PWHL Breaks U.S. Women's Hockey Attendance Record at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

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Washington, D.C. (January 18, 2026) — The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) set a new benchmark for women’s hockey in the United States on Sunday, as a record-setting crowd of 17,228 fans filled Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. for a PWHL Takeover Tour™ matchup between the Montréal Victoire and the New York Sirens. The game was presented by BJ’s Wholesale Club.

The attendance marks the highest-attended in-arena game in U.S. women’s hockey history, surpassing the previous record of 16,014 fans set on November 28, 2025, when the Seattle Torrent hosted the Minnesota Frost for their inaugural home opener at Climate Pledge Arena. Sunday’s game was the first-ever PWHL contest played in Washington, D.C.

“What an incredible day at Capital One Arena,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL EVP of Business Operations. “Washington, D.C. showed up in such a big way, and the energy our fans brought into the arena turned this game into something truly special. Moments like this capture the joy of our sport and the momentum behind the league. We are so grateful to Monumental Sports & Entertainment for being such a committed partner in helping deliver this world-class experience.”

“We’re proud that our fans across the Washington, D.C., region showed up in such a big way to be part of this historic moment,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “The energy inside Capital One Arena for today’s record-breaking PWHL game was extraordinary, creating an atmosphere that reflected the league’s growing momentum.”

Sunday’s game was part of the PWHL Takeover Tour™, a leaguewide initiative that gives fans across North America the chance to experience the excitement of a regular-season game in their home venues. The expanded 2025–26 tour features 16 neutral-site games across 11 cities in the United States and Canada, building on last season’s successful debut, which drew more than 123,000 fans across nine games and delivered multiple attendance milestones.

As part of the Takeover Tour™ weekend in Washington, D.C., community events were held at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, including open practices, autograph sessions, and youth girls’ hockey clinics hosted with the Washington Capitals’ ALL CAPS ALL HER program. The activities were designed to connect players with fans and inspire the next generation of athletes by creating meaningful access to the sport at all levels.

The PWHL is off to its strongest attendance month in league history, welcoming more than 154,000 fans across its first 16 games in January, and a per-game average of 8,726 across all 49 games this season.

ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL)

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that features the best women’s players in the world. It is comprised of eight teams: Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. Launched on January 1, 2024, the PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide all-time record for a women’s hockey game. The league was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year, and ranked No. 1 in Canada for corporate reputation in both 2024 and 2025, according to the Harris Poll. Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter for the latest updates. Follow the league on social media @thepwhlofficial.