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    CHICAGO — At a time when women’s sports are commanding sold-out arenas, record-breaking television audiences, and unprecedented cultural influence, Level Sporting Club is giving that momentum a permanent home in Wriggleyville.

    As the excitment unfolds in Chicago for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend, one of the city’s newest hotspots is already making its mark. Founded by Chicago native and former Division I basketball standout Clarissa Flores, Level Sporting Club has arrived as a long-overdue home for women’s sports fans, blending the energy of game day with the culture, community, and inclusivity that have fueled the sport’s meteoric rise.

    Located just blocks from Wrigley Field, Level Sporting Club officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday, June 4, 2026, welcoming fans into its 5,632-square-foot space designed to celebrate the growing influence of women’s sports culture. The highly anticipated opening marked the beginning of a new era for sports fans in Chicago, offering a dedicated destination where women’s athletics are not only showcased but celebrated.

    Before opening to the public, Level kicked off its launch with an exclusive five-day countdown dinner series in partnership with Limitless Chicago Sky and the WNBA All-Star Host Committee, bringing together leaders, athletes, and supporters ahead of one of the biggest weekends in women’s basketball.

    I sat down with Flores shortly before Level Sporting Club opened its doors to talk about the vision behind the space, her journey from the hardwood at Northwestern to entrepreneurship, and why creating a dedicated home for women’s sports fans was always bigger than opening another sports bar. This blockbuster feature interview was produced and directed by the intelligent men at Kzuna Studios.

    The Home Court Advantage

    Clarissa Flores, CEO of Level Sporting Club captured by Clifton Johnson

    Despite building a successful career as a professional athlete and hospitality executive, Flores has never lost sight of her Chicago roots. A Whitney Young graduate and Northwestern alumna, she views Level Sporting Club as more than a business venture. Representing the culmination of Flores’s life’s work, Level Sporting Club is her way of giving back to the city that shaped her while creating a space where women’s sports fans can finally feel at home.

    “First and foremost, I tell everyone I’m just a kid from Chicago,” Flores says. “Back then I was just a kid from Chicago, and now I’m a kid from Chicago. I love my city and I’m always going to put on for my city.”

    Basketball has been the driving force behind that journey. From starring at Northwestern to competing for the Puerto Rican National Team, the game opened doors that eventually led her into hospitality. Now, she’s bringing those experiences full circle through Level.

    “My whole life has been indebted to the game of basketball,” she says. “It definitely shaped who I am and where I’m at at this very moment.”

    Building the Infrastructure

    Clarissa Flores, CEO of Level Sporting Club captured by Clifton Johnson

    For Flores, the grand opening of Level is the solution to a problem she’s faced her entire life: the lack of visibility for women’s athletics in public spaces.

    That momentum hasn’t come without resistance. Even as the WNBA continues to break attendance records, attract historic investment, and negotiate a groundbreaking new collective bargaining agreement that reflects the league’s unprecedented growth, women’s sports still face skepticism from those who question their long-term business potential. Flores has heard those doubts firsthand.

    Building a business in a space that has traditionally catered to men’s sports has required resilience as much as vision. Rather than letting criticism dictate her path, she’s used it as fuel.

    Her confidence reflects a broader shift taking place across the industry. As the WNBA and its players pushed for a transformative new CBA centered on higher salaries, improved revenue sharing, expanded benefits, and long-term investment, entrepreneurs like Flores are making a parallel bet off the court. Level Sporting Club isn’t simply capitalizing on the women’s sports boom, it’s investing in its future, proving that dedicated spaces for women’s sports fans aren’t a niche concept but a viable and growing business model.

    “We’re tired of being on the sidelines,” Flores asserts. “I wanted to build a space that was, again, for us, by us, where we’re on center stage. The infrastructure was just not there. Building a place like Level Sporting Club and being able to bring that visibility to women’s sports is what’s going to help progress and move the game forward.”

    A Grand Opening for the Ages: The WNBA All-Star Lineup

    As seen on Level Sporting Club’s Instagram

    To celebrate the launch, Level is hosting a four-day grand opening marathon that mirrors the excitement of the WNBA All-Star schedule. Fans and industry leaders alike are flocking to the venue for a series of exclusive events:

    LaunchBreak Networking (Thursday, July 23 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): A professional meetup for female athletes, coaches, and founders to build community connections. (Free; RSVP via Prospect HQ).

    WNBA Trivia Night (Thursday, July 23 | 8:00 PM): A deep dive into women’s basketball history for the die-hard fans.

    WNBA All-Star Game Watch Party (Saturday, July 25 | 7:30 PM): The official hub to watch the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game with full in-venue audio, a full kitchen menu, and Hennessy cocktail specials.

    Life After Ball: Brunch Finale (Sunday, July 26 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM): A weekend wrap-up featuring a live podcast recording. The panel includes Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Clarissa Flores herself, with vibes curated by DJ Gemini Gilly.

     

    The Legacy of Level

    For Flores, the opening of Level Sporting Club represents more than a milestone. It represents the beginning of a larger mission to change how people experience, support, and invest in women’s sports.

    While the WNBA All-Star Game will celebrate the league’s biggest stars on the court, Flores is focused on the impact that happens beyond the game itself. Her goal is to create a space where fans feel connected, athletes feel celebrated, and young girls can see a future for themselves throughout the sports industry.

    “If there’s one young girl that walks through this door and is like, ‘Hey, I want to do exactly what Clarissa is doing,’ my job is done,” she says.

    That purpose was clear as Flores reflected on the significance of opening Level during such a defining moment for women’s basketball. When asked about the emotions leading into the weekend, she paused and shared one word: gratitude.

    “Maya Angelou said people don’t forget what you said to them, but they remember how you made them feel,” Flores says. “I want them to feel the love as soon as they walk through the door.”

    From a young girl growing up in Chicago to a Division I athlete, international competitor, and entrepreneur, Flores has built a space rooted in everything basketball has given her. Level Sporting Club is more than a place to watch the game. It is a reflection of how far women’s sports have come and a reminder of where they are headed next.

    In a city known for producing sports legends, Flores is creating a new legacy of her own, one that puts community, culture, and women’s sports at the center of the conversation.


    Visit Level Sporting Club:
    3343 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL
    levelsportingclub.com | @levelsportingclub

    To keep up with Clarissa Flores and the continued growth of Level Sporting Club, follow her on social media. She shares insight into her work, upcoming activations, and the journey of taking her business global.

    Instagram: @levelsportingclub / @clarissachicago
    LinkedIn: Clarissa Flores

    Production: Cofounders Tramone Tate @tramonetate and Nadir Omari @reynadir
    Instagram: Kzuna Studios @Kzunastudios

    Photography: Clifton Johnson
    Instagram: @l.o.u.d._visualz

    The post Level Sporting Club Tips Off a New Era for Women’s Sports in Chicago appeared first on The Hype Magazine.

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