In a significant development for sports fans across Los Angeles, Untamed Spirits, the city’s first dedicated women’s sports bar, opened its doors in Silver Lake in early June 2025. Co-founded by wives and longtime friends Stephanie Ellingwood and Janie Trinh, the establishment quickly became a trending topic, not just for its novelty but for addressing a long-felt void in the local sports scene. More than just a new bar, Untamed Spirits represents a growing movement nationwide to give women’s athletics the spotlight they deserve, amplified with full volume and passionate fandom.
The Genesis of a Game-Changing Venue
The inspiration behind Untamed Spirits stemmed from a moment of frustration familiar to many women’s sports enthusiasts. Stephanie Ellingwood and Janie Trinh, avid fans and season ticket holders for teams like the L.A. Sparks and Angel City FC, recalled an instance at a traditional brewery where their request to turn up the volume for a Women’s National Soccer team game was denied, despite a visibly enthusiastic crowd. This experience solidified their conviction that a dedicated space was essential – a place where fans could comfortably and unapologetically celebrate women’s sports without feeling ostracized. Their vision transformed a former sports bar, Trophy Wife, into the vibrant hub that is now Untamed Spirits, making headline news in the Los Angeles area as a truly inclusive space.
A Hub for the Fan Community
Untamed Spirits has been meticulously designed to cultivate an electric atmosphere on game nights, providing a welcoming environment for all. The bar boasts a charming garden patio, offering a relaxed setting alongside the high-energy indoor viewing areas. The menu features elevated bar food crafted by Chef Jude Shin, including dishes with international twists like kimchi fried rice, alongside a diverse selection of inclusive drinks. Options range from alcoholic beverages to refreshing non-alcoholic choices, including a signature Angel City pink punch. Embracing its community-focused ethos, Untamed Spirits is both kid-friendly and dog-friendly during the day, transitioning to a 21+ only venue after 9 PM. Its commitment to women’s sports is further underscored by its official partnership with Angel City FC, for whom it hosted its inaugural watch party on September 7, 2025, for a match against Gotham FC.
Part of a National Movement
The opening of Untamed Spirits is not an isolated event but rather a key chapter in a broader, trending national narrative. While it holds the distinction of being the first women’s sports bar in the city of Los Angeles, it follows in the footsteps of pioneers like The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, which ignited this movement in 2022. California itself saw its first women’s sports bar, Watch Me! Sports Bar, open in Long Beach in 2024. This surge of dedicated venues reflects the explosive growth in women’s sports viewership and revenue across the United States. Recent statistics highlight this boom: overall women’s sports viewership increased by 18% in 2024, with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft experiencing a remarkable 307% year-over-year viewership increase. Financial projections by Deloitte indicate that total revenue from women’s sports is expected to reach an impressive $2.35 billion in 2025. This significant economic and cultural shift is fueled by a growing demand for equitable media coverage and dedicated spaces, a stark contrast to historical trends where only a small fraction of televised sports focused on women’s athletics.
Beyond a Bar: Cultivating a Culture
For Stephanie Ellingwood and Janie Trinh, Untamed Spirits is more than just a place to watch games; it’s a statement about community and empowerment. They envisioned a space that embodies “unapologetic freedom” – a place where fans can express their passion without reservation. The burgeoning popularity of women’s sports bars underscores a deeper cultural transformation, challenging traditional norms and fostering environments where connections flourish among like-minded individuals. This news signifies a pivotal moment for Los Angeles, providing a vibrant and inclusive bar for a rapidly expanding fan base, and reinforcing the idea that women’s sports are not just a trend, but a powerful and enduring movement.
