The NWSL playoff attendance record was set in the 2018 championship game, when 21,144 fans packed Providence Park to see the NC Courage beat the Portland Thorns.
That record has been surpassed in all four NWSL playoff games so far in 2022.
The Houston Dash broke the record last weekend when 21,284 fans saw their playoff defeat to the Kansas City Current at PNC Stadium. The Dash’s record lasted for a matter of hours, as the San Diego Wave hosted 26,215 fans at Snapdragon Stadium later that night for their win over Chicago.
On Sunday, Providence Park saw 22,035 fans attend the Thorns’ win over San Diego while later that evening, 21,491 fans showed up at Lumen Field to see OL Reign fall to the Current.
The top four playoff attendances in #NWSL history all happened this MONTH! pic.twitter.com/hoUazjARri
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 24, 2022
The attendance at Providence Park was especially notable given the simmering fan discontent in Portland in the wake of the Yates report.
Several Thorns players, including MVP candidate Sophia Smith, urged fans to show up for the game despite their anger toward the organization and its owner Merritt Paulson.
Fans in Portland took that to heart, helping to boost their team to a dramatic win over the Wave while also holding up a host of “for sale” signs urging Paulson to sell the team.
Plenty of “for sale” signs in the North end of Providence Park. #BAONPDX #NWSL pic.twitter.com/gL8mNQgIIR
— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) October 23, 2022
The Thorns advanced to Saturday’s NWSL title game, where they will take on the Current. With the match set for 20,0000-capacity Audi Field, a large but not record-setting crowd is expected in Washington, D.C.
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