The National Women’s Soccer League suffered a 5 per cent decline in average attendance across the 2025 NWSL regular season, from the record-high figures set in 2024.
As reported by the Sports Business Journal, eight of the 15 teams saw a decline in attendance from the 2024 regular season.
The numbers also saw a change in who topped the league in terms of the highest average attendance for the season.
What was the average attendance in the 2025 NWSL regular season?
The 2025 NWSL regular season saw an average attendance of 10,669 fans across 182 matches.
This was a decline of five per cent from last year’s record high average attendance of 11,250.
The NWSL’s average attendance is still 0.3 per cent higher than the 2023 regular season, which stood at 10,638.
Next season could see an interesting change in the average attendance numbers with expansion sides Boston Legacy and Denver Summit joining the league.
Both sides will play their opening home games inside NFL stadiums. Boston Legacy will play the entire season at the home of the New England Patriots, while Denver are planning to move into a temporary stadium, before a permanent stadium is built on time for the 2028 campaign.
NWSL attendance figures by team
The Portland Thorns overtook last year’s leader, Angel City FC, with a league-best average of 18,173 fans.
There was a big drop for the San Diego Wave, who saw a 26 per cent drop to 13,427 fans in their first season without Alex Morgan.
Morgan retired last year and was recently honoured by the United States Women’s National Team.
Of the 8 teams that suffered a decline in attendance, five experienced double-digit drops in terms of average percentage.
Those five teams were Angel City FC, San Diego Wave, Utah Royals, Chicago Stars and Racing Louisville.
| Team | 2025 | 2024 | Percentage difference |
| Portland Thorns | 18,173 | 18,725 | -2.90% |
| Angel City FC | 16,257 | 19,313 | -15.80% |
| Washington Spirit | 15,259 | 13,952 | 9.40% |
| Bay FC | 14,823 | 13,617 | 8.90% |
| San Diego Wave | 13,427 | 18,233 | -26.40% |
| Kansas City Current | 11,500 | 11,500 | 0% |
| Orlando Pride | 9,623 | 8,340 | 15.40% |
| Gotham FC | 8,892 | 8,721 | 2% |
| Utah Royals | 8,727 | 10,366 | -15.80% |
| Seattle Reign | 7,864 | 8,506 | -7.50% |
| North Carolina Courage | 7,684 | 6,362 | 20.80% |
| Houston Dash | 6,041 | 6,194 | -2.50% |
| Chicago Stars | 5,574 | 7,160 | -22.20% |
| Racing Louisville | 5,521 | 6,521 | -15.30% |
| AVERAGE | 10,669 | 11,250 | -5.20% |
Which franchises set attendance records?
It is not all negative in terms of attendance figures for the 2025 season.
Reigning NWSL champions Orlando Pride are among four franchises to set single-season attendance records.
The Pride saw the biggest jump of 15.4 per cent from 8,340 to 9,623 average fans.
Gotham FC, North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit also set new franchise records with single-digit jumps from the 2024 season.
How does the NWSL compare to the WSL?
The average figure for the 2025 NWSL season is still higher than that of the 2024-25 WSL season.
Last season, the WSL average attendance dropped 10 per cent on the previous season from 7,366 to 6,662.
No NWSL team, though, can compete with Arsenal, who recorded the highest average attendance of 28,808.
Chelsea were second-best with 9,426 – a figure which would put them eighth in the NWSL. However, the majority of WSL teams play in smaller stadiums to those in the NWSL.
