The PWHL set another attendance record on Sunday. An announced crowd of 17,228 packed into Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., to witness the New York Sirens’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Victoire. That is the largest in-arena crowd for a professional women’s hockey game in the U.S. The previous record was 16,014 — established in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena for a game between the Seattle Torrent and Minnesota Frost on Nov. 28, 2025. RECORD. BROKEN. 🗣️With 17,228 fans in Capital One Arena,
An announced crowd of 17,228 packed into Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., to witness the New York Sirens’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Victoire. That is the largest in-arena crowd for a professional women’s hockey game in the U.S.
The previous record was 16,014 — established in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena for a game between the Seattle Torrent and Minnesota Frost on Nov. 28, 2025.
RECORD. BROKEN. 🗣️
With 17,228 fans in Capital One Arena, today’s game in Washington D.C. sets the U.S. record for the highest-attended in-arena game in U.S. women’s hockey history! pic.twitter.com/HGEVhYPv0P
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) January 18, 2026
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) founder Ted Leonsis said in a statement he was “incredibly proud” of the strong show of support for the PWHL at Capital One Arena.
“Whether it’s on the ice or the court, these record-setting crowds are the result of deliberate investment, long-term partnership and a belief that women’s sports deserve to be celebrated at the highest level,” Leonsis said.
MSE owns three professional franchises in Washington: the NHL’s Capitals, the NBA’s Wizards and the WNBA’s Mystics.
A WNBA game between the Mystics and Indiana Fever drew 20,711 fans — a league record for single-game attendance — in September 2024.
What a huge response for women's hockey in DC. Capital One Arena is completely packed for the PWHL Takeover Tour game between the Montreal Victoire and New York Sirens.
🎥: @katieEadler /RMNB pic.twitter.com/tGrHBLVdKI
— RMNB (@rmnb) January 18, 2026
A record-setting crowd in a market that currently lacks a PWHL team could boost the league’s expansion efforts. Between two and four teams could be added for next season, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations Amy Scheer said in October.
The PWHL expanded into Seattle and Vancouver this season, the league’s second.
The game Sunday in Washington was part of the PWHL’s Takeover Tour, which comprises 16 neutral-site games in 11 cities across the U.S. and Canada.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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