National Women's Soccer League Kick Offs 2023 Season with More Than 90,000 Fans
March 29, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
NEW YORK (March 29, 2023) - The National Women's Soccer League opened its 11th year of play this past weekend, welcoming a record 90,009 fans to matches across the country. The new record marks a 48 percent increase of nearly 30,000 spectators from Week One in 2022.
Headlining a historic weekend of attendance records, San Diego Wave FC set a new attendance mark for home openers, hosting 30,854 fans at Snapdragon Stadium as Wave FC edged the Chicago Red Stars, 3-2, off a penalty kick winner from Alex Morgan. The new record passes the previous mark set in 2016 by the Orlando Pride when the club played its inaugural NWSL match against the Houston Dash in front of 23,403 spectators at the Citrus Bowl.
In addition to San Diego's landmark opener on Saturday, Angel City FC became the first club to sell out two home openers in a row on Sunday as the team hosted NJ/NY Gotham FC at BMO Stadium. The Los Angeles-based club's crowd of 22,000 ranks third on the all-time attendance list for home openers.
On the east coast, the Washington Spirit celebrated the beginning of its first full season at Audi Field with its highest-attended home opener in club history, welcoming 11,281 fans to the stadium as the Spirit claimed a 1-0 win over OL Reign.
Additional Notes
Forward Alyssa Thompson, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft, scored 11 minutes into her professional debut, becoming the fourth youngest player to score in league play.
Portland Thorns FC became the first club to notch 100 regular season wins. One of the league's inaugural eight teams in 2013, the Thorns are the only club to win the NWSL Championship three times.
Racing Louisville FC's starting XI featured players from six continents, including Abby Erceg (NZL), Rebecca Holloway (NIR), Ary Borges (BRA), Wang Shuang (CHN), Uchenna Kanu (NGA) and Elli Pikkusjamsa (FIN) in addition to the team's five American starters.
NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Lynn Williams scored her first NWSL goal since October 2021 in her debut with the team on Sunday. Williams (58) currently ranks third on the league's all-time scoring list behind Christine Sinclair (59) and Sam Kerr (77).
With a clean sheet in the North Carolina Courage's 1-0 win over Kansas City, goaltender Casey Murphy now holds the club's shutout record with 18.
The 2023 season continues Saturday, April 1 with 10 teams in action around the country.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from March 29, 2023
- Houston Dash to Face Women's Mexican National Team in Inaugural MexTour W Friendly - Houston Dash
- Six Houston Dash Players Called up for April FIFA International Window - Houston Dash
- Gotham FC Owners Eli Manning and Carli Lloyd to Lead Inaugural Torch Lighting Ceremony at Home Opener - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Washington Spirit Defender Gabrielle Carle Called up to Canadian National Team - Washington Spirit
- Orlando Pride Signs Toni Hansen, Brianna Martinez to 2023 Roster - Orlando Pride
- OL Reign Announces Multi-Year Partnership with Seattle Reproductive Medicine - Seattle Reign FC
- Kansas City Current Home Opener, Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City Match Time Moved up to 11:40 a.m. CT - Kansas City Current
- Ryan Dell Named as Racing Louisville's First General Manager - Racing Louisville FC
- Angel City Football Club Signs Mexican Women's National Team Forward Scarlett Camberos - Angel City FC
- National Women's Soccer League Kick Offs 2023 Season with More Than 90,000 Fans - NWSL
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