Two powerhouse women from Marin County are about to revolutionize the local sports bar scene by launching “The Twelfth,” the county’s first dedicated women’s sports bar. Isabella Woods and Soledad Jean-Pierre, longtime friends and soccer teammates, are challenging the traditional sports bar landscape by creating an inclusive space that celebrates women’s athletics.

Tired of struggling to find venues that genuinely support women’s sports, the duo is crowdfunding their dream with a goal of raising $425,000. Their vision goes beyond just showing games – they’re creating a family-friendly environment where parents can enjoy matches while kids have space to play.

The inspiration came from repeated experiences of sports bars dismissively treating women’s sports as secondary. “We kept running into spaces that weren’t welcoming,” Woods explained. “Even in progressive Marin, finding a bar that would show women’s sports with sound was challenging”.

Their timing couldn’t be more perfect. The 2023 Women’s World Cup demonstrated massive global interest, reaching 2 billion viewers worldwide. The National Women’s Soccer League continues to see exponential growth, with teams like San Diego Wave skyrocketing in valuation from $2 million to $120 million in just three years.

The Twelfth aims to address a critical gap in sports media consumption. Currently, fans would need subscriptions to five different streaming services just to catch all NWSL games. By creating a dedicated physical space, Woods and Jean-Pierre hope to make women’s sports more accessible and celebrated.

As a Black-owned and women-owned business, they’re committed to maintaining complete ownership – a rarity in entrepreneurial spaces. “It’s about investing in the future you want to see,” Woods emphasized.

With venues like Rikki’s in San Francisco also emerging, The Twelfth represents a growing movement towards recognizing and celebrating women’s athletic achievements. Their crowdfunding campaign isn’t just about opening a bar – it’s about creating community, visibility, and opportunity.