Boston Legacy draws historic crowd despite loss in NWSL debut

Expansion team sets attendance record for inaugural home game

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:21pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Boston Legacy, a new expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), drew a record crowd of 30,207 fans to their inaugural home match at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, despite losing 1-0 to Gotham FC. The attendance marked the largest crowd for a women's professional soccer match in Boston since 2017.

Why it matters

The Legacy's debut represents a major milestone for the franchise and the NWSL, as the league continues to grow its fanbase and visibility in new markets. The large turnout demonstrates strong interest in women's professional soccer in Boston, which lost its previous NWSL team, the Boston Breakers, in 2018.

The details

Despite the loss, the Legacy's debut was a historic occasion for the franchise and the league. Gotham FC secured the win with a second-half goal from Esther González. Boston head coach Filipa Patão emphasized that the team is focused on the long-term process of building their identity, while goalkeeper Casey Murphy praised the team's grit and determination.

  • The match was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • The last NWSL match in Boston was in September 2017, when the Boston Breakers hosted Gotham FC (then known as Sky Blue FC).

The players

Jennifer Epstein

The control owner of the Boston Legacy.

Esther González

The Gotham FC player who scored the game-winning goal.

Filipa Patão

The head coach of the Boston Legacy.

Casey Murphy

The goalkeeper for the Boston Legacy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I know that, at this point, standing here today, today is a win.”

— Jennifer Epstein, Control owner, Boston Legacy (ESPN)

“If we won the game, I would say the same to you: It's a process. We need more games; we need more time. But we're going to achieve the identity that we want.”

— Filipa Patão, Head coach, Boston Legacy (N/A)

“A lot of players, you could just see the grit, the attitude to give their all. I love fighters. I love leaving it all out there. We were a man down and we still didn't give up. We kept pushing forward until the final whistle.”

— Casey Murphy, Goalkeeper, Boston Legacy (N/A)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Boston Legacy's historic debut, despite the loss, demonstrates the strong interest and potential for women's professional soccer in the Boston market. The team's focus on the long-term process of building their identity and fanbase is a promising sign for the franchise's future success.