The meaning behind Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar in SF as it honors a legendary pioneer

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar in the Castro District is offering up a present-day celebration rooted in San Francisco history, opening its doors, honoring a local legend.

“We’re both kind of history nerds, and we really love the history of San Francisco and the queer history of San Francisco. And so we were looking for a name for the bar, and we wanted it to resonate with people from San Francisco and really be rooted in the history here.”

Sara Yergovich, who co-founded Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar along with Danielle Thoe.

“We came across Rikki, and the bars that she had, which were Maud’s and Amelia’s. We were really inspired by the spaces that she created and how welcoming and inclusive they were, and the advocacy work that she did specifically around sports,” said Yergovich.

Rikki Streicher was a pioneering figure in San Francisco LGBTQ+ history. She opened her first of two queer bars in 1966 and was a champion of women’s sports.

“She was a huge sports advocate and, helped put together the Federation of Gay games, and the Gay Games,” said Yergovich.

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The co-founders themselves are both recreational soccer players, with the bar being born out of their desire to have a space to watch women’s sports.

“We don’t define ourselves as being a lesbian bar, but we’re lesbian owned and named after a historic lesbian in the Castro. So, of course, that’s a big part of who we are and our identity. And I think her work that she did for the community, for women’s sports and sports in general, was fundamental in getting us to where we are now, specifically in San Francisco,” said Yergovich.

“Realizing how much meaning it has to so many people in the community, as well as that we’re giving people an outlet and a place to be happy and celebrate,” said Thoe. “And sometimes you have to do that to keep the, you know, foundational work going. You have to have some fun along the way.”

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Rikki’s is also the home to history in the making, becoming a fan favorite as Bay Area professional women’s sports teams put their own mark in the books.

“Last summer, it was the summer of BFC being the first expansion team in NWSL to make the playoffs. And then for in the same, you know, region, to have our WNBA team do the same first this year is kind of incredible,” said Thoe, noting that as the success of the bar continues, so too will the legacy of Rikki.