When you step into Title 9 Sports Grill, located in Phoenix’s vibrant Melrose District, it’s instantly clear that it’s a sanctuary for fans of women’s sports. Scattered across the venue are more than a dozen TVs against the vibrant pink and orange hues of the walls. A striking neon sign reading “Play Like a Girl!” shines against a backdrop featuring a massive image of retired WNBA legend Diana Taurasi.
This remarkable change was spearheaded by co-owners Audrey Corley and Kat Moore. Before the December transformation, the space belonged to a hot dog eatery run by Moore and her husband, Brad. But once they sold the business last summer, with the incoming owners wanting to relocate, Corley—who also owns a well-known lesbian bar nearby—suggested they partner to establish the city’s inaugural bar centered around women’s sports. Inspired by the Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, which launched in 2022, and witnessing a host of similar establishments emerge over the following year, Corley felt the timing was right.
“I saw another one pop up there, and another there. It was then I realized, the time is now,” Corley explained as they prepared for Title 9’s grand opening earlier this month.
New iterations of women’s sports bars are racing to open their doors in anticipation of capitalizing on the fervor of March Madness, which is currently in full swing. Spanning from San Francisco to Cleveland, this year promises the introduction of more than a dozen such bars nationwide. Just three years ago, the idea of a women’s sports-centric bar was represented solely by The Sports Bra. Now, the landscape is changing as women’s NCAA teams embark on the first year of earning pay for tournament participation, driven in part by top-tier athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese who’ve boosted the market appeal of female sports.
Previously, during last season, neither Reese’s nor Clark’s teams saw financial returns. Now, women’s teams stand to generate individual revenue, referred to as “units”—funds allocated to conferences for participating teams in the NCAA Tournament, with additional units earned with each game played.
The smooth transition from its previous incarnation to Title 9 can be attributed to the growing community anticipation for a venue dedicated to viewing women’s sports, Moore noted enthusiastically.
“One of the main questions I get, mostly from men, is, ‘Are men allowed?’ Of course!” she chuckled.
Named after the 1972 landmark legislation prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, including athletics, Title 9 pays homage to female athletes through framed photos with QR codes and a drink menu featuring cleverly named cocktails such as the Pat Summitt Sour and Taurasi Goat-Tail. And while the atmosphere welcomes sports fans, it’s also designed to be family-friendly, encouraging young girls to celebrate their sporting achievements in a place made specifically for them.
“Little girls can come here and dream of having their moment on TV one day—and getting paid for it,” Corley shared.
In Austin, Debra Hallum and Marlene du Plessis found inspiration in the Sports Bra too, recently kicking off 1972 ATX Women’s Sports Pub near the University of Texas with an LGBTQ-friendly rainbow ribbon-cutting event.
Despite the conservative backdrop of their state, they emphasize their bar as a welcoming space for female sports fans. Hallum declared, “Our aim is to create an inclusive environment where women’s sports can gain rightful recognition and investment.”
Not stemming from the hospitality sector, Hallum has roots in corporate America, and du Plessis comes from an educational background. However, with firm enthusiasm and thorough research, they’ve assembled a skilled team.
“It’s always a challenge to locate bars that showcase women’s sports, especially with sound on,” du Plessis remarked. “We are committed to always have the sound on.”
Their vision has resonated with the community, drawing appreciation even from the parents of boys.
“A family with two daughters and a son came in, and the mother expressed, ‘We need more spaces like this.’ We want our son to appreciate women’s sports as much as men’s,” said Hallum.
Over in Denver, Annie Weaver and Miranda Spencer, who originally met as opposing flag football players, turned their shared passion into reality with their own sports bar opening last December. That establishment, the 99ers Sports Bar, is named in honor of the 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup team and is currently drawing March Madness patrons.
Although Denver lacks a women’s team in the primary national leagues, it has been promised an NWSL expansion team slated for 2026. Recently, locals filled the bar to catch an NWSL game broadcast alongside NCAA Tournament announcements.
“I wish spaces like this had been around when I was younger,” Spencer stated with feeling.
These new establishments assert that they represent more than just a fleeting trend, instead serving a neglected market. Moore cautions against the idea of opening a women’s sports bar merely for trendiness, emphasizing it should be done out of a genuine love for women’s sports.
Corley concludes with advice for aspiring operators: “Just like playing sports out of passion, launch this for the love of the game.”