From semi-pro and collegiate teams to dedicated bars and upcoming stadium developments, there are plenty of ways to show your support for women’s sports in Iowa.
The women’s sports landscape in Iowa is thriving, and there’s never been a better time to be a fan. Perhaps you have an allegiance to your alma mater, or maybe you want to support a professional or semi-pro team. You might even simply be looking for a spot to watch sports like the WNBA or NWSL, even if an Iowa team isn’t participating.
The state has you covered with all of those. Learn the ways to support women’s sports in Iowa, starting with a bar completely dedicated to displaying them.
Visit Heroics Sports Lounge, Iowa’s first dedicated women’s sports bar
2005 Ingersoll Ave, Ste 101, Des Moines, IA 50309
New year, new Iowa! Heroics Sports Lounge had its official launch party on January 17. The lounge operates with a simple mission: build a space where fans can celebrate and enjoy women’s sports front and center. Jami Behun and LaQuita Lucas are the minds behind the queer-owned and LGBTQ-friendly bar, and they have nailed that goal with their space.
Whether you’re craving WNBA action, NCAA volleyball, pro soccer matches, the new Women’s Pro Baseball League launching in August, or anything else, you’ll find all women’s sports games with Heroics’s wall-to-wall screens. The staff is incredibly welcoming, and the lounge is wheelchair accessible with an entrance ramp and ample indoor space.
The comfy patio is an excellent spot to catch some fresh air, and the decor everywhere is fantastic—even down to the aerobics wallpaper in the bathroom. Heroics is a family-friendly sports lounge, though patrons under 21 need to be accompanied by an adult. The cocktail list is quite impressive, too, with The Cycle Espresso and The Purple Reign standing out as highlights.
Support professional and semi-pro teams in Iowa
The Iowa Phoenix, the women’s tackle football team based in West Des Moines, was founded in 2019. The 2021 team won the Midwest Regional D3 championship, and this season, the Phoenix joined the American Women’s Football League (AWFL).
Not able to attend a game? You can donate to the team or a particular player through the team’s “Adopt-a-Phoenix” program, or purchase some gear from the swag stores. Players have to pay for their own equipment and players’ fees, so it’s an excellent way to show your support.
Over in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Raptors are a member of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA). The Rapids are a newer squad, entering their third season. Similar to the AWFL, WFA players have to pay their own way. In addition to attending games, you can show your support by purchasing some cool swag (a raptor is always a stylish design choice) or sponsoring the team.
On the other type of football field—more accurately called the pitch—the Iowa Demon Hawks are the state’s top soccer team. And we’re not just saying that; the club is fresh off a perfect season in the Major Arena Soccer League Women’s (MASL-W). The club led the league in goals all season and finished the year with a championship. Attending a match is an excellent way to support the club, or you can join the Hawks 7egion Squad, which offers unique experiences, special perks, and cool events with the team. And you’ll get to proudly launch into “Cukuuuuuuu!” chants, which are just delightful to let out.
Cheer on your favorite collegiate Iowa teams
According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, there are 54 colleges and universities across Iowa. With that wide a reach, you have nearly endless options of teams to support.
Caitlin Clark and co. helped the Iowa Hawkeyes take women’s college basketball by storm; the program reached back-to-back championship games in 2023 and 2024. Including this season, the Hawkeyes have reached the NCAA Tournament eight times in a row. Meanwhile, Clark is now a key piece of the Indiana Fever after the team selected her with the first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft. Over in Ames, the Iowa State Cyclones have made seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2022. Both the Hawkeyes and Cyclones are currently among the top ten most popular women’s college basketball teams, per a recent Nielsen report.
Drake University in Des Moines is no slouch when it comes to women’s athletics. The women’s basketball team had a tough season this past year, but they’ve won at least 20 games in 10 of the last 12 seasons, which have included five NCAA Tournament appearances. During the 2023-24 season, the school won its first Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Championship. Among the women’s highlights: regular-season team championships in basketball and soccer, a conference tournament title in basketball, and top-five finishes in cross-country, golf, tennis, and volleyball.
In Division III athletics, Grinnell College consistently performs at a high level. The women’s teams have won the Midwest Conference All-Sports title four seasons in a row and counting. Last season, the Pioneers women earned top honors in tennis, swimming, and golf while finishing as runners-up in volleyball and cross country.
New developments in women’s sports
There are also new developments coming down the pike for women’s sports. In Ames, Iowa State recently announced that the Cyclones will support women’s wrestling beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. It’s the 18th intercollegiate athletics program at the university. It will join the 15 universities and colleges in the state of Iowa that currently sponsor the sport. We always love seeing more opportunities for women’s sports across collegiate athletics.
At the professional level, the Pro Iowa initiative aims to bring both men’s and women’s USL teams to Des Moines. The women’s team was contingent on stadium construction, which looks like it’s all systems go after Pro Iowa announced in December that it secured enough funding to move forward with the stadium and accompanying global plaza. In addition to the pro soccer teams, the stadium plans to host regional and national events.
This June, the 40th annual Iowa Senior Games will take place in West Des Moines, an Olympic-style sports festival for folks 50 and up. It’s a tournament for both men and women, but it’s a nice way to keep active at an age when most professional athletes have hung up their sneakers or cleats. West Des Moines will also host the 2027 USA Curling National Championships at the end of January, bringing everyone’s favorite Winter Olympics sport to the Hawkeye State.
It’s an exciting time to be a fan of women’s sports in Iowa. Keep showing your local support!
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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