Although Virginia has no major league professional sports teams, it does support two class-AAA baseball teams: the Richmond Braves and Norfolk Tides. Other minor league baseball teams play in Bristol, Danville, Pulaski, Salem, Martinsville, and Woodbridge. There is also minor league hockey in Richmond, Roanoke, and Hampton Roads.
In collegiate sports, the University of Virginia belongs to the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Virginia Military Institute competes in the Southern Conference. Virginia won college basketball's NIT Tournament in 1980 and 1992; Virginia Tech won the NIT in 1973 and has appeared in ten postseason college football bowl games since 1993.
Stock car racing is also popular in the state. The Richmond International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway host four NASCAR Winston Cup races each year.
Participant sports popular with Virginians include tennis, golf, swimming, skiing, boating, and water skiing. The state has at least 180 public and private golf courses.
Among the many notable persons that call Virginia their home, several are legendary athletes. Arthur Ashe, Fran Tarkenton, and Sam Snead all were born and raised in the state.