If you want to watch some exciting women’s sports in one of the best cities to visit in the fall by USA Today 10Best, look no further than Columbus. The air is crisp, the foliage is amazing, and so is the women’s sports scene. From all different levels of volleyball, soccer and basketball, and field hockey, here’s an itinerary to make the most of a fall weekend in Ohio’s capital city centered around playing and watching women’s sports. 

 

Women’s Volleyball

Aug. – Nov. | 5 College Teams 
The Covelli Center, home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, is one of the best underrated arenas in the city. The facility can hold up to 3,700 fans, and the atmosphere is awesome. The prices are family friendly as well. It’s the perfect opportunity to cheer on another Buckeye team on Saturdays.  
>> Get Tickets 
 

Ohio Wesleyan, Ohio Dominican, Capital and Otterbein all have women’s volleyball teams as well, so you’re bound to find a home game any fall weekend in Columbus. Denison University is not too far from the city, and it also has a women’s volleyball team.  

 

Not enough volleyball? We are so excited to also be hosting the NCAA D1 Women's Volleyball Championships at Nationwide Arena in December of 2027!

 

Women’s Basketball 

Nov. – March | 5 College Teams 
If you come to Columbus towards the end of the fall, you’ll catch the start of women’s basketball season. The Ohio State women’s basketball team is consistently on top of the NCAA and are always fun to watch in the iconic Schottenstein Center. Like volleyball, Ohio Wesleyan, Ohio Dominican, Capital and Otterbein all have successful women’s basketball programs.  
>> Get Tickets 

 

Not to mention


The Columbus City School district includes 21 high schools, each of which have their own women’s basketball team. Almost every high school within the greater Columbus area also has a women’s basketball team. Their seasons usually begin in November as well.  

 

What about March Madness? We are so glad you asked! The Women's Final Four is also coming to Columbus April 2nd and 4th in 2027. Learn more about the different events and ticket packages available to the public here. 

 

Women’s Ice Hockey

Oct. – March | 1 College Team
The Buckeyes have won a pair of National Championships during their four straight trips to the Frozen Four. The PWHL has Ohio State alums on every roster, with six more joining the ranks in the 2026 draft. The OSU Ice Rink is their home and they've treated it like a fortress, going 36-5 this past season, 2025 - 2026 
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Women’s Soccer 

Aug. – Nov. | 5 College Teams 
Women’s Soccer is one of the first sports that kick off the fall season and the new school year. Ohio State Women’s Soccer begins with exhibition games in the first week of August every year with its regular season wrapping up in October. Ohio State Women’s soccer matches are free to attend.  

Every November, the OHSAA Girls State Championship is at Historic Crew Stadium. And in 2025 and 2026, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Women’s Soccer Championship is also at Historic Crew Stadium. 

  

Field Hockey  

Aug. – Nov. | 2 College Teams 
Field Hockey isn’t played in every state, but it is a popular sport for collegiate and high school athletes in Ohio. Ohio State and Ohio Wesleyan are the only Columbus colleges with the sport, but if you’re looking for a new sport to watch, this is a great one. Ohio State plays at Buckeye Varsity Field, and Ohio Wesleyan plays at Selby Stadium. As of 2026, Central Ohio teams have won the OHSAA state tournament 18 of the last 20 years.

 

NWSL to Columbus 

Following a powerful movement across the city of Columbus, the NWSL has announced that Columbus will join the league as its newest expansion team in 2028! Beginning in spring 2028, a new professional women’s soccer team will call Columbus home and share Scotts Miracle-Gro Field with the Columbus Crew. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to welcoming the NWSL to Columbus!

  

Watch Big Games with Watch Women Win C-Bus 

Watch Women Win is a group that supports women’s sports nationally and in the Columbus area. They were founded in February 2025 and focus on 3 main pillars: sports, community, and bringing people together. Some events that they hold include fundraisers, raffles, and watch parties. You can check out their upcoming events on their website below or on their Instagram.
>> Learn More 

  

IgniteHER Columbus

In March of 2026, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and First Lady Shannon Ginther in partnership with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission announced the official name of the citywide initiative to make Columbus the nation’s capital for women’s sports. IgniteHer is based off of 4 key pillars, keep young girls and women in sports longer; empower the next generation of women in sports, business and civic leadership; grow women’s sports fandom, teams and events; drive investment and innovation in sports-related businesses. More information about how to join the movement and get involved can be found here. 

 

Get Out and Play 

If you prefer to get out and play instead of just watching women’s sports, there are also plenty of options to be active with your crew.  

  • There are so many sporty things to do in Columbus. Paddle the Scioto River before the weather gets too cold or enter one of the many fall races located in the city.   
  • Fall is one of the best times of the year to golf. If you want to try a new course in the Columbus area or just want to get a few more rounds in, check out some of the best the Cbus has to offer here.  
  • Pickleball is still one of the fastest growing sports, and you can find a court in almost any sector of the city now. If it is a particularly chilly fall day, but you still want to get active, there are many indoor pickleball courts to play at!  
  • There’s nothing wrong with some good old-fashioned cardio! Columbus has lots of pretty fall sights and sounds to view while you run, especially in the downtown area.  

  

Eat & Drink 

Before you head to the big game, stop by some of these women-owned bars and restaurants.

 

Brothers Drake Meadery and Bar 

Brothers Drake uses local, natural honey to craft modern mead in a wide variety of flavors and drynesses, so there is something for everyone. Their Apple Pie mead that is the epitome of fall. If you’re looking for something else to do other than the game and want to learn more about mead and how they make it, you can schedule a tour of their facility and learn more about their business while sampling different flavors.
 

Olde Town Tavern

Olde Town Tavern is a great neighborhood spot to grab a bite to eat and a drink before a game. On Friday, you’ll find a special lasagna dinner on their menu, and on Saturday, the special is a chicken burrito. If you need a late-night bite after the game too, no worries! They are open until 2:30am every night.  

  

Chocolate Café 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this restaurant has some of the best chocolate in the city since it’s in their name. However, the Chocolate Cafe serve more than just that. They also have coffee, soups, salads, sandwiches, martinis, wine, and more desserts! 

  

Maker’s Social

If you consider yourself a crafty person, stop by Maker’s Social where you can use your creative side making jewelry, purses, wallets, a flight board, and so much more while sipping a cocktail. If you’re not a crafty person, no problem! No experience is required for any of their projects. It’s just a place to come together, have fun, build community, and make something cool!

 

This original blog was written by Molly Burchard in 2025. It was updated in 2026 by the Sports Commission staff to reflect the current seasons.