PWHL sets U.S. women’s hockey attendance record in Washington, D.C.
A new mark has been set in the capital of the United States.
In the PWHL Takeover Tour game on Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C. between the Montreal Victoire and New York Sirens, the league set a new attendance record for women’s hockey in the country, as 17,228 saw a thrilling game inside Capital One Arena.
RECORD. BROKEN. 🗣️
With 17,228 fans in Capital One Arena, today’s game in Washington D.C. sets the U.S. record for the highest-attended in-arena game in U.S. women’s hockey history! pic.twitter.com/HGEVhYPv0P
PWHL executive vice president of business operations, Amy Scheer, was elated about the momentous day in the capital.
“Washington, D.C. showed up in such a big way,” Scheer said in a release. “The energy our fans brought into the arena turned this game into something truly special. Moments like this capture the joy of our sport and the momentum behind the league.”
It’s the second time the league has set the U.S. women’s hockey record this season. In the Seattle Torrent’s inaugural home game on Nov. 28, 16,014 were in attendance at Climate Pledge Arena.
Fans at the home of the Washington Capitals were treated to a thrilling battle between the surging Sirens and the star-studded Victoire. While Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and company pushed offensively, New York netminder and Team Canada teammate Kayle Osborne stood on her head, making 31 saves to secure a 2-1 win for the Sirens, giving the team five wins in its past six games.
While there have been reports that the PWHL is eyeing a big wave of expansion before the 2026-27 season, where the league could add between two and four teams, Washington, D.C. hasn’t really been on anyone’s radar. Detroit, Denver and Edmonton have been the “frontrunners” among circles. However, given the massive turnout in D.C. on Sunday, it looks like there might be a new candidate for an expansion franchise in the near future.
Washington, D.C., certainly has an established appreciation for women’s sports. The city has a WNBA franchise, the Washington Mystics, as well as an NWSL team, the Washington Spirit.
Through 49 games this year, the PWHL has an average attendance of 8,726, higher than the average through the 2024-25 campaign.