Stars, stakes and still some controversy: Gotham’s record-setting night sums up state of NWSL
•The NWSL has made significant progress, with record attendances at major venues like Citi Field and Oracle Park.
•Gotham FC's recent match attracted 42,175 fans, marking the second-largest crowd in league history.
•The event highlights both the growth of women's soccer and the ongoing challenges the league faces.
المصدر: The Guardian Sport | Source: The Guardian SportThe Queens Classic – Kerr’s return, Lavelle’s stunner, wildfire smoke and all in between – shows how far the league has come and also where it can still improve
Ten years ago, a National Women’s Soccer League game at a baseball stadium was a sign of just how far the league had to go. A match during the 2016 season was played at a minor-league ballpark on a woefully small pitch, dubbed “shocking and embarrassing” by the league’s own stars.
Come 2026, NWSL games at ballparks are showpiece events. Attendance records were shattered at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and San Francisco’s Oracle Park in the previous two seasons. Wednesday night added another milestone: Gotham FC’s 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit on a hot, hazy night at Citi Field, the regular home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, drew the second-largest crowd in league history (42,175) and set the record for the most attended women’s sporting event in the city’s history.
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→The NWSL has made significant progress, with record attendances at major venues like Citi Field and Oracle Park.
→Gotham FC's recent match attracted 42,175 fans, marking the second-largest crowd in league history.
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