When Jenny Nguyen opened The Sports Bra in spring 2022 she made national news: A queer, woman-run bar that promised to play only women’s sports. Could it succeed? Would there even be enough women’s sports to show on the TVs? Two years later the Northeast Portland bar is not just a beloved destination among residents and international visitors alike — it’s a model for dozens more to come across the country, as Nguyen works with a partner on a franchising deal. What’s the experience at The Sports Bra and why is it so popular? Here are five questions with Jenny.
You’re a former college basketball player and executive chef. How did you have the guts to invest your life savings into opening a women’s sports bar?
I was born and raised in Portland and have a real deep love for Portland. My dad was a huge women’s soccer fan. When I was little my dad brought me to University of Portland games (when Megan Rapinoe was playing), and I remember it being chockablock full of fans. Then we got the WNBA team, and Portland Fire crowds were record-setting. I grew up with this idea in my mind that women’s sports lives here. I felt like if The Sports Bra didn’t work in Portland, it wouldn’t work in any city on the planet.
How much do people come for the food and drink as much as the sports and vibe? Tell us about your favorite menu items.
We make everything from scratch or close to it. The menu is based on everything I love to eat. We have fan favorites. Our most-ordered item is our pub burger. People also love my mom’s baby back ribs, based on a traditional Vietnamese dish called suon khia, cooked in a clay pot. Instead of pork shoulder, we made it ribs to be finger food. We also have my Aunt Tina’s fried and glazed Vietnamese wings. We just use simple, fresh ingredients with tons of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, with beef, beverages and produce sourced from local women-owned companies as much as possible. (There’s also a kid’s menu and full cocktail, zero-proof and dessert lineup.)
Congratulations on your partnership and expansion in communities that align with your values. Any cities you’re hoping to land in?
When I was writing my business plan in 2021, there was a question: “Where do you see your business in 10 years?” I would love to see The Sports Bra in a dozen metropolitan cities across the U.S. Ever since we’ve announced (the expansion) we’ve been getting hundreds of inquiries. Some are a clear yes; some communities I’ve never heard of. If there’s somebody who wants to put their time, effort and livelihood on the line, I feel very inspired. We’d love to see at least two to three locations signed by the end of 2024, and by the end of 2025 at least two to three built and open and ready to build our team.
Editor’s note: As of June 2025, The Sports Bra announced it would soon open franchises in Boston, Las Vegas, St. Louis and Indianapolis. In 2024, Portland was chosen as one of two cities to gain a WNBA expansion team, the Portland Fire, set to play in 2026.
What was it like with the recent Summer Olympics at The Sports Bra?
People were joking about seeing men on our TV for first time. People didn’t care what was on. They went fanatical about whatever was on — if it’s the best in the world it draws pandemonium. My office is in the basement. One Thursday at 2:30 people were stomping their feet, making so much noise. I got up there and it was speed climbing — a group of tables were just on their feet. This fall we have the NCAA playoffs, the WNBA playoffs and the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) playoffs. It starts to get a little mayhem up in here.
Beyond the joy you’ve brought to folks in Oregon with The Sports Bra, you’ve created a ripple effect across the country — and earned yourself the honor of being an Oregon Visionary Award Nominee for 2024. What do you think is the impact of your concept as it grows nationally?
Opening The Sports Bra had a bigger impact than I ever could have anticipated, and it is thrilling to be at the forefront of this movement that is elevating women’s sports, celebrating these incredible athletes and inspiring a new generation of girls. No matter where the next location of The Sports Bra opens, Oregon will always be where it all began.
