The Rise of Women’s Sports Bars in the US: Pt. 2

Plus: 10 more athlete-themed drinks, the perfect March Madness bracket, what's on tap for Walking Bucket.

Earlier this week, we took a look at the rise of women's sports bars in the U.S.

Let's break the fourth wall for a second, shall we?

Originally, this was going to launch my entire newsletter. It was an idea I had, and I wanted to feature as many as I could.

I ended up speaking to four different owners of their respective establishments, and, well, even for me, the newsletter was long.

Each one – and every single women's sports bar in the country – deserves its shine, so I decided to break it into two parts.

On Monday, we highlighted The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, and The W Sports Bar in Cleveland, Ohio.

Today, we are taking a trip to Atlanta and Chicago to highlight Jolene Jolene and Babe's Sports Bar, respectively.

Jolene Jolene

Chelsea Fishman is a diehard women’s sports fan. A trip to Miami for Unrivaled? It happened. A trip to *checks notes* Sydney, Australia for the World Cup? Chelsea also made it happen.

But those in the Atlanta area won’t have to make similar trips if they want to watch events like Unrivaled and the World Cup on TV with other like-minded fans.

That’s thanks to Fishman’s venture Jolene Jolene, named after her cat, which will open in 2025.

Michael Waterloo: When you were looking at this venture, did you use other places (i.e. The Sports Bra, etc.) as an inspiration to set this up?

Chelsea Fishman: Absolutely! One of the first calls I made after deciding to pursue Jolene Jolene was to Jillian Hiscock of A Bar of Their Own. At the time, the only dedicated women's sports bars were hers, The Sports Bra, and Rough & Tumble.  Seeing what they’ve built in their cities and the impact they’ve had in growing the visibility of women’s sports was incredibly inspiring.

This entire process has felt like a team effort, and that includes the pioneers of the women's sports bar movement. Their success reinforced my belief that Atlanta deserves a space like this—one that uplifts and celebrates women’s sports in a way that hasn’t been done here before.

They are amazing women doing amazing things, and I feel fortunate to have such strong role models to look up to as I build Jolene Jolene!

MW: Have you locked down a full-time location? How big have locations (Niteowl, Sweet Auburn, etc.) in the Atlanta area been in delivering a proof of concept and adjustments throughout the process?

CF: We’re as close as we've ever been! While we haven’t officially locked down our location just yet, we are deep in the process, and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. Securing the right space takes time, and I’m incredibly grateful for the community’s patience as we work to find the perfect home for Jolene Jolene.

Our event partners have been invaluable in delivering a proof of concept and affirming the demand for a dedicated women’s sports bar in Atlanta. Hosting watch parties and gatherings with them has not only strengthened our community but also provided key insights into what works best for our audience.

I’ve learned so much through these partnerships, and even once Jolene Jolene has a permanent home, I’m excited to continue collaborating with them to keep growing this movement!

MW: We are in an elevator. Heading down to the lobby. What's your quick elevator explanation on what Jolene Jolene will be and why it's going to be so special?

CF: Jolene Jolene is the first bar for women's sports in the Southeast — a home for championing women, sports, and community. Atlanta is a sports town, a women's sports town, and we’re creating the go-to destination for fans to come together, watch, and celebrate the teams and athletes they love. But it’s more than just a bar—we’re building a movement with intentionally curated events, special programming, and a space that truly uplifts women’s sports in a way that’s never been done before.

MW: Atlanta Vibe. Atlanta Dream. LOVB. Collegiate spots. Decatur FC. Atlanta Rage. What would be the next sport you'd like to see come to Atlanta? NWSL?

CF: I’m incredibly proud that Atlanta has multiple pro women’s teams—many major cities don’t even have one! But as a lifelong soccer player and fan, my dream is definitely to see an NWSL team here. With the success of Atlanta United and U.S. Soccer headquarters now based in the city, I have no doubt that Atlanta would rally behind a women’s team with full force. The energy, the passion, and the fanbase are already here—now we just need a team to match it! And when it happens, Jolene Jolene will be the ultimate home base for fans.

Babe’s Sports Bar

The Chicago Sky won the WNBA title in 2021. It was a great moment for the city of Chicago, but what would have made it better would have been a dedicated women’s sports bar.

Now when Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and company eventually get back to the mountain top, that venue will be there.

Introducing Babe’s Sports Bar. Babe’s, founded by Nora McConnell-Johnson, will be the first women’s sports bar in Chicago. I caught up with McConnell-Johnson about bringing her idea to life.

Michael Waterloo: I see that March Madness was the original target date to be open and fully functional. Are you still on track for that?

Nora McConnell-Johnson: Our schedule has been delayed a bit by the licensing process, but we're on track to be open in May – just in time for the WNBA season! We're hosting a March Madness championship watch party at Life on Marz Community Club (and will be drinking our new BFF Beer collab with Marz!). 

MW: Chicago has always been a huge sports town, but it's finally getting recognition for being a huge women's sports town. How are you looking to pay tribute to the past, present, and future of Chicago women sports icons – as well as Babe Didrikson Zaharias?

NMJ: We've been building partnerships with the professional women's sports teams in Chicago – the Sky, the Stars, and the new rugby and football teams, the Tempest and the Winds. I'm hoping to contribute to the growing women's sports ecosystem in the city. Babe's will give the fans a space to find each other and gather and give the teams the ability to build and connect with their fan base. 

I want the bar to be a space where women athletes in Chicago come to hang out and be celebrated. We're imagining this project as building a ‘vintage women's sports bar from the future,’ and it's been really fun to work on elements of that. 

We're in the process of sourcing sports mementos and artifacts from the Babe's community, and we're building a bar top with a strip of epoxy through it with the artifacts enshrined. Like I want people to be able to see themselves commemorated and celebrated literally in the bar.  

MW: Being located right in Logan Square has to be a great spot not just for locals, but for foot traffic and tourists. What made you decide on that location?

NMJ: I live in the 26th Ward and my Alderman is Jessie Fuentes - I mentioned the idea of Babe's to her at a meeting just over a year ago, and she's been a great supporter, especially as I've navigated the city processes. We wanted to find a bar in her ward that wouldn't require too much renovation in order to allow us to open ASAP, and the one we found is so perfect. It feels like a classic Chicago bar, and there's a massive patio. I love that it's on the stretch of Armitage it is, we have a lot of great neighbors. 

MW: The expansion fees for the WNBA and NWSL have gone up to such high amounts since the Dream joined the league ($10 million) to Cleveland's amount ($250 million) and $110 million (Denver) for NWSL compared to Angel City ($2 million) in 2020. The talent has always, always been there, but now the eyeballs and investment is starting to be there, too. How can women's sports across the board continue to keep this momentum going forward? 

NMJ: It's about building the infrastructure and ecosystem. There need to be pathways for the fans to support the teams – there are so few brands that make quality women's sports fan gear! The players need to be paid commensurate with the value they hold and should profit from fan engagement. 

We're seeing that with Unrivaled this winter, as the players have equity in the league and are invested in connecting with their fans and making the league a success. People are losing interest in the NBA, and it's because it's gotten so out of touch. Women's sports are resonating with people because they recognize how authentic it is.

Top 10 List

The top 10 list is back this week, and we are going to stay on theme today.

Presenting Part 2 of the top 10 women athlete-themed drinks that should be a thing.

10. The Face of the League

9. The Logo: Caitlin Clark

8. The Warrior Princess: Ali Krieger

7. Goggle Lish: Allisha Gray

6.  The Grand Slam: Serena Williams

5. Queen B: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton

4. Money Mone: Seimone Augustus

3. Big Mama: Stefanie Dolson

2. Vanderquig: Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley

1. Gold Mamba: Jewell Loyd

The Perfect Bracket

You have just a few hours to get your March Madness brackets in.

And I completed mine for the Soccer Moms FC Podcast.

Folx – I crushed it. This, right here, is the perfect bracket.

Coming Up Next

I have some fun things coming up here for the Walking Bucket as we get ready for MLB to officially kick off its season next.

Be on the lookout for:

• Fantasy baseball talk
• An interview with one of the best baseball analysts in the world
• A one-on-one NWSL interview
• Behind-the-scenes from the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight
• Author spotlights

Keep an eye out on your mailbox for the next Walking Bucket.

Until next time.