sports are fishing (35 million), bicycling (37 million), weightlifting (33 million), aerobics (30 million), and hiking (28 million). According to a January 2018 Poll by Gallup, 37% of Americans consider football their favorite spectator sport, while 11% prefer basketball, 9% baseball, and 7% soccer. There is some variation by viewer demographics. Men, show a stronger preference for football than women, conservatives a stronger preference than liberals, and those over 35 a stronger preference than those under 35. In all groups, however, football is still the most popular. Basketball and soccer are more popular among liberals than conservatives. Pickleball, a racquet sport invented in the state of Washington in 1965, was designated Washington's official state sport in 2022. For two years in a row, 2021 and 2022, the sport was named the fastest growing sport in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). Between 2019 and 2022 the SFIA estimates the number of US players increased almost 40% to 4.8 million. Projections suggest there could be as many as 40 million players in the United States by the end of the decade. Sports leagues in the United States The sports leagues The following table shows the professional sports leagues, which average over 15,000 fans per game and that have a national TV contract that pays rights fees. Other team sports leagues American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) National Volleyball Association (NVA) Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) United Soccer League (USL) Men's leagues: USL Championship (USLC) USL League One (USL1) USL League Two (USL2) Women's leagues: USL Super League (USLS; planned launch in 2024) USL W League (USLW) MLS Next Pro National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) National Lacrosse League (NLL) Minor League Baseball: Triple-A leagues: International League Pacific Coast League Double-A leagues: Eastern League Southern League Texas League High-A leagues: Midwest League Northwest League South Atlantic League Low-A leagues: California League Carolina League Florida State League Rookie leagues: Arizona Complex League Florida Complex League MLB Partner Leagues: American Association Atlantic League Frontier League Pioneer League Major League Rugby (MLR) (Union) USA Rugby League (USARL) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) American Hockey League (AHL) ECHL Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) United States Australian Football League (USAFL) Professional Inline Hockey Association (PIHA) Women's National