NWSL Sets Attendance Record as Denver Summit Draw with Washington Spirit

Chicago Stars lose 2-0 to San Diego Wave in other league action

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:12am

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The Denver Summit and the Washington Spirit played to a scoreless draw on Saturday before a record National Women's Soccer League crowd of 63,004 fans at the home of the NFL's Denver Broncos, breaking the previous NWSL attendance record. In other matches, the San Diego Wave defeated the visiting Chicago Stars 2-0, the Utah Royals beat the Boston Legacy 2-1, the Portland Thorns downed the Kansas City Current 2-0, the Seattle Reign beat Racing Louisville 2-1, and Bay FC dominated the North Carolina Courage 3-1 on the road.

Why it matters

The record-breaking attendance in Denver highlights the growing popularity of women's professional soccer in the United States, as the NWSL continues to attract large crowds and expand its fanbase. The results also show the competitive balance in the league, with several close matches and some surprising road wins.

The details

The Denver Summit and Washington Spirit played to a scoreless draw, with Denver goalkeeper Abby Smith and Spirit counterpart Sandy MacIver each making two saves to preserve the clean sheets. The Summit broke the previous NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last season. Elsewhere, rookie Lia Godfrey scored for the third straight game to lead the San Diego Wave to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Stars, while the Utah Royals, Portland Thorns, Seattle Reign, and Bay FC also picked up victories.

  • The match in Denver took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • The previous NWSL attendance record of 40,091 was set last season.

The players

Abby Smith

The goalkeeper for the Denver Summit who made two saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Sandy MacIver

The goalkeeper for the Washington Spirit who made two saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Lia Godfrey

The rookie forward for the San Diego Wave who scored for the third straight game in their 2-0 win over the Chicago Stars.

Temwa Chawinga

The two-time NWSL MVP who is out for the season with a hip injury, leaving the Kansas City Current struggling without her.

Sophia Wilson

The Portland Thorns forward who made her first start of the season in her return from maternity leave.

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The takeaway

The NWSL's ability to set new attendance records and showcase competitive balance across the league demonstrates the growing interest and investment in women's professional soccer in the United States. As the sport continues to gain mainstream popularity, the NWSL is poised to capitalize on this momentum and further expand its reach and impact.