Changing the Channel: Des Moines bar puts women’s sports front and center

Des Moines is on the precipice of becoming a safe haven for women’s sports. Heroics Sports Lounge, operated by LaQuita Lucas and Jami Behun, is hoping to open in the coming weeks after being approved for a liquor license by the City Council on Monday. The bar will solely be dedicated to showcasing women’s professional and collegiate sports on all eight of the TVs stationed around its interior.

Speaking with KCCI, Behun said she was inspired to create the space after failing to get a local bar to turn on the WNBA Finals. Behun was trying to catch Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark in action, but the bar’s owner put the NBA Finals on instead. “Going to a bar or restaurant and asking somebody to turn the channel — sometimes it’s a struggle,” Behun told the news outlet.

Heroics will be located on Ingersoll Avenue in a space previously occupied by Juniper Moon for two decades. The cocktail bar shuttered its doors in 2025. The goal is to have Heroics officially open prior to Thanksgiving, but women’s sports fans can attend a pop-up preview event at Exile Brewing on November 4.

Behun and Lucas want to capitalize on the surge of interest surrounding women’s sports. They’re following in the footsteps of several similar bars across the country, including those in Nashville, Austin, and Cleveland. Another queer owned venture, Tomboys Sports Bar, is hoping to secure additional funding to follow in those same footsteps.

A similar venture is currently seeking funding

In April, Ash McClain spoke with the Des Moines Register about their desire to create a space dedicated to playing women’s sports on TV, much like Heroics Sports Lounge. Speaking with the outlet about their idea, McClain said, “We believe there’s no better time to celebrate women’s sports in our community. The venue will be located in the heart of Des Moines and aims to be more than just a sports bar — we envision it as a gathering space that elevates and celebrates women’s athletics at all levels, from local high school teams to professional leagues.”

They’re currently trying to raise around $25,000 to help cover initial location and operational costs through a Givebutter fundraiser, which you can view here. They hosted an Aces v. Mercury watch party at Big Grove Brewery on October 3.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related: 4 reasons why the WNBA should expand to Iowa