The W Sports Bar wants to change the game in Cleveland – The Land
The W Sports Bar will offer a safe, exciting place to watch both women’s and men’s sports. [All photos by Rachelle Miller] Last week, the Gordon Square Arts District welcomed a pioneering new addition to Cleveland’s culture and sports scene: The W Sports Bar, the city’s first establishment dedicated entirely to celebrating women’s sports. Spearheaded […]
The W Sports Bar will offer a safe, exciting place to watch both women’s and men’s sports. [All photos by Rachelle Miller]
Last week, the Gordon Square Arts District welcomed a pioneering new addition to Cleveland’s culture and sports scene: The W Sports Bar, the city’s first establishment dedicated entirely to celebrating women’s sports. Spearheaded by Cassy Kopp and Ally Eclarin of Kent-based sports coffee shop State Champs, alongside Shelley Pippin, co-owner of Brewnuts.
The W founders describe the concept as “both hands,” meaning the bar champions women’s sports while recognizing that sports culture is best experienced inclusively. WNBA games, NWSL matches, NCAA softball, and women’s soccer will be proudly featured on screens throughout the venue. Fans will also find Guardians games, NBA playoffs and other major sports events.
Eclarin elaborated on the inclusivity of the W, saying, “A huge portion of the women’s sports fanbase is male. This space is for everyone. There are women’s sports bars across the country that play 100% women’s sports only. We are the first that are going to be doing both, but our TVs will be primarily women’s sports and men’s sports.”
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Eclarin continues, “So the cool thing is that equity and parity are very much a thing that we believe in, and that these women athletes and these male athletes shouldn’t be othered. It should be the same, the same sentence.”
The idea for The W took shape during last year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in Cleveland. A national watch party guide brought the founders’ respective businesses into the same conversation. After some social media communications and coffee meetups, the idea for the W started to form. In September 2024 serious planning was underway and in November the project went public. In February 2025, the founders secured a location: the former Banter space on Detroit Avenue. “There’s something special about this building,” Pippin said, “It’s already familiar to people. There’s history here and we are building on that.”
Designing the Ultimate Community Hub
The venue features both a bar area designed for high-energy spectating on game nights and a secondary dining space which will serve as a flexible community room for events, networking and meetups.
Central to their vision was creating an inclusive, welcoming and safe space. The team chose their location carefully: close to downtown, but not defined by it. Pippin said, “We so much want to be a community space, but we wanted to be close enough to downtown that when we get a WNBA team, when the women’s pro soccer team starts playing, we would be a natural extension of that, like somewhere that you could easily go to before or after. So location was really important. Obviously, visibility was really important. This checks both of those things.”
The W also has a patio which Pippin hopes will be a cozy space for patrons. However, transforming the outdoor space has not been without its challenges. It’s basically a wind tunnel. “But we’ve got a plan,” Pippin says.
That plan includes adding large evergreen-filled planter boxes, arborvitae, specifically to break the wind and create a cozy perimeter. They repainted old planter boxes in the bar’s signature blue and orange, added colorful flowers, and upgraded lighting to create a warm, inviting environment. Pippin’s notes, “When the sun comes out, Clevelanders want to be outside. We know how much that matters here.”
Parking is often a pain point for Clevelanders as the city continues to welcome new businesses, however, the W does not see parking being a barrier. Eclarin said, “What’s really cool, though, is women’s sports fans are on a whole other level of dedication, the hoops that we have to jump through to just watch a game in the spaces that we have to travel for, like, people literally travel to go to women’s sports bars. They’ll be more dedicated than your average fan. So I think, I mean, no one has complained to us, like we’ve gotten feedback on things they like to see. No one has, like, batted an eye on the parking situation.”
Eclarin’s sentiments of women’s sports fans being built differently is echoed by Pippin. She said, “Even just the market research of the women’s sports fans in their level of … dedication and loyalty is through the roof. We spend more than men’s sports fans on merch and ticketing and like events. Also, there’s, like, at least, at minimum, 12 to 13 streaming apps you have to have just for [watching] multiple leagues. Usually, most leagues have three to four. So just juggling that is just kind of dedication. And up until very recently, most games weren’t even on TV. So people are used to jumping through hoops.”
Pippin expands further, “I mean, there’s a built-in barrier for women in just about every industry you can think of. And I think the fact that women’s sports, up until fairly recently, wasn’t getting the air time, wasn’t getting the dollars, wasn’t getting the media slots to watch it at convenient times, in convenient ways, and it’s still a challenge. Like what we’re going to have to pay for in streaming here just to be able to have our fans be able to watch sports is astronomical. So there are still barriers.”
Every detail from the aesthetic choices to the merchandise was thoughtfully curated. The existing bar installed by Banter will remain, along with key features like the shelving behind the bar and the open dining layout. Instead of undertaking major renovations, the W team chose simpler yet equally impactful design updates. The W’s logo incorporates the classic colors of the city’s former WNBA team, the Cleveland Rockers, which also echo the vintage hues of the old Cavaliers jerseys. Retro stripes painted along parts of the bar’s side walls extend into the dining area, visually linking the two spaces. Vintage lockers now serve as part of the bar’s shelving, and old, donated high school trophies are proudly displayed as decorative highlights.
A former nook that once held Banter’s wine coolers has been transformed into a cozy podcast corner, where Eclarin and a friend will be recording episodes of Soccer Moms. Pippin explains, “The hope would be that there’ll be remote broadcasts that certain podcasters want to do, like women athletes and stuff. So we’d love to be able to host people here.”
One of the standout features of the bar is its crafted cocktail menu. Beyond offering a wide selection of beer and cider on tap, the cocktail list is a tribute to iconic women in sports. Each drink is named with intention and fandom in mind. Take the cocktail “Of Course She Has a Drink”—a clever nod to WNBA star A’ja Wilson. Or “Mamacita,” named in honor of Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, with proceeds supporting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. Even the zero-proof (non-alcoholic) drinks carry the same spirit of recognition and inclusion, paying homage to figures and themes rooted in women’s athletics. “We wanted the menu to be playful, fun, and something you want to engage with,” Pippin shared. “It’s more than just ordering a Cosmo — it’s about feeling connected to the stories behind the names.”
When it comes to food, the goal was clear: elevated bar bites that complement the sports-watching experience without sacrificing quality. Rather than offering full entrees that require diners to focus more on their plate than the screen, the menu was designed for easy sharing and casual enjoyment. Pippin said, “We really focused on food you can pass around the table, things that make you say, ‘I want to try that, while still being able to keep your eyes on the game.”
The menu is also inclusive. With two dedicated gluten-free fryers, the kitchen is able to safely serve guests with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities. Eclarin expanded on this, “As someone with celiac, I know how tough it is to eat out in Cleveland. A lot of places offer ‘gluten-free’ options but don’t have the protocols to avoid cross-contamination. We’ve heard directly from our community through surveys, DMs, emails asking us to please provide gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. So we took that to heart.”
The Future of Sports Bars
As women’s sports continue to grow both in popularity and profitability, spaces like The W are becoming more essential. It is projected that by the end of September 2025 there will be 29 women’s sports-focused bars opened across the country, a fact that Eclarin shared.
Places like the W reflect a broader cultural shift toward inclusion, equity, and shared experience. This is so much more than a bar, it is a safe space for people, especially women, to celebrate without the fear that could at times be present in other establishments, the founders said.
Pippin added, “That’s such a big piece too is just the ability to have a space , and I think that’s like a secondary mission that this is fulfilling. And we’ve heard this from people from the jump, how nice it’ll be to go somewhere and be like, “Oh, I can just feel comfortable,” We will not forget that there’s women’s sports on the TV, because obviously that’s our mission. For some people[they] just want to go somewhere where I can feel comfortable and hang out with my friends and know that I’m in an environment that feels welcoming, safe, and I feel confident to just have a good time, and I don’t have to worry about variables that I have to worry about in other bars, right?”
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of women’s soccer, a loyal Guardians follower, or just looking for a safe, welcoming place to catch a game, The W is where Cleveland comes together — one screen, one cheer, and one community at a time.
Brianne Wojciakowski joined Florida Atlantic University’s staff in 2019 as a student-athletic services coordinator. While Wojciakowski was new to the program, she is a veteran of the university with four years of dedication as a student-athlete on the volleyball team and two years as a graduate student.
Along with her role as a student-athlete […]
Brianne Wojciakowski joined Florida Atlantic University’s staff in 2019 as a student-athletic services coordinator. While Wojciakowski was new to the program, she is a veteran of the university with four years of dedication as a student-athlete on the volleyball team and two years as a graduate student.
Along with her role as a student-athlete service coordinator, Wojciakowski also works as an assistant director of student-athlete development, a SAAC advisor, a tutor coordinator and handles HR duties, as well as managing the student-athletes’ textbooks and coordinating community service events.
Wojciakowski obtained her MBA in Sports Management, a world-renowned program, in 2019. While studying for her degree, Wojciakowski worked for the Miami Dolphins on the game day/event staff, as well as having a stint in the FAU ticket office prior to joining the academic team.
As an FAU volleyball player, Wojciakowski played in 92 career matches. She tallied 399 kills along with 33 solo blocks and 137 block assists. In unprecedented fashion, Wajciakowski served as team captain each of four seasons with the Owls.
Petunia Festival serves up fun at fishing derby, volleyball tourney, dog parade – Shaw Local
Kenzi and Chris Sarver enjoy sharing time fishing at the Elks Fishing Derby. It was an event of the 61st annual Dixon Petunia Fest on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Brian Hurley) Brian Hurley for Shaw Local From Jersey…..Moved to Illinois in 1974 B.S (Journalism) NIU, started at The Sterling Gazette as News Photog, then Pre-press, […]
Kenzi and Chris Sarver enjoy sharing time fishing at the Elks Fishing Derby. It was an event of the 61st annual Dixon Petunia Fest on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Brian Hurley)
Brian Hurley for Shaw Local
From Jersey…..Moved to Illinois in 1974
B.S (Journalism) NIU, started at The Sterling Gazette as News Photog, then Pre-press, then Pressman, then Corporate Software Trainer (Shaw Media), then IT Specialist (Shaw Media), then ……..
CBS Sports: 25 worst college football coaching hires since 2000
July 6, 2025 By John Talty, CBS Sports: Every school dreams of hiring the next Nick Saban who can transform its football program into a national champion. CBS Sports recently championed the 25 best coaching hires of this century, headlined by Alabama hiring Saban in 2006. Over 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Saban dominated the sport, winning six national […]
By John Talty, CBS Sports: Every school dreams of hiring the next Nick Saban who can transform its football program into a national champion.
CBS Sports recently championed the 25 best coaching hires of this century, headlined by Alabama hiring Saban in 2006. Over 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Saban dominated the sport, winning six national championships and nine SEC championships.
Read the full story…
CBSSports.com
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Des Moines East High School graduate turns from failing grades to promising future
Des Moines East High School graduate turns from failing grades to promising future ON THE DAY. DES MOINES EAST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATED 387 STUDENTS THIS YEAR. NOW THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THERE WERE 525 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE 2025 CLASS. THE GRADUATION RATE WAS JUST 73%. EAST HIGH’S TOP SHOT PUTTER DIDN’T […]
Des Moines East High School graduate turns from failing grades to promising future
ON THE DAY. DES MOINES EAST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATED 387 STUDENTS THIS YEAR. NOW THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THERE WERE 525 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE 2025 CLASS. THE GRADUATION RATE WAS JUST 73%. EAST HIGH’S TOP SHOT PUTTER DIDN’T SEE AN END TO HIGH SCHOOL WHEN HE FIRST STARTED. YOUNGER ME DIDN’T REALLY THINK I’D MAKE IT PAST THE AGE OF 18 WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON FOR MANY A DORM. FRESHMAN YEAR WENT LIKE THIS I AVERAGED 8.5 OF 4.0 SCALE. I SHOWED UP, I’D SKIPPED, I’D GO DO DUMB STUFF. I’D BE EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT NOT BE AT SCHOOL. THE SOPHOMORE SLUMP HIT HIM HARD. THERE WAS A REALLY LOW POINT IN MY LIFE. SOPHOMORE YEAR, A LOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG. I WAS DOING A LOT OF BAD THINGS, AND I GUESS ONE NIGHT I JUST REALLY JUST SNAPPED BACK TO REALITY. JUST REALIZED I DIDN’T WANT TO. BE ON SOMEBODY’S COUCH OR HOMELESS OR SOMETHING WORSE. YOU KNOW, WHEN HE FLIPPED THE SWITCH, I CAN’T SAY IT WAS EASY. IT WAS DEFINITELY VERY MUCH A STRUGGLE FOR ME. HE DISCOVERED A NEW PASSION, AND THE SOPHOMORE YEAR I WAS I WAS DOING TRACK JUST TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOTBALL AND FIND OUT I’M REALLY GOOD AT IT. FOR SOME REASON, MANNY BECAME THE TOP THROWER AT EAST HIGH. I WAS LIKE, I THREW IT FAR BALL, HEAVY BALL, GO FAR, I DON’T KNOW. I LOOKED MORE INTO IT, YOU KNOW, FIGURED TRACK OUT. I’LL SAY MANNY QUALIFIED FOR STATE THIS PAST SEASON AS A SENIOR IN GRANDVIEW UNIVERSITY, OFFERED HIM A SCHOLARSHIP. WE WORK OUT WITH GRANDVIEW TRACKS. THEY SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM, AND THEIR COACH CAME UP TO ME ASKING, JUST LIKE HOW I FELT ABOUT THEIR TEAM AND CAME TO ASK ME QUESTIONS. I HAD PURE EXCITEMENT IN MY VOICE WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM ABOUT IT, BUT THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM MANNY’S GPA DIDN’T MATCH THE REQUIREMENT. HE SAID IF WE COULD GET A FEW LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND I HAD TO WRITE A LETTER OF INTENT, BASICALLY SAYING LIKE, WHY? I FEEL LIKE I DESERVE TO BE AT GRANDVIEW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE LETTERS OF REC AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR YOU? BE REAL WITH YOU? I LIKE ALMOST SHED A TEAR. WHEN I READ THOSE LETTERS. I WAS LIKE, I WAS JUST LIKE, REALLY HAPPY THAT PEOPLE SEE ME IN A BETTER WAY THAN I SEE MYSELF. MANNY GRADUATED WITH A 2.5 GPA AND A FUTURE POINT FIVE GPA. ME JUST DIDN’T EVEN UNDERSTAND COLLEGIATE SPORTS. I DIDN’T THINK I’D MAKE IT THIS FAR IN MY LIFE, AND I’M SO GLAD
Des Moines East High School graduate turns from failing grades to promising future
Updated: 12:01 PM CDT Jul 6, 2025
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Des Moines East High School’s graduation rate for 2025 was 73%. East High graduate Manny Adame, who received a partial athletic scholarship to Grand View for track and field, at one point had a 0.5 GPA.”I would show up, skip, I’d go do dumb stuff, I’d be everywhere else, but not be at school,” Adame said. Until one night in sophomore year. “One night I really just snapped back to reality,” Adame said. “I realized I didn’t want to be on somebody’s couch or homeless or something worse.” KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt tells the story of how an East High graduate’s strength, newfound passion and resilience changed his life.
Des Moines East High School’s graduation rate for 2025 was 73%.
East High graduate Manny Adame, who received a partial athletic scholarship to Grand View for track and field, at one point had a 0.5 GPA.
“I would show up, skip, I’d go do dumb stuff, I’d be everywhere else, but not be at school,” Adame said.
Until one night in sophomore year.
“One night I really just snapped back to reality,” Adame said. “I realized I didn’t want to be on somebody’s couch or homeless or something worse.”
KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt tells the story of how an East High graduate’s strength, newfound passion and resilience changed his life.
Is Avery Johnson single? Rising K-State star captures hearts on and off the field
As the summer sun begins to set on the offseason, Kansas State University quarterback Avery Johnson is proving that he’s not just a rising star on the football field but also a magnetic presence off of it. The Wichita native, who has already captured the hearts of fans with his electrifying play, is now making […]
As the summer sun begins to set on the offseason, Kansas State University quarterback Avery Johnson is proving that he’s not just a rising star on the football field but also a magnetic presence off of it. The Wichita native, who has already captured the hearts of fans with his electrifying play, is now making headlines as a marketing force to be reckoned with. With the anticipation building for his return to the gridiron in August, Johnson is busy wheeling around Manhattan, solidifying his status as K-State’s future.
While the football world eagerly awaits his next move, fans are buzzing about Johnson’s personal life. Speculation about his relationship status has ignited curiosity, as many wonder whether this talented QB is currently single or if someone has already captured his heart. The intrigue surrounding his dating history adds another layer to his growing persona, making him a topic of conversation not just in the stands but across social media platforms as well.
Johnson’s impact extends beyond the field; he’s quickly becoming a name synonymous with both athletic prowess and marketability. His rise to fame is reminiscent of a quarterback who commands the pocket—poised, strategic, and always ready to make the next big play. As he navigates the pressures of being a college athlete and a budding influencer, fans are left to wonder how this dynamic will shape his upcoming season and his legacy at K-State.
With the potential to reshape the landscape of K-State football, Avery Johnson is not just a player to watch; he’s a phenomenon in the making. As his story unfolds, one thing is clear: whether on the field or off, he’s a name that will be etched in the hearts of fans for years to come. For those eager to follow every twist and turn of his journey, keep your eyes peeled for updates on this captivating young star.
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Captures Gold at 2025 Dutch Tournament
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 6, 2025) — The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team defeated Italy in an exciting final match to win the gold medal at the 2025 Dutch Tournament on Sunday in Assen, Netherlands. The U.S. defeated Italy, 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 22-25, 25-23) in the gold medal match, while earning a 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, […]
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 6, 2025) — The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team defeated Italy in an exciting final match to win the gold medal at the 2025 Dutch Tournament on Sunday in Assen, Netherlands. The U.S. defeated Italy, 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 22-25, 25-23) in the gold medal match, while earning a 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-20, 27-25, 15-7) comeback victory over the Netherlands earlier in the day.
MATCH STATISTICS VS. NETHERLANDS
vs. ITALY
The U.S. ran out to a 13-6 lead in the opening set and maintained a seven-point lead at 20-13. Italy scored six of the next seven points to pull within two points, but the U.S. scored the final four points to win the set.
Behind strong serving from setter Kaleo Kanahele, the U.S. took a 5-1 lead in the second set to force a quick Italy timeout. A Tia Edwards kill pushed the lead to double digits, 16-6 with a MaKenzie Franklin block giving the U.S. an 11-point lead.
Italy scored the next five points, but an Edwards ace highlighted a 4-0 U.S. run. Raelene Elam finished the set with a kill, matching the biggest margin of the set at 12 points.
After dropping the first four points of the third set, the U.S. used an 11-4 stretch to take a three-point lead, 11-8. Italy went on a 12-2 run to take its biggest lead of the match, seven points at 20-13.
In a set of runs, the U.S. went on an 9-1 run to take a 22-21 lead with Elam scoring six points on her serve. Italy scored the final four points to extend the match to a fourth set.
A great dig by libero Kari Ortiz and a save by Whitney Dosty led to a point that put the U.S. ahead 6-1 in the fourth set. A kill by Dosty down the line extended the lead to seven points, 12-5. Kills by Kanahele and Franklin after Italy points kept the lead at seven, 14-7. The lead grew to eight, 16-8, on an Italy service error.
Nieves put a second ball away for a 17-10 lead. After yielding two points, the U.S. regained its seven-point advantage on another Dosty kill and a Nieves ace. An Italy service error gave the U.S. a 20-13 lead.
Italy scored four of the next five points before Edwards put a ball down the line for a 22-17 lead. Italy scored three points in a row to cap a 7-2 run and come within two points, 22-20. Nieves scored from a tough angle and a ball handling error set up match point.
Italy held off three match points to pull within one, 24-23, but a Franklin block sealed the gold medal for the U.S.
vs. NETHERLANDS
The U.S. led the Netherlands in all statistical categories, 43-34 in kills, 25-19 in aces and 15-14 in blocks.
Franklin led the U.S. with 12 kills and 17 points, adding two blocks and three aces. Outside hitter Jessie West finished with 15 points on nine kills, five aces and a pair of blocks. Outside Emma Schieck also reached double digits with 10 points five kills, three blocks and two aces.
Edwards served a match-high six aces to go with two kills and a block to score nine points, while outside Courtney Baker also totaled nine points on seven kills, a block and an ace.
Setter Gia Cruz totaled six points on three blocks and three aces, and Kendra Hall recorded four kills and two blocks for six points. Nicky Nieves (three kills, one block, one ace) scored five points, while setter Annie Flood added four points on two aces and two blocks.
Roster
No Name (Position, Height, Hometown) 2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.) 8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.) 9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.) 10 Kari Ortiz (L, 5-6, Washington, D.C.) 12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.) 13 Gia Cruz (S, 5-5, San Antonio, Texas) 14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla.) 15 Kendra Hall (5-7, Westfield, Ind.) 16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.) 17 Jessie West (OH, 5-8, Edmond, Okla.) 18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.) 21 Annie Flood (S, 5-7, Salem, Ore.) 22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country) 24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)
Head Coach: Bill Hamiter Assistant Coach: Grace Campbell Performance Analyst: Jeff Hicks Athletic Trainer: Samantha Carter Mental Performance Coach: Brooke Lamphere Strength and Conditioning/Physical Therapist: Bobby Moore Dietitian: Jacque Scaramella
Schedule
July 4 USA def. Italy, 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22) USA def. France, 3-0 (25-17, 25-5, 25-14)
July 5 USA def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-20) USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-9)
July 6 USA def. Netherlands, 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-20, 27-25, 15-7) Gold Medal Match: USA def. Italy, 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 22-25, 25-23)