AWSN Power Players: Audrey Corley and Kat Moore (Owners, Title 9 Sports Grill)
- AWSN Editor
- May 15
- 6 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
All Women’s Sports Bar Network
Continuing our series of power players in the All Women's Sports Bar Network is a story about two women business owners. Read on to find out how Audrey Corley (the owner of the last standing women’s bar in Arizona) teamed up with Phoenix business owner Kat Moore to bring a long-standing vision to life!
We spoke with these trailblazers and discovered what makes them tick, why a women’s sports grill in Arizona, and the keys to success as multiple-time entrepreneurs.
Audrey Corley and Kat Moore join the esteemed ranks as AWSN Power Players!
Audrey Corley
AWSN: Why a sports bar for women? Tell us how the dream began.
Audrey Corley: For a long time, opening a sports bar for women had been on my vision board. I already own Boycott Bar, the last remaining women’s bar in Arizona, and I’ve always believed the women of Arizona deserved a curated space where they could celebrate, cheer, and build community while supporting women’s sports. With Phoenix having such incredible professional teams, it felt like the perfect fit. When The Moores reached out about a space in Melrose, it felt like fate. Together, we knew we could make the perfect team.
Sitting at your bar top is a dream team of your favorite women athletes, past or present. Who are they?
The people I would love to sit at the bar with would start with Pat Summitt, who was such an integral part of the success of women’s basketball. I would also add Billie Jean King, Dawn Staley, Diana Taurasi, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Cheryl Miller, Megan Rapinoe, and Becky Hammon. That sounds like a really good time to me.
Do you attribute your success to any strategy or decision in particular?
I attribute my success to my time as a college athlete. It laid the foundation for the path I would follow and inspired me to be confident, believe in myself, and surround myself with people who believe in me and want to see me win.
Kat Moore
AWSN: Why a sports bar for women? Tell us how the dream began.
Kat Moore: The inspiration for Title 9 was born out of opportunity. We (Kat and Brad Moore) owned the previous business that occupied the same building, so we had a good lease in place and a blank slate to start fresh with a new venture. We reached out to Audrey, a longtime friend and supporter, who had always dreamed of opening a women’s sports grill, and everything fell into place. Audrey was a basketball coach and an avid supporter of the Phoenix Mercury. Kat played competitive soccer her entire life, and Brad was a professional soccer player, which is what originally brought us to Phoenix.
Sitting at your bar top is a dream team of your favorite women athletes, past or present. Who are they?
Beginning with a nod to women’s history, I would start with Babe Didrikson Zaharias from the 30s. I'm fascinated by women who were able to be athletes long ago. With all the social pressure, I can not imagine it was easy. Then I would add Mia Hamm, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Sheryl Swoopes
How do you decide which games and events to showcase? Are there any specific criteria or strategies you use?
This has been a challenge, actually. While we are certainly showing men's games as well, it is a priority to show women's sports of all kinds. We are using a company called Sport Year to help filter the games we are showing and promoting. We have had to become Nancy Drew-like in our efforts, as it's not always easy to find games. Fortunately, we have customers who make requests, so we are dialing in what we are showing.
When we first decided to do this venture, there was an article or post that went out about AWSN. We took this as a sign from the universe that we are moving in the right direction.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while establishing this business? How did you overcome them?
Honestly, it's been pretty smooth, and challenges have not been many. The business we had prior had a lot of community support, and our partner Audrey has great support from her business, so that same support continues. It feels like all of Phoenix wants us to do well.
How do you foster a sense of community among your patrons? Are there any particular events or traditions that have become staples of your bar?
We have not been open long enough to have any repeat events, but we are fostering community by accepting everyone and by being a family, dog, male, and everyone is welcome venue. We already support our local recreational teams like kickball, softball, and roller derby. An event we did as a kick-off for the grand opening was an Arm Wrestling Contest put on by a local Roller Derby Team, which was a blast and will be a tradition for sure. We are also working with our local women’s professional teams to make our place the place to watch and support them. We are in the beginning stages of planning a lot of events and thinking of many ways to support women’s sports.
Tell us about your local community. What are the hometown teams? Local heroes?
The Phoenix Mercury is our main brag, and of course, we are all sad to see Diana Taurasi
go. Others we admire: Brittney Griner, Danielle Hunter, Kerryon Johnson, Ashley Deluca and Becca Longo, to name a few. We have a little portion of our restaurant dedicated to the history of Phoenix women in sports. We are all getting a professional women’s soccer team soon, too.
Do you see growth in media coverage and viewership of women’s sports affecting your business? In what ways?
Yes, it does and has a very positive impact. So many people have said, “why a women’s sports grill?” And the news has helped bring awareness to the need for more support as well as the growing popularity. The Togethxr group has done a great job of moving things forward also and they have a strong social media presence.
Do you attribute your success to any strategy or decision in particular?
Jumping in and knowing we are on the right path was our strategy. Might not sound like a plan, but the 3 of us have been in business long enough that we know that half the battle is that first jump and the fear that goes with that. Once you are started, you just listen to the universe and follow the instructions it gives.
What is the most memorable event or reaction from a customer that has stuck with you?
All of the support has been great, but one of the most amazing things happened during our opening weekend. We have photos from the Legendary Ladies of Baseball featured on our wall, and a woman saw these photos on TV from a news show we were on. She brought her daughter and her mo,m and her mom’s twin to our grand opening. She had a folder with her, and the twins had a framed photo with them. Turns out the twins, in their 80s, had played on baseball leagues during this same time, and the photo was of their dead sister, who also played on the team. I showed them the little history of the Phoenix area, and they lit up. They knew several of the people in the old photos and were so excited. The folder had articles and photos from their past and the time they spent playing baseball. It was very special, and they were in awe of the respect women’s athletes had. It was a very special moment, and we have had other special things happen also, but that one was particularly touching.
If you could host any women’s sports team or athlete at your bar, who would it be and why?
We have a large photo mural of Diana Taurasi, so we would love to have her come sign it; it would be amazing!
Do you collaborate with local women’s teams, leagues, or athletes? How do these partnerships contribute to your mission?
Yes, we d,o and I mentioned above a couple of ways already. We are working on a resource board on our website to help people find local teams to play with. When I moved to Phoenix 20 years ago, I had a very hard time finding a women's soccer team to play on. We want a place for people to go to find local teams to support or participate in. We will sponsor teams eventually, once we get really going, and we have had a lot of teams show up just to hang out and be a part of what we are doing.
We are waiting to hear back from the Mercury on an official partnership, but it's in the works.
What advice would you share with women wanting to make it in the business of women’s sports?
Believe in yourself and that voice in your head that is filled with hope and promise. Turn off that voice of doubt that rattles around in your head. Once you tune in and create your sense of purpose, you can’t be stopped!
Connect with Audrey, Kat, and Title 9 here:
