We park our car by the front of The Sports Bra, and our eyes fall on a woman sitting at the outdoor table with thick, red, coiled hair, tattoo sleeves and a black denim overalls-sports bra combo. We think, “oh, this is the place for us.” As we enter, we are immediately greeted by a burst of sounds: the bell ringing in the kitchen announcing orders, soothing R&B playing overhead and chatter echoing from the tables and bar. We take in the colorful sights: lush plants framing the walls covered in sports memorabilia — hockey sticks and pucks, a baseball bat, a snowboard and jerseys hanging by a rope from the ceiling. There is a couple sitting in the front right corner, watching a women’s track and field event on the TV, where athletes are running the 1500-meter race. A mother and daughter duo sit at a middle table, their attention fixed on the National Women’s Soccer game playing on another TV, featuring our very own Portland Thorns tied in a match against the San Diego Waves.
A pride flag is pinned above the bar near a colorfully-chalked beer menu presenting locally-brewed craft beers. We are immediately welcomed by a server who informs us that all orders are taken at the bar. We sit down at the table across from the couple and notice the signatures dotting the wall beside us along with a note that reads “MORE WOMEN IN COACHING!”.
The staff is kind and chatty, indulging in brief, yet warm conversations as we order our food. Although they do not have a wide menu, it is filled with crowd favorites, such as burgers, tuna melts and loaded fries. Since our party is all under 21, we are pleased to find they have their own signature mocktail selection, from which we order their Grannies G&T, a refreshing mix of cranberry and lemon juice paired with Lyre’s non-alcoholic gin.
Founded in Portland in 2022 by Jenny Nguyen, The Sports Bra is the first and only sports bar in the United States that exclusively plays women’s sports, hoping to foster a safe space for female fans. The bar and restaurant offer a chance for women to see themselves represented in sports, where they might otherwise be sidelined in “fandom” communities, as Nguyen describes them.
“The idea for The Sports Bra was born in 2018 when my friends and I went to a local sports bar to watch the NCAA Women’s Final,” Nguyen told The Mossy Log over email. “They had to ask the staff to put the game on, and when it ended — one of the best we’d ever seen — we realized we’d been watching the entire time without sound. Frustrated but inspired, I turned to my friends and said, “The only way we’re ever going to watch women’s sports in its full glory in public is if we open our own place.” Not long after, I came up with both the concept and the name: The Sports Bra.”
The bar allows women’s sports to be their main priority, where usually they are pushed aside in favor of men’s.
“The needs of women’s sports fans haven’t changed,” Nguyen said in an interview with Fast Company. “Women haven’t had the space to exercise their fandom in the way that so many people, mostly men, have had in the way of a sports bar.”
The Sports Bra offers a welcoming environment, both for patrons and staff.
“Part of the reason I work here is because I love the people I work with,” said Michael, one of the servers in an interview with The Mossy Log. “I don’t know much about sports, so it’s cool to learn. Also, I feel like a regular old men’s sports bar would be less friendly to me as someone that doesn’t know anything about it. So it’s a cool way for me to go learn something about sports without the pressure level.”
With its welcoming attitude, the bar and restaurant allows for all to engage in sports fandom culture.
Nguyen explained: “There was no way I could ever imagine that the bar that I was hoping to open would spark a movement. I had hoped to bring women’s sports fans together to celebrate, to give athletes their much-deserved attention, and to create a fun, communal, and welcoming gathering place that highlighted girls and women in sports … But I had no idea that The Bra would blow the doors open on a whole new segment of the hospitality industry.”
The Sports Bra offers a space for people of varying levels of knowledge and experience in sports to gather and have a good time. While at the restaurant, we noticed a diverse range of fellow patrons including intense soccer lovers with their eyes glued to the national game, couples sipping beer, enjoying each other’s company and high school-age kids sitting at a table writing in journals.
Shelley, a frequent Sports Bra patron, sitting alone at one of the outdoor picnic tables, explained why she chose to come out to the restaurant.
“I wanted to sit outside. I wanted some place that was relatively quiet, and I just wanted a drink and to read some news articles.”
She notes that she does not follow sports often, but comes for the soothing environment and convenient location.
For those who would like a taste of Portland outside of home, you are in luck! The Sports Bra is expanding to four more cities: Indianapolis, Las Vegas, St. Louis and Boston.
“We are always looking for people who share our values and want to open a Sports Bra.” Nguyen said, when asked why these cities were chosen. “Plus, these four cities are already primed for a game-changing addition to their sports scenes. With professional women’s sports teams like the WNBA Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever, the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Boston Fleet, the Women’s Football Alliance’s St. Louis Slam, the Women’s National Football Conference’s Las Vegas Silver Stars, and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Boston Legacy FC (set to begin play in the 2026 season), these cities are ready to celebrate and elevate women’s sports.”
“The Sports Bra is more than just a place to watch the game — it’s a movement,“ Nguyen said in a statement to Oregon Public Broadcasting. “Our team spoke with hundreds of interested people about opening a franchise location, and we’ve met some incredible people along the way. These owners are capable, enthusiastic, and deeply committed to The Bra’s mission.”
This expansion gives an opportunity to experience this supportive atmosphere in even more locations, allowing more people to enjoy and appreciate women’s sportsmanship.
During our night-out at the Sports Bra, we were impressed by the feeling of authentic love the restaurant/bar has for the many, talented, passionate women in sports. While they are often forgotten, the success of the Bra proves that when given the chance to be represented and valued, people in the community will come out to watch them. Doing so offers a fantastic opportunity to get more involved in the inner Portland community– to celebrate the teams we love, to become involved in sports fandom, or simply for some top-tier food, drinks and good company.
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