A new ranking reveals the best U.S. cities for women's sports, highlighting strong community support and growing fan bases. The Bay Area leads, followed by Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, and Portland.
When talking about the best cities for women's sports, people often mention the "vibes". This means more than just numbers like how many teams or how many fans attend games. It includes the feeling on game days, places like sports bars that focus on women's teams, and how much the community supports women's sports.
A group of writers looked at over 30 cities and picked the top 15 for women's sports. They checked many things, such as professional teams in leagues like the WNBA and NWSL, and college sports programs. The list is mostly American cities, with some from Canada and the UK expected soon.
The Bay Area was named the best city for women's sports in 2025. It has new teams like Bay FC and the Golden State Valkyries, but also a long history of supporting women's sports. The area has set records for game attendance and has places like Rikki's, a sports bar for women's teams.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are strong in women's sports too. They have teams like the WNBA's Lynx and the PWHL's Frost. The Minnesota Aurora, a team owned by the community, is also popular. These cities work hard to support women's sports with events and research.
Seattle and Portland have lively women's sports scenes. Seattle recently added a new PWHL team. Portland is famous for its passionate fans of the Thorns and for The Sports Bra, a women's sports bar. Both cities have strong community support and are growing their women's sports options.
New York City has many women's sports teams and events, making it a strong city for women's sports. The Liberty team has done well recently. Los Angeles has a history with teams like Angel City FC and the Sparks, and more sports bars for women's sports are opening.
Boston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Chicago, and Washington D.C. also support women's sports in special ways. They host big events and back local teams, helping women's sports grow across the country.
