The National Women’s Soccer League kicked off its 2023 season in historic fashion over the weekend.
Throughout six games on Saturday and Sunday, the NWSL averaged an attendance figure of 15,002 fans, which shattered the league’s previous record. The previous mark was 10,150 fans, set in 2022.
Before last season, opening weekend typically saw an average of four-digit numbers. That number likely will continue to grow as NWSL expands its footprint and awareness.
“Attendance and ticket sales are really the rocket fuel that will feed the growth of this league,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said, via Yahoo! Sports.
Overall, the six NWSL games brought in a total of over 90,000 fans this past weekend.
The San Diego Wave continue to draw extremely well. They crushed the league’s single-game attendance record last year with a sellout that was 32,000 strong at new Snapdragon Stadium. On Saturday night in their 2023 home opener against the Red Stars, the Wave brought in 30,854 fans.