PORTLAND, Ore. — Thousands of eyes were glued to the TV screen this morning as Oregon State faced South Carolina in the Women's Basketball Elite Eight. Spirit of 77, a sports bar in Northeast Portland, seemed to be the place to be.
"I wasn’t surprised at all walking in this place and seeing it packed," said Nicole Mandala, a longtime basketball fan. "I have been here every day since the tournament started at nine in the morning. The place has been packed, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from this city.”
Women’s basketball fans said it’s not the norm to see the sport be the center of attention.
“Guys get all the time," said Lisa Turner, a former basketball player and fan. "I think this proves that we deserve it."
Going into the game, fans were skeptical that Oregon State could take South Carolina Gamecocks, who are now undefeated 36 to 0. Even though the Beavers didn’t win this game, fans said they definitely held their own.
"They played a great game," Turner said. "Their defense was fantastic, and I think Coach Stanley was a little surprised by how well the Beavers did.”
South Carolina may be advancing to the Final Four for the fourth year in a row, but Beavers fans at the bar said they were just proud to see both teams make history.
“Guys wouldn’t have a three-point shot or the 20-second shot clock without us," said Turner. "They need to understand we were the trail breakers, and we’re going to continue to do it.”