Rikki's Serves as SF Women's Sports Hub
The city's first women's sports bar creates a year-round space for fans as new professional teams enter the local market.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Since opening in June 2025, Rikki's has served as the region's first sports bar dedicated to showing women's athletics year-round. Owners Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich operate the venue, which holds a restaurant classification to facilitate community events like youth team gatherings.
Why it matters
The bar fills a void identified by its founders for a local space to gather and watch women's sports. It has become a focal point for fans during recent WNBA playoff runs as the local interest in women's athletics continues to grow alongside new professional franchises.
WNBA viewership has climbed 350% over the last five years, a trend fueling interest in new teams like the Golden State Valkyries. While the franchise is valued at $1 billion, the long-term impact on local hospitality revenue remains to be seen.
The players
Danielle Thoe
She is a co-owner of Rikki's who helped launch the region's first women's sports bar.
Sara Yergovich
She is a co-owner of Rikki's and business partner to Danielle Thoe.
The details
Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich secured funding for Rikki's by pitching investors before opening the space in June 2025. By maintaining a restaurant classification, the owners host youth sports teams and teen parties when games are not airing. The venue is preparing to add more coverage as a professional women's hockey team debuts in San Jose this December and the San Francisco Signal volleyball team begins its season in January 2027.
Timeline
June 2025: Rikki's opens in San Francisco.
October 9, 2026: Golden State plays the Aces in Las Vegas.
December 2026: A professional women's hockey team debuts in San Jose.
January 2027: The San Francisco Signal volleyball team begins its season.
Across the Bay
The opening of Rikki's follows a national pattern established by the 2022 launch of The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon. This model shifts local sports culture by creating dedicated physical hubs for fans of women's athletics.
If you are looking to watch the San Francisco Signal volleyball season opener, the team begins play in January 2027. You can plan your visit to the bar around the upcoming professional hockey debut scheduled for December 2026 in San Jose.
The takeaway
Rikki's serves as a community space for an expanding fan base interested in the city's new professional franchises. Watch the local schedule for the San Francisco Signal volleyball debut in January 2027 to see the continued impact of the rising women's sports market.
Further reading
For more on new businesses arriving in the city, visit Openings & Closings.
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Do you believe dedicated women's sports bars provide valuable community spaces in your area?
