Women's athletics take center stage at Title 9 Sports Grill

• The bar was opened by Audrey Corley, owner of Boycott Bar and Dahlia Tapas, Tequila and Wine, and Kat Moore, who owned Short Leash with her husband, Brad.
• Corley, who played and coached basketball at Phoenix College, thought about opening a women-focused sports bar for at least three years and was looking at locations. The perfect opportunity came along when Kat and Brad Moore reached out, she told Axios.
• She compared the new sports bar to the new-look Phoenix Mercury. "We're the new kids on the block and so is our whole team. I think we're going to grow up together."

Why it matters: Title 9 came along as women's sports in the U.S. is in the midst of a major moment, which Corley called long overdue.

• "Basketball has been such an intricate part of my life," she said. "And right now I think the push and the energy behind women's basketball is just kind of where it's at."
• The bar is named for the 1972 federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs and activities, which opened the door to women's athletics as we now know them.

Zoom in: Corley said Title 9 is off to a good start.

• The bar opened on the eve of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, and did great business during the Final Four and championship.
• Some customers have been older women who missed out on the benefits of Title IX themselves and relish the opportunity to relive the athletics of their youth.
• Plus, "You'd be surprised how many guys we get," Corley added.

What she's saying: "People should keep an open mind about women's sports. Give them a shot and they'll probably fall in love." she said.