PWHL game at Madison Square Garden sets U.S. women's hockey attendance record

A sold-out crowd of 18,006 fans watched the New York Sirens take on the Seattle Torrent in the league's debut at the iconic venue.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:21am

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The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has set a new U.S. attendance record for women's hockey, with a sold-out crowd of 18,006 fans watching the New York Sirens take on the Seattle Torrent at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The game marked the first time fans have been in the stands for a women's professional hockey game at the iconic venue.

Why it matters

This record-breaking attendance is the latest proof of the growing demand for women's professional hockey in the United States. The PWHL has now broken the attendance record eight times since its inception in 2024, demonstrating the league's ability to capitalize on the increased interest in women's sports, especially after the dramatic 2026 Milan Olympics.

The details

The game at Madison Square Garden was nearly sold out before the surge of interest in women's hockey after the Milan Olympics. According to the PWHL, the league is on pace to surpass one million ticketed fans in a single season later this month and is seeing a 25 percent year-over-year increase in average attendance. The league has also seen its highest weekly attendance ever (80,703), which included major crowds at a 'Takeover Tour' neutral site game in Detroit (15,939) and Seattle (16,586).

  • The PWHL game at Madison Square Garden took place on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • The previous U.S. women's hockey attendance record of 17,335 was set in Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena on February 27, 2026, the Torrent's first home game after the 2026 Milan Olympics.

The players

New York Sirens

One of the teams that played in the record-breaking PWHL game at Madison Square Garden.

Seattle Torrent

The other team that played in the record-breaking PWHL game at Madison Square Garden.

Stan Kasten

A PWHL Advisory Board member and the Los Angeles Dodgers president and CEO.

Billie Jean King

A PWHL Advisory Board member and a former U.S. Open champion.

Ilana Kloss

A PWHL Advisory Board member, a former U.S. Open champion, and Billie Jean King's wife.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard not to get choked up. We were not forecasting this. Not in year three.”

— Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board member and Los Angeles Dodgers president and CEO

“This is a really special moment.”

— Billie Jean King, PWHL Advisory Board member

“I don't think I've ever heard it that loud. This is so perfect for (the players).”

— Billie Jean King, PWHL Advisory Board member

“This league is for real and the demand is there. Eighteen thousand New Yorkers are coming out to see the New York Sirens and the Seattle Torrent play a game at Madison Square Garden. ... It's monumental.”

— Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations

“Women's sports is on its way. Finally.”

— Billie Jean King, PWHL Advisory Board member

What’s next

The PWHL will host another sold-out game at TD Garden in Boston on April 11, 2026, further demonstrating the growing popularity of women's professional hockey in the United States.

The takeaway

The record-breaking attendance at the PWHL game in Madison Square Garden is a significant milestone for women's professional hockey in the United States. It shows that there is a strong and growing demand for the sport, and the PWHL has been able to capitalize on the increased interest in women's sports to build a successful league.