A Slam Dunk for Women’s Sports Fans
Mar 25 | 2025
Image by Michael Discenza for Unsplash
The Women’s Sports Bar Explosion
An ever-increasing number of fans of women’s sports has resulted in sports bars popping up all over the United States where viewers of all genders can cheer on their favorite female athletes. Statistics tell us that the number of women’s sports bars in the U.S. will quadruple by the end of 2025, raising the total from a mere handful to about two-dozen establishments across the country.
Meet the Trailblazers
Here are a few of the women’s sports bars that blazed an increasingly crowded trail – here’s to the pioneers!
- The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon: Opened in 2022, it’s generally considered the first U.S. bar exclusively showing women’s sports.
- Title 9 Sports Grill in Phoenix, Arizona: a former hot dog joint, Title 9 celebrates “a cultural shift that celebrates and enhances the presence of women in sports, both within the Phoenix community and beyond” and provides a family-friendly atmosphere for Women’s sports fans of all ages. Title 9 shoots – and scores!
- Set the Bar in Omaha, Nebraska: Another newcomer, whose stated goal is to create “a space where women athletes are celebrated, their achievements are amplified, and their stories are told. A place where everyone is welcome to cheer on their team.” Who can’t love that? Way to go, Set the Bar!
- 1972 Women’s Sports Pub in Austin, Texas: 1972, opened this Spring just in time for March Madness to give women’s sports fans a place to gather and celebrate. The name honors the year the U.S. government amended Title IX, which prohibited discrimination in federally funded educational programs, including athletics. 1972 is a landmark year for women in sports, and the bar’s core mission of empowering women in sports.
Just so you know: Title IX is a Federal Civil Rights law that states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
What’s fueling this boom? It’s simple – a huge uptick in viewership and interest in women’s sports. Leagues like the WNBA and NWSL are smashing records left and right. The WNBA’s 2024 season saw an average of 1.19 million viewers per game. Holy cow! That’s a 170% increase in viewership compared to the previous year.
College sports are also benefiting from this boom. The NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship game in 2024 drew an astounding 24 million viewers, surpassing the men’s game by a significant margin.
Not Just a Place to Watch the Game
Places like Title 9 and Set the Bar do more than just show games…they build community. Their mission statements make it clear: all are welcome to join in celebrating the amazing achievements of female athletes – and the more, the merrier.
The Ripple Effect
The impact doesn’t stop at the barstool. The surge of interest in and activity surrounding women’s sports leads to greater investment, better facilities, and more opportunities for female athletes. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – to name just one example – secured a groundbreaking $240 million media-rights deal, boosting its annual media rights from $1.5 million to $60 million.
Looking Ahead
With viewership numbers skyrocketing, more bars centered around Women’s sports are in the offing, folks. It’s clear that we’re witnessing a cultural shift, one that we all can benefit from. Women athletes are getting the respect and attention they’ve always deserved. Plus, their fans have more places to cheer on these outstanding sportswomen.
Next time you’re planning a night out, why not check out one of these women’s sports bars? There’s probably one just down the street from you.
If there isn’t, there will be soon…!
- The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon: Opened in 2022, it's generally considered the first U.S. bar exclusively showing women's sports.
- Title 9 Sports Grill in Phoenix, Arizona: a former hot dog joint, Title 9 celebrates “a cultural shift that celebrates and enhances the presence of women in sports, both within the Phoenix community and beyond” and provides a family-friendly atmosphere for Women’s sports fans of all ages. Title 9 shoots – and scores!
- Set the Bar in Omaha, Nebraska: Another newcomer, whose stated goal is to create “a space where women athletes are celebrated, their achievements are amplified, and their stories are told. A place where everyone is welcome to cheer on their team.” Who can’t love that? Way to go, Set the Bar!
- 1972 Women's Sports Pub in Austin, Texas: 1972, opened this Spring just in time for March Madness to give women’s sports fans a place to gather and celebrate. The name honors the year the U.S. government amended Title IX, which prohibited discrimination in federally funded educational programs, including athletics. 1972 is a landmark year for women in sports, and the bar’s core mission of empowering women in sports.
Just so you know: Title IX is a Federal Civil Rights law that states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
What's fueling this boom? It’s simple – a huge uptick in viewership and interest in women's sports. Leagues like the WNBA and NWSL are smashing records left and right. The WNBA's 2024 season saw an average of 1.19 million viewers per game. Holy cow! That’s a 170% increase in viewership compared to the previous year.
College sports are also benefiting from this boom. The NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship game in 2024 drew an astounding 24 million viewers, surpassing the men's game by a significant margin.
Not Just a Place to Watch the Game
Places like Title 9 and Set the Bar do more than just show games...they build community. Their mission statements make it clear: all are welcome to join in celebrating the amazing achievements of female athletes – and the more, the merrier.
The Ripple Effect
The impact doesn't stop at the barstool. The surge of interest in and activity surrounding women’s sports leads to greater investment, better facilities, and more opportunities for female athletes. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – to name just one example – secured a groundbreaking $240 million media-rights deal, boosting its annual media rights from $1.5 million to $60 million.
Looking Ahead
With viewership numbers skyrocketing, more bars centered around Women’s sports are in the offing, folks. It’s clear that we’re witnessing a cultural shift, one that we all can benefit from. Women athletes are getting the respect and attention they’ve always deserved. Plus, their fans have more places to cheer on these outstanding sportswomen.
Next time you're planning a night out, why not check out one of these women's sports bars? There’s probably one just down the street from you.
If there isn’t, there will be soon...!
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