Asports team is a group of individuals who play ateam sport together.[1] The number ofplayers in the group depends on the sport. The highest level of a sports team is aprofessional sports team. In professional sports, the athletes are very talented and are paid to compete in their sport.[2]
Historically, sports teams and the people who played them were primarilyamateurs. By the 20th century, however, many sports teams and their associated leagues had become extremely valuable, with net worths reaching into the millions. In 2017, theDallas Cowboys were ranked byForbes as the world'smost valuable sports team, valued at US $4.2 billion.[3] Someindividual sports have also introduced team-based versions through modified rules.
Team identities can be formed from a number of sources, most often a type of geographic location; e.g., theDallas Cowboys are named afterDallas, Texas, US.[4] Some teams can also be named after an institution, such as theAlabama Crimson Tide, who represent theUniversity of Alabama, or theYomiuri Giants, who are named after theYomiuri Group, a Japanese media conglomerate.[5]
Sports teams often have numbered jerseys for fans to identify players. Players wear jerseys for different reasons. It may depend on the position of the player, the history of the number, traditions that are specific to the league, and more.[6]
