National Women's Soccer League attendance

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The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a top-tier professional women's soccer league in the United States. It has the second highest average attendance of professional women's sports league in the United States, below the Women's National Basketball Association and ahead of Professional Women's Hockey League.[citation needed] During the 2024 season, the NWSL reached a total attendance of over 2 million spectators for the first time in the league's history.[1] The single-match attendance record of 63,004 spectators was set by the Denver Summit during their inaugural home opener, facing the Washington Spirit on March 28, 2026, at Empower Field in Denver.[2]

Fans celebrating after a goal in Portland, Oregon.
The Portland Thorns' average regular-season attendance in 2019 was 20,098 fans, the first year a team broke the 20,000 mark.

Total regular season attendance

Attendance by year

More information Season, Total gate ...
SeasonTotal gateGamesAverageChangeHigh avg.[a]High avg. teamLow avg.Low avg. teamRef.
2013 375,763884,270—13,320Portland Thorns FC1,664Sky Blue FC[3]
2014 446,8201084,137−3.1%13,362Portland Thorns FC1,640Sky Blue FC[4]
2015 454,100905,046+21.9%15,639Portland Thorns FC2,189Sky Blue FC[5]
2016 555,7751005,558+10.1%16,945Portland Thorns FC2,162Sky Blue FC[6]
2017 609,9601205,083−8.5%17,653Portland Thorns FC1,788FC Kansas City[7]
2018 650,5641086,024+18.5%16,959Portland Thorns FC2,531Sky Blue FC[8]
2019 792,4091087,337+21.8%20,098Portland Thorns FC3,338Sky Blue FC[9]
2020 regular season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 592,074116[b]5,528[10]−24.7%14,391Portland Thorns FC3,291Chicago Red Stars[11]
2022 1,042,0631327,894+42.8%19,105Angel City FC4,385Orlando Pride[10]
2023 1,366,581131[c]10,432+32.2%20,718San Diego Wave FC4,848Chicago Red Stars[13]
2024 2,044,84818211,235+14.1%19,575San Diego Wave FC6,194Houston Dash[1]
2025 1,926,09018210,669−5.0%18,173Portland Thorns FC5,521Racing Louisville[14]
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  1. [a]
    Green shading indicates record highs; red shading indicates record lows.
  2. [b]
    Portland Thorns FC did not report two matches during a period of capacity restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic safety policies: versus Louisville on June 5, and Kansas City on June 20. Two further matches (Washington at Portland on September 4, and OL Reign at Washington on September 12) were declared by the league to be forfeits against Washington due to violations of the league's COVID safety protocols and were not played.
  3. [c]
    The April 28, 2023, match between HOU and NC was abandoned at the 52nd minute before attendance could be reported.[12]

Attendance by team

More information Season, BAY ...
Season BAYBOSCHIFCKCHOUKCCLALOUNCNJYORLPORRGNSDUTAWASWNY
2013[15] —2,4271,7114,626—————1,666—13,3202,306——3,6254,485
2014[16] —2,4372,9492,0184,650--——--1,656--13,3623,666——3,3353,177
2015[17] —2,8634,2103,0916,413--——--2,189--15,6394,060——4,0872,860
2016[18] —3,5703,0053,1625,696--——--2,1628,78516,9454,602—--3,7823,868
2017[7] —2,8963,1961,7884,578--——4,3892,6136,18617,6534,037—--3,491--
2018[8] ——4,368—3,896--——5,1292,5314,83716,9593,824—9,4663,892—
2019[9] ——5,451—3,615--——5,8753,3385,56520,0985,213—10,7746,105—
2021[11] ——3,291—3,6814,861—6,6105,0365,1503,93114,3915,433——4,096—
2022[10] ——5,863—5,6447,65719,1056,0484,5454,4154,38515,5436,8448,729—5,955—
2023[13] ——4,848—5,85711,35319,7565,9995,3846,2936,00518,91813,61020,718—10,876—
2024[1] 13,617—7,156—6,19411,50019,3136,2086,3628,5898,34018,7258,50319,57510,30413,937—
2025[14] 14,823—5,574—6,04111,50016,2575,5217,6848,8929,62318,1737,86413,4278,72715,259—
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Attendance records

See also: Record attendances in United States club soccer

Regular season

As of March 29, 2026
More information Rank, Home team ...
RankHome teamScoreAway teamAttendanceVenueLocationDateRef.
1 Denver Summit 0–0 Washington Spirit 63,004 Empower Field Denver, Colorado March 28, 2026 [2]
—OL Reign0–2Portland Thorns42,054*Lumen FieldSeattle, WashingtonJune 3, 2023[19]
2Bay FC2–3Washington Spirit40,091Oracle ParkSan Francisco, CaliforniaAugust 23, 2025[20]
3Chicago Red Stars1–2Bay FC35,038Wrigley FieldChicago, IllinoisJune 8, 2024[21][22]
4OL Reign0–0Washington Spirit34,130Lumen FieldSeattle, WashingtonOctober 6, 2023[23]
5San Diego Wave1–2Kansas City Current32,066Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaMarch 23, 2024[24]
6San Diego Wave1–0Angel City FC32,000†Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaSeptember 17, 2022[25]
7San Diego Wave3–2Chicago Red Stars30,854Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaMarch 25, 2023[26]
8San Diego Wave2–0Racing Louisville30,312Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaOctober 15, 2023[27]
9 Boston Legacy 0–1 Gotham FC 30,207 Gillette Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts March 14, 2026 [28]
—OL Reign2–1Portland Thorns27,248*Lumen FieldSeattle, WashingtonAugust 29, 2021[29][30]
10San Diego Wave1–4North Carolina Courage26,516Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaSeptember 8, 2024[31]
—Chicago Stars2–2Seattle Reign26,492*Soldier FieldChicago, IllinoisJune 14, 2025[32]
11San Diego Wave1–2Angel City FC25,515Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaJune 17, 2023[33]
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* part of a doubleheader with other teams; not included in rank
† sellout

Playoffs

As of November 23, 2025
More information Rank, Home team ...
Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Venue Date Stage Ref.
1San Diego Wave0–1OL Reign32,262Snapdragon StadiumNovember 5, 2023Semifinal[34]
2San Diego Wave2–1 (a.e.t.)Chicago Red Stars26,215Snapdragon StadiumOctober 16, 2022Quarterfinal[35]
3Portland Thorns0–1 (a.e.t.)NJ/NY Gotham25,218†Providence ParkNovember 5, 2023Semifinal[36]
4OL Reign1–2NJ/NY Gotham25,011Snapdragon StadiumNovember 11, 2023Final[37]
5Portland Thorns2–1San Diego Wave22,035Providence ParkOctober 23, 2022Semifinal[38]
6OL Reign0–2Kansas City Current21,491Lumen FieldOctober 23, 2022Semifinal[39]
7Houston Dash1–2Kansas City Current21,284†PNC StadiumOctober 16, 2022Quarterfinal[35]
8Portland Thorns*0–3North Carolina Courage21,144†Providence ParkSeptember 22, 2018Final[40][41]
9Portland Thorns3–4Western New York Flash20,086Providence ParkOctober 2, 2016Semifinal[42]
10Washington Spirit3–2NJ/NY Gotham19,365†Audi FieldNovember 16, 2024Semifinal[43]
Washington Spirit 2-0 Portland Thorns November 15, 2025 Semifinal [44]
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* indicates "home" team in predetermined venue for championship final
† sellout

NWSL attendance vs. other leagues

Vs. other North American women's professional leagues

The following table compares the NWSL regular season average attendance against that of other professional women's sports leagues in North America.

More information League, Year started ...
League Year
started		 Sport Teams Games
played		 Season Attendance Ref.
Average Average vs.
prior season		 Total
Women's National Basketball Association 1996Basketball13226202511,069+6.1%2,501,609[45][46]
National Women's Soccer League 2013Soccer14182202510,669−5.0%1,926,090[14]
Professional Women's Hockey League 2024[a]Ice hockey6722023–245,448N/a[b]392,259[47]
Pro Volleyball Federation 2024 Volleyball78420244,487N/a[b]376,920[48]
Northern Super League 2025Soccer67520253,633N/a[b]272,496[49]
USL Super League 2024Soccer81122024-252,487N/a[b]278,521[50]
Liga MX Femenil 2016Soccer18[c]3062023 Clausura2,483+23.8%367,442[51]
National Pro Fastpitch 2004Fastpitch5722015[d]1,128+26%~135,360 [52]
Close
  1. [a]
    The first PWHL season was billed as the 2023–24 season, but took place entirely within calendar 2024.
  2. [b]
    Inaugural season.
  3. [c]
    As the consequence of a riot, Querétaro played its first four home matches of the Clausura behind closed doors.
  4. [d]
    NPF had 6 teams for its 2016 & 2017 seasons, though attendance numbers for those are not available. Defunct in 2022.

Vs. other professional soccer leagues in North America

The following table compares the NWSL regular season average attendance against the average regular season attendance for other professional soccer leagues in North America.

More information League, Year started ...
League Year
started		 Division Teams Matches
played		 Season Attendance Ref.
Average Average vs.
prior season		 Total
Liga MX 1943Men's DI18[a]1532023 Clausura23,160+12.8%3,450,854[51]
Major League Soccer 1996Men's DI28476202221,033-1.4%[b]10,011,578[53]
National Women's Soccer League 2013Women's DI14182202510,669−5.0%1,926,090[14]
USL Championship[c] 2011Men's DII2747220227,622+44.5%[b]1,983,922[54]
Canadian Premier League 2019Men's DI811220253,998+0.4%447,800[55]
Northern Super League 2025Women's DI67520253,633N/a[d]272,496[49]
USL Super League 2024Women's DI81122024-252,487N/a[d]278,521[50]
Liga MX Femenil 2016Women's DI18[a]3062023 Clausura2,483+23.8%367,442[51]
USL League One 2019Men's DIII1117020222,203+13.3%[b]359,107[56]
Close
  1. [a]
    As the consequence of a riot, Querétaro played its first four home matches of the Clausura behind closed doors.
  2. [b]
    Compared to 2019, the last previous season unaffected by COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions.
  3. [c]
    Known as the United Soccer League before the 2019 season.
  4. [d]
    Inaugural season.

Vs. other worldwide women's top-division soccer leagues

The following table compares the NWSL regular season average attendance against the regular season average attendance for a selection other top-flight soccer leagues from around the world; this list is not exhaustive.

More information League, Year Started ...
LeagueYear StartedNation# TeamsSeasonAverage
attendance		Average vs.
prior season		Total
Attendance		Ref
National Women's Soccer League2013United States14202510,669−5.0%1,926,090[14]
Women's Super League2011England122024–256,639-9.8%876,315[57]
Northern Super League 2025Canada620253,633N/a[a]272,496[49]
Frauen-Bundesliga1990Germany122024-252,692-6.4%355,407[58]
USL Super League 2024United States82024-252,487N/a[a]278,521[50]
Liga MX Femenil2016Mexico182022-232,072-16%311,081
WE League2021Japan122022-231,401154,141
Liga F1988Spain162022-231,393+124%334,320[59]
A-League Women2008Australia122022-231,249+8%126,194
Division 1 Féminine1974France122022-23954+42%126,292[59]
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  1. [a]
    Inaugural season.

See also

References

External links

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