The Sports Bra, the first sports bar dedicated to women's sports in Portland, Oregon, has announced plans to expand into a franchise following a major investment.
The investment was made by Alexis Ohanian, one of Reddit's co-founders and co-owner of the NWSL's Angel City Football Club, through his 776 Foundation.
“I'm just looking for all the ways we can strengthen and build the community and do it in a way that makes sense for the community,” Ohanian said in an Instagram video. “Think of two years from now, you guys are already here doing it and how it started to spread.”
Sports Bra, which opened in 2022, did not reveal details about its future store in either the press release or the Instagram post announcing the expansion.
According to the statement, 100% of the proceeds from the investment will go toward supporting future women's sports programs.
“When we first opened The Sports Bra two years ago this month, we never expected it to impact so many people so quickly,” said The Sports Bra Founder and CEO ( CEO Jenny Nguyen said in a press release. “With the support of Alexis and 776, we will continue to invest in our mission by bringing The Bra to cities across the country and abroad.”
The momentum of women's sports
The investment comes at a time of growing interest in women's sports.
In the NCAA women's basketball national championship game earlier this month, South Carolina defeated Caitlin Clark vs. Iowa State, 87-75, with a peak audience of 24 million viewers and an average viewership of 18.7 million. It had record viewership for a match.
Nguyen told USA TODAY in March that she was inspired to create The Bra after seeing young girls have a place in sports.
“I was just thinking about seven-year-olds, and I hope that even one young child can come to The Bra and find a future for themselves in the world of sport by being there. It's worth it,” Nguyen said. “It's worth tossing and turning and trying to figure out how to make ends meet.”
