The Sports Bra, the nation’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to televising women’s sports, will open its fifth location in Portland, the company announced Thursday.

Exactly where the bar will be located and when it will open have yet to be determined.

The Portland franchise will be led by co-owners Ann Freeman, a lawyer at Bernstein Shur, and Emily Lesher, a chemistry professor at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. 

The two Mainers met on the sidelines in 2017 while cheering for their daughters as they played soccer, according to the announcement. A year later they formed a team for the local women’s soccer league. They have been playing together at the Gorham Sports Complex ever since.

Now, the two are teaming up again to bring The Sports Bra’s mission to support, empower and promote women and girls in sports to Maine.

“Portland brings together a renowned culinary scene with thriving youth, collegiate and semi-pro women’s sports,” Freeman said in a statement. “We want to build a space that fosters and supports this incredible energy.”

Like the first Sports Bra, which opened in Portland, Oregon in 2022, the Maine location will be family-friendly and feature a menu of food and drinks, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options, and will source products from local women-owned businesses whenever possible. Fans can expect a creative Pine Tree State twist on traditional pub fare, the company said. 

The Sports Bra Maine is currently scouting the perfect home for the bar. The timing of the opening depends on how quickly they find a suitable location and how much time it will take to renovate the space.

“We can’t wait to serve this community and cheer on our favorite teams together,” Freeman said.

Lauren Healy, of Cape Elizabeth, said she has a feeling the Portland area’s tight-knit sports community will embrace the new establishment.

“I grew up playing sports, so seeing women’s athletics get this kind of support and visibility is really exciting,” she said. “Portland already shows up for its teams, and to have a place that’s dedicated to women’s sports is only going to make our community even stronger.”

Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed to this story.