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 leagues in the United States, below the Women's National Basketball Association and ahead of Professional Women's Hockey League. During the 2024 season, the NWSL reached a total attendance of over 2 million spectators for the first time in the league's history. 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.

Total regular season attendance Attendance by year Season Total gate Games Average Change High avg. High avg. team Low avg. Low avg. team Ref. 2013 375,763 88 4,270 — 13,320 Portland Thorns FC 1,664 Sky Blue FC 2014 446,820 108 4,137 −3.1% 13,362 Portland Thorns FC 1,640 Sky Blue FC 2015 454,100 90 5,046 +21.9% 15,639 Portland Thorns FC 2,189 Sky Blue FC 2016 555,775 100 5,558 +10.1% 16,945 Portland Thorns FC 2,162 Sky Blue FC 2017 609,960 120 5,083 −8.5% 17,653 Portland Thorns FC 1,788 FC Kansas City 2018 650,564 108 6,024 +18.5% 16,959 Portland Thorns FC 2,531 Sky Blue FC 2019 792,409 108 7,337 +21.8% 20,098 Portland Thorns FC 3,338 Sky Blue FC 2020 regular season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 592,074 116 5,528 −24.7% 14,391 Portland Thorns FC 3,291 Chicago Red Stars 2022 1,042,063 132 7,894 +42.8% 19,105 Angel City FC 4,385 Orlando Pride 2023 1,366,581 131 10,432 +32.2% 20,718 San Diego Wave FC 4,848 Chicago Red Stars 2024 2,044,848 182 11,235 +14.1% 19,575 San Diego Wave FC 6,194 Houston Dash 2025 1,926,090 182 10,669 −5.0% 18,173 Portland Thorns FC 5,521 Racing Louisville

Attendance by team Season BAY BOS CHI FCKC HOU KCC LA LOU NC NJY ORL POR SEA SD UTA WAS WNY2013 — 2,427 1,711 4,626 — — — — — 1,666 — 13,320 2,306 — — 3,625 4,4852014 —2,437 2,949 2,018 4,650 -- — — -- 1,656 -- 13,362 3,666 — — 3,335 3,1772015 —2,863 4,210 3,091 6,413 -- — — -- 2,189 -- 15,639 4,060 — — 4,087 2,8602016 —3,570 3,005 3,162 5,696 -- — — -- 2,162 8,785 16,945 4,602 — -- 3,782 3,8682017 —2,896 3,196 1,788 4,578 -- — — 4,389 2,613 6,186 17,653 4,037 — -- 3,491 -- 2018 — — 4,368 — 3,896 -- — — 5,129 2,531 4,837 16,959 3,824 — 9,466 3,892 — 2019 — — 5,451 — 3,615 -- — — 5,875 3,338 5,565 20,098 5,213 — 10,774 6,105 — 2021— — 3,291 — 3,681 4,861 — 6,610 5,036 5,150 3,931 14,391 5,433 — — 4,096 — 2022 — — 5,863 — 5,644 7,657 19,105 6,048 4,545 4,415 4,385 15,543 6,844 8,729 — 5,955 — 2023 — — 4,848 — 5,857 11,353 19,756 5,999 5,384 6,293 6,005 18,918 13,610 20,718 — 10,876 — 2024 13,617 — 7,156 — 6,194 11,500 19,313 6,208 6,362 8,589 8,340 18,725 8,503 19,575 10,304 13,937 —2025 14,823 — 5,574 — 6,041 11,500 16,257 5,521 7,684 8,892 9,623 18,173 7,864 13,427 8,727 15,259 —

Attendance records

Regular season

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Venue Location Date Ref.1Denver Summit0–0Washington Spirit63,004Empower FieldDenver, ColoradoMarch 28, 2026 2 Gotham FC 1–0 Washington Spirit 42,175† Citi Field New York, New York OL Reign 0–2 Portland Thorns 42,054* Lumen Field Seattle, Washington 3 Bay FC 2–3 Washington Spirit 40,091 Oracle Park San Francisco, California 4 Chicago Red Stars 1–2 Bay FC 35,038 Wrigley Field Chicago, Illinois 5 OL Reign 0–0 Washington Spirit 34,130 Lumen Field Seattle, Washington 6 San Diego Wave 1–2 Kansas City Current 32,066 Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California 7 San Diego Wave 1–0 Angel City FC 32,000 Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California 8 San Diego Wave 3–2 Chicago Red Stars 30,854 Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California 9 San Diego Wave 2–0 Racing Louisville 30,312 Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California 10Boston Legacy0–1Gotham FC30,207Gillette StadiumFoxborough, MassachusettsMarch 14, 2026 * part of a doubleheader with other teams; not included in rank sellout

Playoffs

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Venue Date Stage Ref. 1 San Diego Wave 0–1 OL Reign 32,262 Snapdragon Stadium Semifinal 2 San Diego Wave 2–1 Chicago Red Stars 26,215 Snapdragon Stadium Quarterfinal 3 Portland Thorns 0–1 NJ/NY Gotham 25,218 Providence Park Semifinal 4 OL Reign 1–2 NJ/NY Gotham 25,011 Snapdragon Stadium Final 5 Portland Thorns 2–1 San Diego Wave 22,035 Providence Park Semifinal 6 OL Reign 0–2 Kansas City Current 21,491 Lumen Field Semifinal 7 Houston Dash 1–2 Kansas City Current 21,284 PNC Stadium Quarterfinal 8 Portland Thorns* 0–3 North Carolina Courage 21,144 Providence Park Final 9 Portland Thorns 3–4 Western New York Flash 20,086 Providence Park Semifinal 10 Washington Spirit 3–2 NJ/NY Gotham 19,365 Audi Field Semifinal Washington Spirit2-0Portland ThornsNovember 15, 2025Semifinal

* 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.

League Yearstarted Sport Teams Gamesplayed Season Attendance Average Average vs.prior season Total Women's National Basketball Association 1996 Basketball 13 226 2025 +6.1% National Women's Soccer League 2013 Soccer 14 182 2025 10,669 −5.0% 1,926,090 Professional Women's Hockey League 2024 Ice hockey 6 72 2023–24 Pro Volleyball Federation2024Volleyball 7 84 2024 4,487 376,920 Northern Super League 2025 Soccer 6 75 2025 USL Super League 2024 Soccer 8 112 2024-25 Liga MX Femenil 2016 Soccer 18 306 2023 Clausura +23.8% National Pro Fastpitch 2004 Fastpitch 5 72 2015 +26% ~

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.

League Yearstarted Division Teams Matchesplayed Season Attendance Average Average vs.prior season Total Liga MX 1943 Men's DI 18 153 2023 Clausura +12.8% Major League Soccer 1996 Men's DI 30 510 2025 -5.4% National Women's Soccer League 2013 Women's DI 14 182 2025 10,669 −5.0% 1,926,090 USL Championship 2011 Men's DII 30 360 2025 Canadian Premier League 2019 Men's DI 8 112 2025 +0.4% Northern Super League 2025 Women's DI 6 75 2025 USL Super League 2024 Women's DI 8 112 2024-25 Liga MX Femenil 2016 Women's DI 18 306 2023 Clausura +23.8% USL League One 2019 Men's DIII 11 170 2022 +13.3%

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.

League Year Started Nation # Teams Season Averageattendance Average vs. prior season Total Attendance Ref National Women's Soccer League 2013 United States 14 2025 −5.0% 1,926,090 Women's Super League 2011 England 12 2024–25 -9.8% 876,315 Northern Super League 2025 Canada 6 2025 Frauen-Bundesliga 1990 Germany 12 2024-25 -6.4% USL Super League 2024 United States 8 2024-25 Liga MX Femenil 2016 Mexico 18 2022-23 -16% WE League 2021 Japan 12 2022-23 Liga F 1988 Spain 16 2022-23 +124% A-League Women 2008 Australia 12 2022-23 +8% Division 1 Féminine 1974 France 12 2022-23 +42%

See also List of National Women's Soccer League stadiums NWSL records and statistics List of women's association football attendance records Record attendances in United States club soccer

References

External links