Imagine walking into a sports bar, scanning the screens, and—boom!—instead of the usual nonstop men’s games, you’re greeted with a nail-biting WNBA showdown, a fierce NCAA women’s basketball clash, or even a riveting NWSL match. Feels pretty refreshing, right? Well, that’s the reality taking shape across the U.S. as women’s sports bars are finally having their moment.
At the start of this year, there were only six bars in the country dedicated to showcasing women’s sports. Fast-forward a few months, and that number is expected to quadruple. Yep, 2025 might just be the year of women’s sports bars! According to, at least 17 new venues have either opened or are in the works, popping up in major cities like New York and San Francisco, as well as in smaller spots like Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
This movement can be traced back to Portland, Oregon’s Sports Bra, which made history in 2022 as the country’s first-ever women’s sports bar. Its founder, Jenny Nguyen, wanted to create a space where women’s sports weren’t just an afterthought but the main event. And guess what? It worked! The Sports Bra’s massive success has inspired a wave of new entrepreneurs who want to bring the same energy to their cities.
One of them is Molly Huyck, who just opened SET the Bar in Omaha, Nebraska, right in time for March Madness. “I’m super excited to have a sports bar that feels good and a place where everyone’s welcome,” she told NBC. Over in Denver, Annie Weaver launched The 99ers Sports Bar in December, and she’s not stopping there. “We need them all over the United States. They need to exist everywhere. Everybody deserves to have a space like this,” she said.
Why is this happening now? Well, it’s no secret that women’s sports are booming. The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship pulled in a record-breaking 9.9 million viewers—more than some of the biggest men’s games that year. reported that viewership numbers for women’s sports have been climbing steadily, and advertisers are finally catching on. More fans + more visibility = more demand for places where people can actually watch the games.
And let’s be real—how many times have you walked into a bar, hoping to catch a women’s game, only to see 10 screens playing men’s sports and maybe one in the corner reluctantly showing a WNBA matchup? Exactly.
Now, sports bars dedicated entirely to women’s sports are setting a new standard. They’re not just places to grab a beer and watch a game—they’re inclusive, community-driven hubs where fans can come together and actually see the athletes they admire on screen.
Want to see if there’s a women’s sports bar near you (or one opening soon)? Check out this. Who knows? Your new favorite game-day spot might be right around the corner!
Cheers to more representation, more fans, and more unforgettable game nights!
