Over the years, the state of Arizona has produced many famous athletes in right about every major sport. For sports fans who enjoy a bit of trivia or bettors who like to support local talent, there are many options in Arizona, both in terms of betting sites and athletes. Here we round up a few of the greatest names to date.
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson is one of the most successful golfers in history and a proud product of Arizona’s sports scene. Born in San Diego but raised in Scottsdale, he attended Arizona State University (ASU), where he became the top amateur golfer of his time.
At ASU, Mickelson won three NCAA individual championships (1989, 1990, 1992) and a record 16 college tournaments. He was named All-American in all four of his college years and won the Haskins Award, given to the best college golfer, three times. In 1991, he won the Northern Telecom Open as an amateur, a rare feat no other amateur has done on the PGA Tour since.
As a professional, Mickelson has won six major championships. His 2021 PGA Championship win at age 50 made him the oldest major champion in golf history. The Waste Management Phoenix Open has been one of his favorite events through the years, keeping his ties to Arizona strong.
Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy’s career is a true modern Arizona sports success story. Born in Queen Creek and playing at Perry High School in Gilbert, he led his team to two straight state championship games in 2016 and 2017.
Despite his high school success, he was lightly recruited and ended up at Iowa State University as a three-star prospect. At Iowa State, Purdy broke multiple school records, including single-season passing yards (3,982) and touchdowns.
In 2022, the San Francisco 49ers picked him last in the NFL Draft. This spot is known as “Mr. Irrelevant”, but against all expectations, he became a starter. He led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie and in 2023 posted the league’s best passer rating (113.0). In 2024, he became the first quarterback from an Arizona high school to start in a Super Bowl.
Diana Taurasi and Charles Barkley
Arizona's basketball legacy has been defined by two stars: Diana Taurasi and Charles Barkley.
Taurasi was drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2004 after a stellar career at UConn and is widely considered the greatest women’s basketball player of all time. She is the WNBA’s all-time top scorer with over 10,000 points, has won three WNBA titles, two Finals MVP awards, and five scoring titles. On the world stage, she has also won six Olympic gold medals.
Charles Barkley joined the Phoenix Suns in 1992 after years with the Philadelphia 76ers. In his first season in Phoenix, he won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award and led the team to the 1993 NBA Finals. Barkley averaged over 23 points and 11 rebounds during his years with the Suns and made Phoenix one of the hottest basketball cities in the league.
Larry Fitzgerald
A final name worth noting is Larry Fitzgerald. He spent his entire 17-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, becoming one of the most respected wide receivers in football history. Fitzgerald ranks second all-time in career receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492), behind only Jerry Rice.
One of his most famous runs came during the 2008 playoffs, where he set postseason records for catches (30), yards (546), and touchdowns (7) while helping the Cardinals reach their first Super Bowl. Off the field, Fitzgerald was known for charity work and won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2016.
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