The NBA 's New Orleans Hornets became the first major league sports team to play in Oklahoma . This happened after the team was forced to move to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City for two seasons after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 . The NBA 's New Orleans Hornets became the first major league sports franchise based in Oklahoma when the team was forced to relocate to Oklahoma City 's Ford Center for two seasons following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 .