD is the perfect example of a sport that keeps Austin weird, so everyone that visits Austin must experience a roller derby bout at least once.

Austin Sol
If you’ve heard of frisbee, we’re pretty sure you know about Ultimate Pro Frisbee. The Austin Sol is part of the American Ultimate Disc League that was founded in 2015. It is yet another entertaining sport to watch, as the sport is a penultimate combination of football, soccer and basketball with the addition of a frisbee disc. The Austin Sol has played the majority of their games at Westlake Chaparral Stadium, so catch them at a game and have fun trying to understand how the sport is played. Trust us, it’s pretty interesting.

More Austin Sports Teams:

• Austin Bold FC (Soccer)
• Formula 1 (Race held at COTA)
• Austin Crows (Australian Rules Football Club)
• Texas Playboys (Baseball)

 

— This article was originally contributed to Do512 by Keylee Paz