12 AUGUST 2026 By Kylie de Best Kristen Carli and her husband, Anthony, are familiar with the frustration women’s sports fans know well: wanting somewhere to watch a game and coming up empty. From walking into a sports bar during a big game and having to ask (and often be denied) to switch a screen, the duo knew there needed to be a dedicated space built around fandom. They created Her Court, a women’s sports bar in Old Town. Her Court is projected to open next year and operate under Carli Hospitality Group. Kristen will lead the concept from the ground up, while Anthony will take on day-to-day operations, including staffing, hiring, and management, once the doors open. The bar will feature more than 40 screens, all airing women’s sports (WNBA, NWSL, PWHL, LPGA, Grand Slams, Olympics, NCAA, national teams). A full food and beverage program will be available, including cocktails, craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. For those looking for a more exclusive experience, Her Court will offer something called The Locker Room – a private, bookable event space for watch parties, corporate events, and team celebrations. A weekly published calendar will also be made available so fans can plan around games that matter to them. Airing women’s sports is a priority at Her Court, but it’s not exclusive – they’ll also air the Super Bowl and men’s games on request. Currently, Scottsdale sits in the middle of the fastest-growing women’s sports markets in the country, making this the perfect place for the bar. The Mercury sell- out, ASU women’s basketball is pulling record crowds, and the new soccer league expansion rumors are just the start. “While women’s sports viewership has exploded, with WNBA viewership up 170 percent in a season and NWSL attendance up over 400 percent since the league launched, Her Court is looking to close the gap with a dedicated physical space in Scottsdale,” Kristen said. Her Court launched a Kickstarter with a goal of $30,000. They also partnered with Girls on the Run in Maricopa and Pinal Counties by committing $5,000 from proceeds to support the nonprofit’s girls’ athletics and mentorship programs. On June 22, they held a launch event featuring an inaugural WNBA watch party for the Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever. The event drew community supporters and athletes. Once open, Kristin and Anthony plan to continue programming with female founder/athlete roundtables, corporate partnerships, and regular events celebrating women athletes at every level. They also plan to build out sponsorship relationships with local women-owned businesses and sports and fitness brands in the Valley. hercourtbar.com Small donations that are making a lasting impact By Michael P. Murphy The program is Scottsdale Cares – and the name could not be more appropriate. The need to help the less fortunate is present across all cities in Arizona, but with this program, the City of Scottsdale has risen to the occasion, collecting $143,000 annually for various qualifying organizations through a small donation added to residents’ utility bills. Nonprofits do so much of the heavy lifting to support the community – a little help is not a bad thing. It began in 1995, when a City of Scottsdale program was developed to work in conjunction with the Human Services Commission. The city council unanimously approved a voluntary $1 utility bill donation, and the program now known as Scottsdale Cares was born. Neal Shearer served as Human Services Director at that time. He reflects on the ongoing success: “We were not the first city government in the Valley to create a utility bill donation program,” he said. “But when we saw what other cities were doing, it seemed like the natural thing for us to also participate.” Neal makes it clear this is not a city government type of program. Instead, it serves as a pass-through from the utility billing. Donations can also be made online, with 100 percent of the funds raised going to the nonprofits that support a variety of Human Services programs. “All nonprofits stand out,” said Interim Human Services Director Mary Witkofski. “They meet all the needs we have in Scottsdale. We’ll always have needs that we can’t serve, that’s why we rely on our nonprofit partners. There are priorities we fund based on what the Human Services Commission requests.” Those priorities are emergency housing assistance, crisis case management, positive youth development and aiding the vulnerable population. A small sampling of the nonprofits currently served include Family Promise Greater Phoenix, who received $20,000 to help with the Step-Up Housing Program that provides families with up to three months of affordable apartment-style housing. Valley of the Sun YMCA also received $20,000 to help expand the program to Scottsdale and Desert Foothills branches. Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services, Best Buddies International, and Phoenix Rescue Mission received funds this year. There is also the Brown Bag Program, a service offering a bi-monthly food distribution to senior citizens on the first and third Thursday of each month. “There’s no precipitating event other than staff being aware of the ongoing funding challenges and opportunities for supporting Human Services programs,” Neal said. “And especially our nonprofits who are the beneficiaries of Scottsdale Cares.” This July, Scottsdale City Council approved an increase in monthly donations to $2, but this is simply keeping up with inflation. Neal’s belief and dedication to Scottsdale Cares remains solid. He now serves it in a volunteer capacity, and he is excited that the program is still going strong over 30 years later. The need is great, and perhaps always will be, but it is good to have a program such as Scottsdale Cares to help the less fortunate – two dollars at a time. scottsdaleaz.gov/scottsdale-cares Bringing women’s sports to the center of the court Mary Blakeman, volunteer coordinator for Family Promise, helps families transition to apartment-style housing. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY BLAKEMAN Her Court hosted a WNBA viewing party to introduce the concept. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTEN CARLI