Women's sports bar coming to Austin this fall

Austinites will soon have a dedicated bar to watch women's sports.

Driving the news: ATX Women's Sports Pub co-founders Debra Hallum and Marlene du Plessis announced the effort last month and launched a crowdfunding effort for some of the startup costs.

• They've raised nearly $10,000 of their $250,000 goal so far and expect to open the space this fall.

Why it matters: Women's sports are having a moment , but there are few places to stream the games.

• Former Iowa guard Caitlin Clark garnered national attention for the NCAA, bringing record-breaking viewership and ticket sale numbers for women's basketball.
• WNBA ticket sales have soared — driven in part by Clark, who's now with the Indiana Fever — although the league had already seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
• Meanwhile, National Women's Soccer League announced a landmark four-year TV rights deal, and U.S. women's soccer team investments are surging .

State of play: ATX Women's Sports Pub owners say the bar will be the first of its kind in Austin, but across the country, bars showcasing only women's sports are gaining popularity.

• A Bar of Their Own in Minnesota and The Sports Bra in Portland garnered national headlines when the bars opened for exclusively showing and promoting women's sports.
• And Austin has its own WNBA fan support club , which hosts watch parties around the city, another sign of the growing desire for women's sports streaming.

The vibe: ATX Women's Sports Pub, which has not yet selected a location, is expected to offer food and alcohol, host events for fans and stream all women's sporting events on their televisions.

• There will be plenty of local action to screen at the pub on the heels of the Longhorn women's basketball team's big season, competing as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year after winning the Big 12 tournament.
• The co-founders also intend to donate 10% of their profits to local nonprofits dedicated to equitable access to sports for girls, according to ATX Sports Pub's donation page .

What they're saying: "Our goal is to establish a gathering place worthy of female athletes, where fans of women's sports feel welcomed and at home," Hallum said in a statement. "We aim to uplift the status of women's sports and women as a whole. We look forward to uniting diverse members of our community through sports."

What's next: Crowdfunding support will go toward hiring staff, purchasing furniture and obtaining licenses, according to the group .

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