Seattle game breaks U.S. arena attendance record for women's hockey

Field Level Media|published: 02/28/2026, 10:42am EST

Mar 27, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; A general overall view of the Space Needle and Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A sold-out crowd of 17,335 fans at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena broke the U.S. attendance record for a women's hockey game on Friday night.

In the first game back from the Olympic break for both PWHL teams, the host Seattle Torrent fell 5-2 to the Toronto Sceptres.

The Torrent played without captain Hilary Knight, who led the U.S. women's team to a gold medal in the Milan Cortina Olympics. She was placed on long-term injured reserve due to a lower-body injury she suffered during the Games.

The previous record of 17,228 fans came on Jan. 18 when the Montreal Victoire faced the New York Sirens at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Torrent also broke their own attendance mark, set when 16,014 fans filled the Seattle arena for the expansion club's inaugural home opener on Nov. 28, 2025.

Overall attendance across the PWHL for the league's third season was up 17 percent through 61 games at the Milan Cortina Olympics break, according to the league.

--Field Level Media