by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Sep 10, 2015

For the first time in the history of U.S. women's pro soccer, a league has experienced a year-to-year increase in average attendance. The National Women's Soccer League averaged 5,053 fans a game in 2015, an increase of almost 23 percent from 2014 and the highest average in its three seasons.

The Women's World Cup gave the league a boost -- crowds were up 29 percent following the USA's victory over Japan in the final -- but it would have still set a league attendance record based upon the crowds before then.



Boosted by two sellout crowds of 21,144 fans at the end of the season, Portland set a league record with an average of 15,639 fans a game. Only the Western New York Flash had a drop in average attendance. It was one of three teams to average less than 3,000 fans a game.



WUSA and WPS both dropped year-to-year in Years 2 and 3, and neither survived into Year 4. There is little chance of that happening to the NWSL.



2015 NWSL Attendance:

AVG. TEAM (+/-)

15,639 Portland (+17%)

6,413 Houston (+41%)

4,210 Chicago (+43%)

4,084 Washington (+23%)

4,060 Seattle (+12%)

3,091 FC Kansas City (+53%)

2,863 Boston (+18%)

2,852 WNY Flash (-10%)

2,268 Sky Blue FC (+38%)

5,053 LEAGUE (+23%)



Women's Pro League Attendance:

AVG. TEAM (YEAR)

5,503 NWSL (2015)

4,139 NWSL (2014)

4,270 NWSL (2013)

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3,518 WPS (2011)

3,601 WPS (2010)

4,490 WPS (2009)

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6,667 WUSA (2003)

6,957 WUSA (2002)

8,116 WUSA (2001)