Between dedicated sports bars, a variety of pro and semi-pro teams, and a strong collegiate scene, learn ways to cheer on women’s sports in North Carolina.
North Carolina has been a hotbed of women’s sports for quite some time. The Charlotte Sting were one of the WNBA’s original teams when the league was founded in 1996, and its college programs have a long-standing history of success. Today is an even more thrilling time to be a fan, with new teams joining the state’s collection of women sports.
Whether you’re looking to watch a game on TV or catch some action live on a court or field, you have plenty of options across North Carolina.
Where to watch women’s sports in North Carolina
Throughout the state, several bars show women’s sports on their TVs, and some even organize watch events or bracket pools. Here are a few of our favorites.
E.O.’s Athletic Club (Durham)
341 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
E.O.’s Athletic Club is a newer addition to the bar scene, having opened earlier this year. But it’s arriving in style. The bar, which is “a sports bar for (E)very (O)ne,” showcases both men’s and women’s sports, with at least half of the TVs tuned into women’s games. The overall vibe of the community is a welcoming one full of camaraderie, and they have some tasty and creative pizza options on the menu (the Potato and Steak and Cheese are among the highlights).
E.O.’s is open every day, so you’ll never have to miss a moment of your favorite sport. The decor is also some of the coolest in North Carolina. Before the restaurant opened, it asked residents to send in their dorky youth sports photos, then turned them into baseball cards that adorn the tables throughout the athletic club. It’s a charming addition to the overall atmosphere.
HopFly Brewing (Charlotte)
1327 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Since 2024, HopFly Brewing has been the official and exclusive craft beer partner of Carolina Ascent FC, a member of the USL professional women’s soccer league. Simply ordering a drink from the brewery is a way to show your support. HopFly also hosts regular watch party events and has a steady stream of women’s sports playing across its many TVs. The HopFly Tailgate is an excellent way to connect with your fellow sports fans, though the vibe is lively enough any night of the week (except Mondays, when HopFly is “closed AF.”)
If you’d rather be a little more active with your support, you can join the HopFly Running Club, which is for anybody who wants to be active on their two legs. Runners and walkers are the most common, though you’re also welcome to skip, skate, or do anything else that gets your body up and at ‘em. There’s a HopFly Bike & Brew crew that cycles every Saturday, should you prefer rolling on two wheels instead of your two feet.
Q-Hall (Asheville)
This isn’t a place you can visit quite yet, though there’s an opportunity to invest in Q-Hall right now to help make it a reality. The proposed Asheville establishment will be the region’s first and only dedicated women’s sports bar, “where the games are always on, and the sound is always up.”
Q-Hall plans to show WNBA, NCAA, NWSL, PWHL, Olympic events, and any other women’s sport that’s being televised. Though the physical building isn’t open, Q-Hall has already been a strong pillar of the community, setting up watch parties and other events around western North Carolina. And it sports the most stylish mascot in Q-Owl, a feathered femme and trusty guide to all things fabulous, including a robust knowledge of women’s sports past and present.
Follow Her Court Collective
Would you rather watch sports with a group? Her Court Collective hosts events around North Carolina, primarily in Raleigh and Charlotte, often partnering with local establishments for game watches and other events. The group hosts creative outings like a WNBA Tour with multiple tickets and behind-the-scenes offerings.
Her Court Collective aims to empower and champion women in sports worldwide, support the growth of local youth programs, and provide safe environments for female sports fans. They regularly post new updates to their social media platforms, so keep an eye out for upcoming events to check out.
Professional and semi-pro teams to support in North Carolina
From soccer to basketball to softball, North Carolina is home to a bevy of teams at the professional and semi-pro levels.
NC Courage
The NC Courage have competed in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) since 2017, and the team immediately made an impact. After a runner-up finish in 2017, the Courage became the league’s first club to win both the Shield (for the best regular season record) and the championship in 2018. The Courage repeated that feat the following season. The atmosphere at Courage games, hosted at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, is always thrilling and a fantastic way to bond with fellow soccerheads.
Carolina Ascent
Can’t get enough soccer? The Carolina Ascent competes in the USL Super League. During the 2024-25 season, the Ascent finished first in the regular-season standings with 48 points and a +21 goal differential, tops in the league. They’re back in the playoffs again this season and looking to finish things off with a championship this time around. The Ascent also has affiliations with the Charlotte Independence and a USL W League team, creating a very strong soccer pipeline throughout the state.
Carolina Phoenix
The Carolina Phoenix got their start back in 2007, ripping off five straight wins in their debut season after a loss to open the franchise. Since their inception, the Phoenix have won seven conference championships, three bowl game championships, and an IWFL world championship. The team, now in the Women’s Football Alliance, is based in Greensboro and hosts its games in High Point. Another season kicks off in May, with plenty of thrilling action to unfold on the gridiron.
Carolina Tigers
The Carolina Tigers, based in Winston-Salem, joined the American Women’s Football League in 2024, and they’ve already developed quite a hold on the community. From the Cub’s Den fan club for kids to the Teen Zone for older kids, fans of all ages can let out their inner roar. HER Locker Room honors women throughout the community doing impressive things, another way the team shows love to their biggest supporters.
Carolina Blaze
Though they were established last year, this season marks the debut of the Carolina Blaze, a team based in Durham that plays in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). The season, which begins on June 9, will feature a 25-game schedule. The Blaze hosts its first five games at home, so there’s an opportunity to catch the fire early on.
The UpShot League
Talk about supporting a league from the very start! The UpShot League is a new pro women’s basketball league, with former WNBA president Donna Orender serving as commissioner. Among the league’s investors are Cheryl Miller and Tamika Catchings, two women’s basketball Hall of Famers. The league’s debut season begins in mid-May, and North Carolina is home to two of the league’s four inaugural teams. The Charlotte Crown will play at Bojangles Coliseum, while the Greensboro Groove will host games at the Novant Health Fieldhouse.
College athletics and leagues in North Carolina
Per the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, there are 137 colleges and universities across the state of North Carolina. That means a lot of women are excelling in various sports leagues.
A hotbed of basketball
Notably, the state’s women’s basketball teams have been having great success in the 2020s. This past season, Duke won the ACC’s regular season and championship en route to reaching its second-straight Elite Eight. The North Carolina Tar Heels have made seven consecutive tournament appearances and reached the Sweet Sixteen in each of the past two seasons. NC State is just two years removed from a Final Four and won a tournament game this year, while the High Point Panthers have won the Big South two seasons in a row.
Winners of multiple championships
One of the coolest things about college is the variety of athletic events students can participate in. And North Carolina schools and individuals are no strangers to winning recent championships across a mix of sports. Kim Lewellen led the Wake Forest women’s golf team to the program’s first national championship in 2023. The Mars Hill weightlifting team placed first in the 2024-25 National University Championships; their 230-point total was 45 more than the second-place finishers, which is the largest point difference victory for a female team in USA Weightlifting history.
Meanwhile, NC State is an unstoppable force at long-distance running, earning D-1 cross country championships in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. And the North Carolina women’s lacrosse team has won four national titles since 2013. The most recent came in 2025, when sisters Chloe and Ashley Humphrey led the Tar Heels to another championship while a record 14,423 attendees watched. Now that’s some quality family time.
Roller derby across the state
You don’t need to know how to cruise around on quad roller skates to appreciate some good roller derby action, and North Carolina has an extensive presence across the state. Of course, if you do find yourself itching to play, most of the leagues around North Carolina—which operate as nonprofits—welcome players to try out.
Blue Ridge Roller Derby is Asheville’s first flat track roller derby league, and Greensboro Roller Derby is Greensboro’s primary league. Meanwhile, Carolina Roller Derby has brought roller derby to the Triangle since 2004. Like many leagues, Charlotte Derby is skater-owned and operated and donates a portion of bout proceeds to local charities. And organizations like Derby City Skates shine a light on community events throughout the Tar Heel State.
There’s something for everyone across the women’s sports landscape. Keep showing your local Carolina support!
