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When Angel Reese was drafted by the Chicago Sky, viewership skyrocketed 225%. Bayou Barbie brought her A-game—and fashion—to the Windy City. The young mogul is associated with global brands like McDonald’s, Reebok, and PlayStation, as well as hosting her own podcast, "Unapologetically Angel."
But she isn’t the only woman making waves on the city’s sports scene. Chicagoland native Jewel Lloyd helped the Women’s National Team snag an incredible eighth gold medal in a row—talk about a winning streak! That’s the longest in Olympic history for any traditional team sport. When she wasn’t busy racking up an average of 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in just 11.3 minutes on the court, the “Golden Mamba” was making moves off it. She recently announced the acquisition of Help With My Loan (HWML) via her single-family office, Loyd & Co., a mission-driven financial firm based in Chicago that she co-founded with her brother, Jarryd Loyd.
Chicago football fields are filling up with some serious feminine vibes. Last year, Jennifer King became the first Black woman coach in NFL history for the beloved Chicago Bears. Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren just scored a major touchdown at the NFL Scouting Combine—he was honored with the second-annual Buddy Teevens Forward Progress Award at the NFL Women’s Forum for his inclusive leadership and dedication to leveling the playing field for women in sports.
Two words come to mind: teamwork and empowerment. Following in King’s footsteps of firsts is Angelique, owner and president of the Chicago Winds. And on March 29, the city’s first women’s full-contact professional football team, the Chicago Winds, kicks off its eight-week season by taking on the Kansas City Glory on home turf at Staff Field.
Soccer phenom Mallory Swanson, #9 of the Chicago Red Stars, signed a deal last year to stay on, becoming the highest-paid player in the National Women’s Soccer League.
But you can’t have sports without bars. You can’t have epic battles and historic firsts without a watering hole to watch them. Enter the ladies of Level Sporting Club. Clarissa Flores and her executive team know what it takes to win—both in the game and in life.
“All of us are women in leadership roles and former athletes, and that was something really important to me—that Level be shaped by strong women leaders who were also athletes,” shared Flores.
Clarissa Flores, a former D1 and professional baller, is leading her executive team to wins in the business world. Joining her as Chief Culinary Officer is former University of Texas D1 soccer player Chef Amanda Barnes, along with former University of Chicago D3 soccer player Patricia Dull.
“I’ve been in hospitality for 17 years. For me, I have such a passion for women’s sports and basketball because it’s what got me here,” Flores said. In her opinion, the city was seriously lacking spaces that put women’s sports on a level playing field.
“We are here to make women’s sports a priority and not an afterthought. It hasn’t gotten the visibility and equity in sports coverage, and we are here to bridge that gap,” Flores said.
Level Sporting Club is showing the power of creative marketing. It was recently one of seven women-owned sports bars chosen to kick off the Unrivaled league season. The 3x3 league, started by WNBA players Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, has been shattering expectations in its first year of competition. The sold-out pop-up event welcomed hundreds of fans and supporters, showing the love for the sport as Women’s History Month began.
Flores trusts that things are just getting started for women’s sports in Chicago.
“I expect there to be even more women’s sports watch parties and women’s sports bars like us—and even Babe’s, which is planning on opening this year too,” Flores said when asked about the future of women’s sports in the city.
Dr. Mila Marshall is an environmental professional and journalist with a passion for advancing sustainability in all sectors. Her passion is directed towards urban food systems in segregated cities.