US top-tier NWSL women’s league sees 6% increase in setting attendance record

NEW YORK – The United States National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) set an attendance record in 2024, according to a report from Sports Business Journal, as clubs averaged 11,250 fans in attendance, a 6 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

This year, the league expanded to 14 teams, up from 12 in 2023, giving it an even bigger boost in overall fan attendance.

Two million fans attended matches for the first time in NWSL’s 12-year history. That represented a 44 per cent increase over 2023 and a 96 per cent surge over 2022.

Eighty-nine matches had at least 10,000 fans in attendance, beating the previous year’s mark of 55 matches. And the league announced that 14 million viewers tuned into regular-season matches on television.

Eight of 12 returning teams saw increases in attendance over the previous year, with the Chicago Red Stars seeing the biggest increase, thanks in part to a marquee match against Bay FC, with an NWSL record crowd of 35,038 attending.

Angel City FC led the way with the biggest overall numbers, averaging 19,313 fans at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Current sold out every home contest in its 11,500-seat stadium.

In other news, Alyssa Naeher, the only women’s goalkeeper with clean sheets in a World Cup and Olympic final, announced on Nov 25 that she will retire from international football after two final matches with the US Women’s National Team (USWNT).

The 36-year-old is with the US squad training in London for matches on Nov 30 against England and in the Netherlands on Dec 3.

Naeher was on two World Cup-winning squads, as reserve to Hope Solo in 2015 and playing every minute of the 2019 campaign, and was their No. 1 en route to winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She blanked the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 World Cup final in France and shut out Brazil 1-0 in the gold medal match in Paris.

“Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honour,” said Naeher. “When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with, teammates that have turned into lifelong friends.

“This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime.”

Naeher, whose first US cap came in a 7-0 win over Argentina in Brazil in 2014, has a US career record of 88 wins, 14 draws and six losses, and a 0.50 goals-against average.

She had 12 clean sheets with 12 goals allowed in 22 Olympic and Women’s World Cup matches.
REUTERS, AFP