“It kind of starts with the fact that I’ve been obsessed with women’s sports my entire life,” says Ally Eclarin when asked about how The W Sports Bar came to be.

Situated in the Gordon Square Arts District, The W Sports Bar is one of only 13 sports bars currently dedicated to showcasing women’s sports, from the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). The W is the only women’s sports bar in Ohio, and, since its grand opening on May 17th, has been welcomed into our sports-loving city.

Owned by Ally Eclarin, Cassy Kopp, and Shelley Pippin, The W Sports Bar is paving the way for women’s sports in The Land.

First Quarter

Eclarin, the Californian of the three, had a very special encounter with women’s sports in middle school. At the time, she played basketball, and her coach took her team to a game between Stanford University and Santa Clara University. From there, Eclarin fell in love with Stanford women’s basketball, evolving into her passion for the WNBA and the Seattle Storm.

“When I moved here, the plan was to open a sports coffee shop,” says Eclarin. “I wanted to do something around women’s sports. We were self-funded, so we started State Champs Coffee.”

Before The W Sports Bar, Eclarin and Kopp’s first women’s sports venture was State Champs, a name shared by their coffee shop and clothing brand.

State Champs Coffee opened in Kent last April, offering a unique twist on your regular coffee shop, from hosting live music to, of course, playing women’s games on the TVs. The shop served for a six-month incubation period before Eclarin and Kopp knew they wanted to make some changes.

“The clothing brand was ultimately our biggest love and passion, because we got to work with amazing partners like the 99ers, Cleveland Pro Soccer, and TOGETHXR,” says Eclarin. “When the Final Four was in Cleveland, TOGETHXR had a 'Watch Women’s Sports Guide', and our business, as well as Brewnuts, were both listed.”

Owned by Shelley and John Pippin, the fantastic, delicious, and innovative Brewnuts had been the only other place where you could grab a drink, of course, a local beer, and watch the famed Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers matchup in Cleveland.

“We saw that we were in the same area (as Brewnuts) and both promoting women’s sports, and that’s kind of rare. It’s sad, but true,” says Eclarin. “So, it was kind of like, ‘real recognizes real.’”

Eclarin chuckles as she recounts the day Shelley Pippin had “slid into their DM’s” to extend an offer to help out, if the two ever needed anything. But, of course, Eclarin and Kopp were already halfway to another fantastic idea.

In September of 2024, Eclarin, Kopp, and Pippin got together and practically read each other’s minds in manifesting a concept for a women’s sports bar. As soon as the idea was conceived, it spread like wildfire.

“We rallied six amazing, self-made, badass women investors in Cleveland and secured the keys to this place on February 4th.”

In a remarkable turnaround, the space was physically renovated and completed by March 31st, handed over to the kitchen to handle hiring by April 1st, and opened to the public on May 1st.

“When we announced that we were open, we had a line outside the door,” says Kopp.

The W Sports Bar held its grand opening on May 17th, filled with patrons and even the most essential local celebrities: the Cleveland Guardians' Hot Dogs.

Halftime

The W Sports Bar definitely isn’t your dad’s sports bar. At the head of the W’s kitchen is executive chef Christian Bendahan, a first-time executive chef who immediately caught the right vibes.

“He took the mission of our vision of elevated bar food,” says Eclarin. “We want it to be something that’s not just fried food in a basket. We wanted the food to actually taste really great, have fresh ingredients, and be different.”

Don’t worry about being bogged down by greasy goodness, even the fried appetizers, like their “MVP Mozarella” or “Playoff Pickle Chips,” are surprisingly light. There’s something for everyone, from the “Franchise Player Fries” that feature a heaping mound of smoked pulled pork, to the signature chicken sandwich that both packs a punch of heat and bursts of flavors.

And it wouldn’t be a sports bar without some chicken wings, of course. The “WOSPO Wings” are available in five flavors: House BBQ, Hot Buffalo, Cajun Dry Rub, Garlic Parmesan, and Korean BBQ. You didn’t hear it from us, but there may or may not be a secret menu sauce that combines the flavors of hot buffalo and garlic parmesan, and we dream about it.

^{Confirmed: These Garlic Parmesean wings are bomb. (Photo Courtesy of Eat Local Ohio)}

Notably, the W is an excellent stop for those with gluten-free dietary needs. Eclarin notes that she has Celiac disease and was very adamant about providing an environment that not only catered to these needs, but was vigilant in preventing cross-contamination. Luckily, nearly everything on the menu, including flatbreads and buns, can be made gluten-free without compromising any of the delicious flavors.

“We wanted to make everything very intentional, from the food menu to the drink menu. I love it when people realize we have an Ilona Maher drink, because I want people to recognize that we are women’s sports fans. We’re not trying to be a cash cow by any means; we wanted to give this to our community.”

Nudges to women’s sports are everywhere on the menu, but especially so on the drink menu. Offering a large selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixed drinks, you can choose between ordering something spicy, like the “WOSPO Comment Section”, a zero-proof spin on a martini, or the signature cocktail, “Root for Women.”

And, in honor of the late, great Kobe and Gianna Bryant, the “Mamabacita” is a fruity rum cocktail that not only tastes like a slam dunk, but does good with each you order. A portion of the proceeds of every drink is donated to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Overtime

Beyond just food, The W prides itself on inclusivity and community engagement. Looking back at the June events, there were watch parties, sapphic speed dating, informational talks about coming out, and even a singles mixer.

“We wanted a space for people to feel safe, included, and seen, and there’s not a lot of spaces in the community where anybody can go and feel comfortable to eat or watch a game or just hang out with friends,” says Eclarin.

You’ll see folks on first dates, families, and friends on the edges of their seats watching WNBA games. The W is unique in that it truly lends itself to anyone, allowing them to feel comfortable, regardless of who they are. It’s simultaneously family-friendly, yet fun and fresh.

“We know this because we live here, but other people don’t realize how much Cleveland loves sports, but also women’s sports, and that’s really awesome.”

The Land has welcomed The W with open arms, and it’s only bound to continue when the Cleveland Pro Soccer team arrives in 2027 and Cleveland’s WNBA team re-establishes itself in 2028. 

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of sports or not, The W should make the top of your list of places you have to try in Cleveland. As a city that prides itself on our sports and the culture surrounding them, a spot like The W is just the place we need with the professional teams on our horizon.

Visit The W Sports Bar!

5428 Detroit Ave, Cleveland

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