Top 20 Athletics & Sports from Minneapolis on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: October 02, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in Minneapolis, United States of America

288

Expected Reach

4.5M

Total Followers

13.1M

Avg Engagement

5.13%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female36%
Male63%

Age Distribution

25-3439.4%
18-2429.0%
35-4417.1%
45-545.9%

Top Countries

United States of America64.9%
Canada2.8%
Brazil2.8%
United Kingdom2.5%
India1.4%

Top Languages

en84.1%
es4.4%
pt3.3%

Top Cities

Minneapolis4.5%
Los Angeles1.2%
New York City1.0%
New York0.7%
St. Paul0.5%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Luis Arraez
@arraezluis
From San Felipe, Yaracuy 🇻🇪| ⚾Professional Baseball Navegantes del Magallanes🤘🏽🚿🇻🇪
Minneapolis, United States of America
472.0K
Followers
17.91%
Engagement
+6.2%(+27.4K)
9.8
2
Jmac💫
@therealjadenmcdaniels
253 @i_camefromhondas
Minneapolis, United States of America
243.2K
Followers
11.58%
Engagement
+4.8%(+11.2K)
9.2
3
Joshua Metellus
@noexcuses_23
Husband • Father • ΦΒΣ Minnesota Vikings #44 Business Inquiries @kylelinc_
Minneapolis, United States of America
448.4K
Followers
2.46%
Engagement
+1.8%(+7.8K)
8.0
4
KARE 11
@kare11
Official account for KARE 11.
Minneapolis, United States of America
229.0K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+2.9%(+6.4K)
5.6
5
Jessie Diggins
@jessiediggins
Skier 🇺🇸 Olympic🥇🥈🥉Medalist World Champion 📖 Brave Enough 🎤 Speaker Ambassador: Emily Program||Protect Our Winters||Share Winter||WithAll @smst2team
Minneapolis, United States of America
280.6K
Followers
3.68%
Engagement
+1.6%(+4.4K)
8.0
6
Courtney Williams
@courtneywilliams10
WNBA 🦍. USF 🤘🏽. Folkston 🫶🏽 Rest Easy Co 💜 Inquiries: courtneywilliams@thefamempire.com 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 @stud.budz
Minneapolis, United States of America
217.4K
Followers
8.56%
Engagement
+1.7%(+3.6K)
9.2
7
VELAASA
@velaasa
#onemore
Minneapolis, United States of America
49.1K
Followers
19.66%
Engagement
+6.3%(+2.9K)
6.4
8
Magic Ve Shawn Owens
@ve_shawnowens
🥊 Pro Boxer | Former Top 20 World Ranked 👁️ Eye surgery comeback in progress 📍 Minneapolis | Training daily
Minneapolis, United States of America
104.7K
Followers
3.13%
Engagement
+2.3%(+2.4K)
5.8
9
Jace Willy
@north.star_fishing
Outdoors - Fishing - Exploring 🌎 📍 | Midwest, USA 🎥 | 175k subs on YouTube 📩: NorthStarFishing@rightclick.gg
Minneapolis, United States of America
107.7K
Followers
5.62%
Engagement
+2.2%(+2.3K)
9.1
10
Ant Jr.
@antjr._
Pops: @theanthonyedwards_
Minneapolis, United States of America
284.9K
Followers
20.48%
Engagement
+0.8%(+2.2K)
8.7
11
Ava Wagner
@avawagner22
dancer, athlete, choreographer University of Minnesota Dance Team 23-25 World of Dance S3- 2nd Runner Up @msaagency @pressplay
Minneapolis, United States of America
132.3K
Followers
14.94%
Engagement
+1.6%(+2.1K)
8.2
12
Naz Reid
@hollywood.naz
Minneapolis, United States of America
356.9K
Followers
2.80%
Engagement
+0.5%(+1.6K)
7.8
13
BigDick
@bigdickwolves
Naz Reid.
Minneapolis, United States of America
42.8K
Followers
18.20%
Engagement
+3.8%(+1.6K)
9.4
14
LA Fitness
@lafitness
Turning motivation into results since ‘84 💪
Minneapolis, United States of America
229.0K
Followers
0.31%
Engagement
+0.6%(+1.4K)
6.7
15
Emma Carpenter
@emmmacarpenter
sports broadcaster & media personality @pgatour @golfchannel @bigtennetwork 〽️innesota golf alum 📍LA📍CHI📍MN @titleist @bushnellgolf @2ndswinggolf
Minneapolis, United States of America
109.0K
Followers
2.65%
Engagement
+1.1%(+1.2K)
7.4
16
TÄHİR
@612.tye
CEO:@prevail.abv |📩: getflywitye@gmail.com| MN/ATL To God Be The Glory ✞​ | 🇱🇷 GEM STONE ZIPUPS OUT NOW ⬇️
Minneapolis, United States of America
35.7K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+3.4%(+1.2K)
8.1
17
Natisha Hiedeman💫
@t5poon
🌩️2️⃣ Mgmt: @tenzinxdekyi + @gogoogo LLS💫
Minneapolis, United States of America
135.0K
Followers
39.59%
Engagement
+0.9%(+1.2K)
8.5
18
Jamad Basketball Camps
@jamadbasketballcamps
Minneapolis, United States of America
23.1K
Followers
3.50%
Engagement
+4.4%(+972)
5.5
19
minnesotalynx
@minnesotalynx
2011 🏆 2013 🏆 2015 🏆 2017 🏆
Minneapolis, United States of America
258.7K
Followers
1.52%
Engagement
+0.3%(+920)
6.3
20
Michael Shynes
@michaelshynes
Multi-Platinum Recording Artist & Songwriter. Ready to Rejoin the Workforce When It All Falls Apart..
Minneapolis, United States of America
21.4K
Followers
0.71%
Engagement
+4.5%(+915)
6.3

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Minneapolis with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 4.5M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 13.1M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 5.13% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 288 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: United States of America, Canada, Brazil
  • Gender Distribution: 36% Female, 63% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (39.4% of audience)
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Minneapolis on Instagram?

Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) is, as of October 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Minneapolis on Instagram, with +6.2% monthly growth (+27.4K followers).

How many followers did Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) gain last month?

Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) gained about 27.4K followers last month (+6.2%).

Who grew more: Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) or Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels)?

Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) grew more than Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels) (27.4K vs 11.2K).

How is Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels) performing right now?

Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels) is growing at +4.8% (+11.2K) per month, with a Profile Score of 9.2 and average engagement of 11.58%.

How is Joshua Metellus (@noexcuses_23) performing right now?

Joshua Metellus (@noexcuses_23) is growing at +1.8% (+7.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.0 and average engagement of 2.46%.

How is KARE 11 (@kare11) performing right now?

KARE 11 (@kare11) is growing at +2.9% (+6.4K) per month, with a Profile Score of 5.6 and average engagement of 0.00%.

How is Jessie Diggins (@jessiediggins) performing right now?

Jessie Diggins (@jessiediggins) is growing at +1.6% (+4.4K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.0 and average engagement of 3.68%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels) or Joshua Metellus (@noexcuses_23)?

Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels) leads (4.8% vs Joshua Metellus (@noexcuses_23) 1.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Luis Arraez (@arraezluis)?

Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) gained about 27.4K followers last month (+6.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels)?

Jmac💫 (@therealjadenmcdaniels) gained about 11.2K followers last month (+4.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Joshua Metellus (@noexcuses_23)?

Joshua Metellus (@noexcuses_23) gained about 7.8K followers last month (+1.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of KARE 11 (@kare11)?

KARE 11 (@kare11) gained about 6.4K followers last month (+2.9%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Jessie Diggins (@jessiediggins)?

Jessie Diggins (@jessiediggins) gained about 4.4K followers last month (+1.6%).

Is Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Luis Arraez (@arraezluis) has a Profile Score of 9.8, average engagement of 17.91%, and +6.2% (+27.4K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in United States of America?

The average engagement rate for this category is 5.13%. Generally, rates above 6.2% are considered excellent, while rates above 4.1% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Minneapolis?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.