PWHL Sets New Attendance Record at Madison Square Garden

On April 5, 2026, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) achieved a significant milestone by setting a new U.S. attendance record for women's hockey at Madison Square Garden. The game featured the New York Sirens facing off against the Seattle Torrent, drawing a crowd of 18,006 fans. This surpassed the previous record of 17,335 set at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle just weeks earlier. The match ended in a dramatic 2-1 victory for the Sirens after a shootout, with Canadian player Sarah Fillier scoring the tying goal and later contributing to the winning shootout.

PWHL sells out MSG, breaks U.S. women's hockey attendance recordNBCNewYork.comPWHL Game at Madison Square Garden Sets U.S. Pro Women's Hockey Attendance RecordPWHL sets U.S. women’s hockey attendance record at Madison Square GardenSports Illustrated

The PWHL, launched on January 1, 2024, has seen rapid growth since its inception, particularly following the success of the U.S. women's hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where they won gold against Canada. The league has experienced a 25% increase in average attendance this season, with ticket and merchandise sales also rising significantly. Stan Kasten, a member of the PWHL Advisory Board and president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, noted that the league is financially ahead of schedule and is preparing for expansion, with multiple cities expressing interest in hosting teams.

PWHL Sets Women’s Hockey Attendance Record With MSG GameSports IllustratedPWHL Game at Madison Square Garden Sets U.S. Pro Women's Hockey Attendance Record

Players expressed the significance of the event, with Hilary Knight, captain of the Torrent, stating, “It’s a testament to the caliber of play that we have, our fan base, the product that we put together.” Knight's sentiments were echoed by her coach, Steve O'Rourke, who emphasized the importance of the night beyond the game's outcome. Billie Jean King, a cofounder of the PWHL, remarked on the emotional impact of the event, highlighting the dreams it fulfills for young female athletes.

PWHL celebrates sellout at Madison Square Garden in 'awesome moment for women's hockey'

Stan Kasten confirmed that the league is ready for expansion, with plans to add new teams by the 2026-27 season. He stated, “We feel so confident about where we are that even though it will cost us more money, we’re ready to expand.” The PWHL is also focusing on securing better broadcast deals, with all games currently streamed on YouTube and select games aired on networks like ION.

PWHL Sets Women’s Hockey Attendance Record With MSG Game

Despite the success, the PWHL remains in a startup phase, with ongoing financial challenges. Kasten acknowledged that the league still incurs planned losses but is optimistic about future profitability as sponsorship and media revenues increase.

PWHL Sets Women’s Hockey Attendance Record With MSG Game

The PWHL is set to announce new expansion cities in the coming weeks, as the league continues to build on its recent successes and aims to further elevate the profile of women's professional hockey in the United States.

Sports Illustrated

• “This is, for a lot of women, and for me, the realization of a dream,” — Billie Jean King, PWHL cofounder

PWHL Sets Women’s Hockey Attendance Record With MSG Game

• “We’re ready to expand. There is a line of cities eager to have us there, whether it's for a couple takeover tour games or for a full time team. We're going to have news about that in the next few weeks,” — Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board member

Sports Illustrated

• “To finally have this moment, and I hope it’s not a moment, I hope we are back here, it’s truly incredible.” — Hilary Knight, Torrent captain

PWHL celebrates sellout at Madison Square Garden in 'awesome moment for women's hockey'

• “This expansion that will happen with the new teams, [for] little girls, it's cool [for them] to hear that,” — Caroline Harvey, incoming PWHL player

Sports Illustrated