National Women's Soccer League attendance

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The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the top-tier professional women's soccer league in the United States.

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The Portland Thorns' average regular-season attendance in 2019 was 20,098 fans. Thorns, Oct. 2016 - 8.jpg
The Portland Thorns' average regular-season attendance in 2019 was 20,098 fans.

Total attendance

SeasonTotal GateGamesAverageChangeHigh avg. [lower-alpha 1] TeamLow avg.TeamRef.
2013 375,763884,270—13,320 Portland Thorns FC 1,664 Sky Blue FC [1]
2014 446,8201084,137−3.1%13,362 Portland Thorns FC 1,640 Sky Blue FC [2]
2015 454,100905,04621.9%15,639 Portland Thorns FC 2,189 Sky Blue FC [3]
2016 555,7751005,55810.1%16,945 Portland Thorns FC 2,162 Sky Blue FC [4]
2017 609,9601205,083−8.5%17,653 Portland Thorns FC 1,788 FC Kansas City [5]
2018 650,5641086,02418.5%16,959 Portland Thorns FC 2,531 Sky Blue FC [6]
2019 792,4091087,33721.8%20,098 Portland Thorns FC 3,338 Sky Blue FC [7]
2021 592,074116 [lower-alpha 2] 5,528 [8] −30.5%12,555 Portland Thorns FC 3,143 Chicago Red Stars [ citation needed ]
2022 1,042,0631327,89442.8%19,105 Angel City FC 4,385 Orlando Pride [8]
2023 1,366,58113210,43232.2%20,718 San Diego Wave FC 4,848 Chicago Red Stars [9]
  1. ↑ Green shading indicates record highs; red shading indicates record lows.
  2. ↑ 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.

Attendance by team

Season BOS CHI FCKC HOU KCC LA LOU NC NJY ORL POR RGN SD UTA WAS WNY
2013 [10] 2,4271,7114,626—————1,666—13,3202,306——3,6254,485
2014 [11] 2,4372,9492,0184,650--——--1,656--13,3623,666——3,3353,177
2015 [12] 2,8634,2103,0916,413--——--2,189--15,6394,060——4,0872,860
2016 [13] 3,5703,0053,1625,696--——--2,1628,78516,9454,602—--3,7823,868
2017 [5] 2,8963,1961,7884,578--——4,3892,6136,18617,6534,037—--3,491--
2018 [6] —4,368—3,896--——5,1292,5314,83716,9593,824—9,4663,892—
2019 [7] —5,451—3,615--——5,8753,3385,56520,0985,213—10,7746,105—
2021[ citation needed ]—3,143—3,3864,837—6,6104,9863,7934,22712,5555,240——4,130—
2022 [8] —5,863—5,6447,65719,1056,0484,5454,4154,38515,5436,8448,729—5,955—
2023 [9] —4,848—5,85711,35319,7565,9995,3846,2936,00518,91813,61020,718—10,876—

Attendance records

Regular season

As of June 8, 2024
RankHome teamScoreAway teamAttendanceVenueLocationDateRef.
— OL Reign 0–2 Portland Thorns FC 42,054* Lumen Field Seattle, Washington June 3, 2023 [14]
1 Chicago Red Stars 1–2 Bay FC 35,038 Wrigley Field Chicago, Illinois June 8, 2024 [15] [16]
2OL Reign0–0 Washington Spirit 34,130Lumen FieldSeattle, WashingtonOctober 6, 2023 [17]
3 San Diego Wave FC 1–2 Kansas City Current 32,066 Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California March 23, 2024 [18]
4San Diego Wave FC1–0 Angel City FC 32,000†Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaSeptember 17, 2022 [19]
5San Diego Wave FC3–2Chicago Red Stars30,854Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California March 25, 2023 [20]
6San Diego Wave FC2–0 Racing Louisville FC 30,312Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaOctober 15, 2023
—OL Reign2–1Portland Thorns FC27,248*Lumen FieldSeattle, WashingtonAugust 29, 2021 [21] [22]
7San Diego Wave FC1–2Angel City25,515Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaJune 17, 2023
8Portland Thorns FC2–1 North Carolina Courage 25,218† Providence Park Portland, Oregon August 11, 2019 [23]
Portland Thorns FC2–0OL Reign25,218†Providence ParkPortland, OregonSeptember 16, 2023 [24]
10San Diego Wave FC1–0 Houston Dash 24,936Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaSeptember 3, 2023

* indicates part of a doubleheader with other teams; not included in rank
† sellout

Playoffs

As of June 27, 2024
RankHome teamScoreAway teamAttendanceVenueDateStageRef.
1 San Diego Wave FC 0–1 OL Reign 32,262 Snapdragon Stadium November 5, 2023Semifinal [25]
2San Diego Wave FC2–1 ( a.e.t. ) Chicago Red Stars 26,215Snapdragon StadiumOctober 16, 2022Quarterfinal [26]
3 Portland Thorns FC 0–1 ( a.e.t. ) NJ/NY Gotham FC 25,218 Providence Park, Portland, Oregon November 5, 2023Semifinal
4 OL Reign 1–2 NJ/NY Gotham FC 25,111 Snapdragon Stadium November 11, 2023Final
5 Portland Thorns FC 2–1San Diego Wave FC22,035 Providence Park October 23, 2022Semifinal [27]
6 OL Reign 0–2 Kansas City Current 21,491 Lumen Field October 23, 2022Semifinal [28]
7 Houston Dash 1–2Kansas City Current21,284† PNC Stadium October 16, 2022Quarterfinal [26]
8Portland Thorns FC*0–3 North Carolina Courage 21,144†Providence ParkSeptember 22, 2018Final [29] [30]
9Portland Thorns FC3–4 Western New York Flash 20,086Providence ParkOctober 2, 2016Semifinal [31]
10Portland Thorns FC4–1 Orlando Pride 18,193Providence ParkOctober 7, 2017Semifinal [32]

* 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 the regular season average attendance for other professional women's sports leagues in North America.

LeagueYear
started		SportTeamsGames
played		SeasonAttendanceRef.
AverageAverage vs.
prior season		Total
National Women's Soccer League2013 Soccer 12132 2023 10,432+32.2%1,366,581 [9]
Women's National Basketball Association 1996 Basketball 12216 2022 5,679+115.4% [lower-alpha 1] 1,219,608 [33]
Liga MX Femenil 2016 Soccer 18 [lower-alpha 2] 306 2023 Clausura 2,483+23.8%367,442 [34]
National Pro Fastpitch 2004 Fastpitch 572 2015 [lower-alpha 3] 1,128+26%~135,360 [35]
Premier Hockey Federation [lower-alpha 4] 2015 Ice hockey 460 2016–17 900 [36]
  1. ↑ 2021 had low attendance due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports.
  2. ↑ As the consequence of a riot, Querétaro played its first four home matches of the Clausura behind closed doors.
  3. ↑ NPF had 6 teams for its 2016 & 2017 seasons, though attendance numbers for those are not available. Defunct in 2022.
  4. ↑ Known as the National Women's Hockey League before the 2021–22 season. Defunct after the 2022 season.

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.

LeagueYear
started		DivisionTeamsMatches
played		SeasonAttendanceRef.
AverageAverage vs.
prior season		Total
Liga MX 1943Men's DI18 [lower-alpha 1] 153 2023 Clausura 23,160+12.8%3,450,854 [34]
Major League Soccer 1996Men's DI28476 2022 21,033-1.4% [lower-alpha 2] 10,011,578 [37]
National Women's Soccer League2013Women's DI12132 2023 10,432+32.2%1,366,581 [9]
USL Championship [lower-alpha 3] 2011Men's DII27472 2022 7,622+44.5% [lower-alpha 2] 1,983,922 [38]
Canadian Premier League 2019Men's DI8112 2022 3,176-34.7% [lower-alpha 2] 355,696 [39]
Liga MX Femenil 2016Women's DI18 [lower-alpha 1] 306 2023 Clausura 2,483+23.8%367,442 [34]
USL League One 2019Men's DIII11170 2022 2,203+13.3% [lower-alpha 2] 359,107 [40]
  1. 1 2 As the consequence of a riot, Querétaro played its first four home matches of the Clausura behind closed doors.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Compared to 2019, the last previous season unaffected by COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions.
  3. ↑ Known as the United Soccer League before the 2019 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.

LeagueYear StartedNation# TeamsSeasonAverage
attendance		Average vs.
prior season		Total
Attendance		Ref
National Women's Soccer League2013 United States 12 2023 10,869+36.2%1,423,846
FA WSL 1 2011 England 12 2022-23 5,222+172%689,304 [41]
Frauen-Bundesliga 1990 Germany 12 2022-23 2,718+221%359,428 [41]
Liga MX Femenil 2016 Mexico 18 2022-23 2,072-16%311,081
WE League 2021 Japan 12 2022-23 1,401154,141
Liga-F 1988 Spain 16 2022-23 1,393+124%334,320 [41]
A-League Women 2008 Australia 12 2022-23 1,249+8%126,194
Division 1 Féminine 1974 France 12 2022-23 954+42%126,292 [41]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Taking Attendance 8/18/2013: Final NWSL Attendance Numbers". Kenn.com. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ Gerhke, Sarah (September 30, 2014). "NWSL: Breaking down 2014 attendance numbers, part I". Soccerwire. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  3. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (September 11, 2015). "National Women's Soccer League sees record attendance numbers in third season". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  4. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (November 16, 2016). "National Women's Soccer League once again saw rising attendance numbers in 2016". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "2017 NWSL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "2018 NWSL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "2019 NWSL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "2022 NWSL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "2023 NWSL Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  10. ↑ "2013 NWSL Statistics" . Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ "2014 NWSL Statistics" . Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ "2015 NWSL Statistics" . Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ "2016 NWSL Statistics" . Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  14. ↑ Evans, Jayda (June 3, 2023). "OL Reign lose to Thorns for first time since 2019 to cap soccer twinbill". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ Kawash, Maher (June 9, 2024). "Historic Chicago Red Stars soccer match at Wrigley Field breaks NWSL attendance record". ABC 7 Chicago . Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024. The soccer match between the Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC Saturday night broke the National Women's Soccer League's attendance record, drawing in 35,038 soccer fans...
  16. ↑ Melsar, Eileen (June 9, 2024). "Photos: Chicago Red Stars set NWSL attendance record at Wrigley Field". The Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024. The match drew 35,038 fans, setting a National Women's Soccer League record.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Jason (October 6, 2023). "OL Reign sets standalone NWSL attendance record for Rapinoe farewell game". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ The Associated Press (March 24, 2024). "Kansas City Current take winning ways on the road, defeat San Diego Wave FC 2-1". KSHB 41 . Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024. ...in front of 32,066 fans, an NWSL home opener record.
  19. ↑ "Match Recap: San Diego tops Angel City in front of capacity crowd for first win at Snapdragon Stadium". National Women's Soccer League. September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Late Morgan penalty helps Wave FC edge Chicago in front of over 30,000 fans in San Diego". National Women's Soccer League. March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Match Recap: Reign Earn Hard Fought 2–1 Win Against Portland" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  22. ↑ Evans, Jayda (August 28, 2021). "Sounders, Reign play hosts at unique doubleheader Sunday at Lumen Field". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  23. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (August 11, 2019). "Portland Thorns fight back to earn massive 2–1 win over North Carolina Courage in front of record-setting crowd". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Sugita, Weaver goals see Portland to Cascadia clash win over OL Reign". National Women's Soccer League. September 17, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  25. ↑ Kraasovic, Tom (November 5, 2023). "Stunning goal sinks San Diego Wave's season in NWSL semifinals". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Linehan, Meg (October 16, 2022). "KC Current, San Diego Wave FC advance to NWSL semifinals". The Athletic.
  27. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  28. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  29. ↑ "Courage cap off record-setting season with NWSL Championship win". National Women's Soccer League. October 8, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  30. ↑ Yang, Meg Linehan and Steph. "This week in NWSL chaos: Current, Wave make it a good day for water in the quarterfinals". The New York Times.
  31. ↑ "Flash beat Thorns FC, 4–3, in extra time". National Women's Soccer League. October 2, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  32. ↑ "NWSL Playoffs Match Recap: Portland Thorns FC 4, Orlando Pride 1". Portland Thorns FC. October 7, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Yearly Attendance by Team". Across the Timeline. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  34. 1 2 3 "Asistencia" [Attendance]. Liga MX. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023.
  35. ↑ "A Look Back At The NPF Year 2015". NPF. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ↑ "Will Female Pro-Hockey Players Ever Get What They're Worth?". Yahoo. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  37. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (October 13, 2022). "Crowd Count: MLS attendance tops 10 million for first time". Soccer America . Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  38. ↑ "2022 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. October 17, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Schedule". Canadian Premier League . Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  40. ↑ "2022 USL League One Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. October 15, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  41. 1 2 3 4 Baer, Bettina. "WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE ATTENDANCES CONTINUE TO GROW, AS UNDERSTANDING OF FANS BUILDS ACROSS EUROPE". Two Circles. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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