Report: Which States Produce the Most Pro Athletes?
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Growing up, many kids dream of becoming the next Michael Jordan or Walter Payton. But how many athletes from Alaska make it all the way to the pros? Does California dominate with all-star athletes? Or is South Carolina producing an arsenal of MVPs?
As fall and winter sports athletes begin to prepare for their seasons, we were curious as to which state or region produces the most professional athletes. We examined the hometowns of more than 2,600 professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and NHL to figure out which states are the most athletic in the nation.
The Most (and Least) Athletic States in America
We determined the top states by looking at the number of professional athletes who call the state home, per capita. That way, states with the biggest populations didn’t automatically top the list.
We found the most athletic state in America is Minnesota! 85 athletes call the Land of 10,000 Lakes home, and 63 of those are in the NHL. Georgia, which ranks third, has a whopping 107 professional athletes born there, with 78 playing in the NFL.
Surprisingly, Alaska ranked sixth overall with 6 professional athletes. It’s especially surprising considering Alaska has one of the smallest populations in the U.S. Out of the 6 athletes, 4 are in the NHL, 1 is in the NBA, and 1 plays in the WNBA.
As for the least athletic states, New Mexico and