Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Los Angeles gets a new women's sports bar — Untamed Spirits in Silver Lake
“I want us to be free and be able to watch what we want to watch and be who we want to be," bar co-owner Stephanie Ellingwood says.
(
Untamed Spirits
)
Women’s sports bars, while still uncommon, are starting to carve out a place of their own across the U.S.
That’s the sentiment Stephanie and Janie Ellingwood were going for when trying to come up with a name for their new Silver Lake bar on Evans Street.
“I want us to be free and be able to watch what we want to watch and be who we want to be," Stephanie Ellingwood said.
Listen
• 5:00
Listen: LA's new women's sports bar
LAist's Dañiel Martinez tells us more about Untamed Spirits in Silver Lake.
Support for LAist comes from
And when their original plan to distill spirits in the new establishment didn't come through, they decided to honor that idea in the name Untamed Spirits.
The married couple are die hard fans of the L.A. Sparks and Angel City Football Club.
“Those are our main teams that are here in L.A., and we're Day One season ticket holders of ACFC,” Stephanie Ellingwood said.
The partners say they got their push to open a women’s sports bar of their own after an illuminating experience they had at one of their regular spots.
'Why don’t we just make one?'
The Ellingwoods were watching a U.S. Women's National Team soccer game at a crowded bar. They asked the bartender to turn the volume on but were told no.
Support for LAist comes from
“ I thought that they would be nice enough to play the sound for us, but they did not. And it was just sad and upsetting because no one was watching anything else,” Janie Ellingwood said.
The grand opening of Stephanie and Janie Ellingwood's Untamed Spirits is Saturday.
(
Untamed Spirits
)
The two racked their brains for another place to go but came up short. That’s when inspiration struck.
“Right off that we're going, 'Well, why don't we just make one? Like why haven't we just done it?'” Stephanie Ellingwood said.
Community, not competition
In May, the Ellingwoods began operating Untamed Spirits in the former site of Trophy Wife in Silver Lake. The bar's grand opening is today.
“It was a great way for us to do a month of R&D. So we introduced new drink items and new food items, and we asked for feedback,” Stephanie Ellingwood said.
Support for LAist comes from
Untamed Spirits is joining a very small community of women’s sports bars in the area. Last year, Watch Me launched in Long Beach, the first in L.A. County. Both are part of a bigger movement nationally, joining the more than a dozen such bars that have opened in the last few years, spurred on by a growing interest in women’s sports.
The Ellingwoods said Jax Diener, owner of "Watch Me," has stopped by to say hello.
“ It's really nice to see how supportive the community is with the owners as well, because it is a community, not a competition,” Janie Ellingwood said.
Dogs are welcome at Untamed Spirits.
(
Untamed Spirits
)
Time for a grand opening
Despite its major league interest in women’s sports, Untamed Spirits caters to all sports lovers. “We focus on women's sports, but we do play all the sports,” Stephanie Ellingwood said.
And of course all four-legged friends are welcome too. “Dogs are one of our favorite people,” Janie Ellingwood said.
Support for LAist comes from
Untamed Spirits focuses on women's sports but plays all kinds of contests on its TVs.
(
Untamed Spirits
)
Grand opening details
Untamed Spirits
3715 Evans St. West, Los Angeles
Grand opening: Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight
More information
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
UCLA and University of California leaders are fighting Trump’s demands for a $1.2 billion settlement over a litany of accusations, including that the campus permits antisemitism. -
Wasteland Weekend is all about souped-up rust buckets, spikey costumes and an ‘ideal apocalypse.’ -
The Shadow the Scientists initiative at UC Santa Cruz strives to demystify astronomical research. -
Some submissions to the Pasadena Humane Society were made by extremely talented artists. The others … tried their best. -
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings.
Best of LAist