{"id":13113,"date":"2026-07-22T02:00:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=13113"},"modified":"2026-07-22T02:00:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:00:31","slug":"nwsl-youtube-views-and-attendance-rise-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=13113","title":{"rendered":"NWSL YouTube views and attendance rise in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article\">\n<p>The National Women&#8217;s Soccer League (NWSL) is finding new fans in more places than the stadium.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwslsoccer.com\/news\/nwsl-continues-growth-across-attendance-fan-engagement-and-competition-at-2026-mid-year-mark\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">According to new data from the league<\/a>, views across its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/NWSLsoccer\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">YouTube channels<\/a> increased 41.7 percent through the first 10 weeks of the 2026 season, reaching 11.2 million. Watch time climbed nearly 50 percent, while subscribers grew 17.9 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Those gains are part of a strong first half of the season for the <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/article\/nwsl-sexual-assault-stop-play\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">NWSL<\/a>. Attendance is up, the league\u2019s social following has expanded, and merchandise sales have increased. New clubs and a wider mix of broadcast and streaming options are also creating more ways for people to follow the league.<\/p>\n<p>So, who are these new fans, how are they discovering the NWSL, and what is turning their interest into a lasting connection with the league?<\/p>\n<h2>Who is watching the NWSL?<\/h2>\n<p>The NWSL&#8217;s audience is broader than the young, predominantly female fan base often associated with women&#8217;s sports.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nielsen.com\/news-center\/2025\/nielsen-reveals-exclusive-new-data-and-insights-in-annual-tops-of-sports-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Nielsen estimated<\/a> that the league had 39.3 million fans in the United States in 2025, up from 30.8 million in 2023. On <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/article\/espn-dtc-streaming-service-announcement\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">ESPN<\/a>, women accounted for nearly half of the NWSL audience for the second consecutive season, while viewership among women ages 18 to 34 increased 30 percent year over year. The league\u2019s average audience on ESPN Deportes also more than doubled from 2024, rising 109 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Women now account for nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwslsoccer.com\/news\/nwsl-2025-regular-season-growth\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">half of the league&#8217;s audience<\/a> on ESPN, while women ages 18 to 34 are among its fastest-growing viewer groups. <a href=\"https:\/\/espnpressroom.com\/press-release\/nwsl-on-espn-scores-61-percent-increase-in-viewership-for-the-2025-regular-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Spanish-language viewership<\/a> is also rising, introducing the league to more fans across the United States.<\/p>\n<p>That growing audience is increasingly visible in the stands. Mashable senior reporter Matt Binder attended a recent Gotham FC match at Citi Field, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gothamfc.com\/news\/gotham-fc-sets-nyc-womens-sports-record-with-sell-out-at-citi-field?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">where more than 40,000 people<\/a> came to watch the team play \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gothamfc.com\/news\/gotham-fc-set-for-historic-night-at-citi-field-for-the-queens-classic-presented-by-carmax\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">the biggest women&#8217;s sporting event<\/a> in New York history. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There were way more younger girls there than even young boys at any NYCFC game I&#8217;ve been to,&#8221; Binder said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alexisohanian\/status\/2077560688302538816\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For young fans, following a team goes far beyond attending matches. NWSL clubs and players share highlights, interviews, training videos, and behind-the-scenes content across YouTube, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nwslsoccer?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">TikTok<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nwsl\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Instagram<\/a>. This lets fans stay connected between games while drawing in new supporters.<\/p>\n<h2>YouTube and social media are becoming a larger part of the NWSL<\/h2>\n<p>NWSL&#8217;s recent YouTube gains are part of a broader increase in viewing across its media lineup. Through Week 10, match coverage generated more than 1 billion minutes viewed across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms.<\/p>\n<section x-data=\"window.newsletter({ isDeal: false })\" x-init=\"init()\" aria-label=\"Newsletter Sign-Up\" class=\"relative invisible my-12 mx-auto w-full max-w-3xl md:my-16 ziff-component accent-cut-for-gradient-bg accent-cut-border-for-gradient-bg bg-gradient-fuchsia-secondary p-[2px]\">\n<p>\n            <span class=\"text-gradient-fuchsia-secondary\">Mashable Trend Report<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>The platform has played a similar role across other women&#8217;s sports, giving leagues and athletes an additional way to reach younger viewers. Matt Hochberg, who runs Hochberg Sports Marketing, a FIFA-licensed women\u2019s soccer agency, described the platform as a key growth driver for several women\u2019s leagues.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Women\u2019s sports fans skew younger [and] digital-first,&#8221; Hochberg <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Hochberg\/status\/2076293461079110107\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">wrote in an X post<\/a> about the NWSL&#8217;s YouTube gains, adding that the audience is also attractive to brands trying to reach the same demographic.<\/p>\n<p>The league&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwslsoccer.com\/news\/nwsl-continues-growth-across-attendance-fan-engagement-and-competition-at-2026-mid-year-mark\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">broader social audience is growing<\/a>, too. Its combined following increased 24 percent year over year to 3.1 million across six major platforms. According to the NWSL, fans are engaging with highlights, behind-the-scenes access, player-focused stories, and other league content.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NWSL\/status\/2079325316728738055\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Individual players also bring massive audiences of their own. Trinity Rodman, Rose Lavelle, Sophia Wilson, and Mallory Swanson have each built social followings of hundreds of thousands of fans that reach far beyond their NWSL clubs. <\/p>\n<p>U.S. national team players are only part of that equation. The NWSL included players from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geniussports.com\/content-hub\/sponsorships-advertising-in-nwsl\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">55 national teams<\/a> in 2025, allowing clubs to reach fans who already follow those athletes in their home countries. Kansas City Current forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/temwa556\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Temwa Chawinga<\/a>, for example, represents Malawi and has become one of the NWSL&#8217;s biggest stars after winning back-to-back league MVP awards. <\/p>\n<h2>More fans are attending matches<\/h2>\n<p>The NWSL&#8217;s digital growth comes as <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FOS\/status\/2077565919052607704\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">attendance is also increasing.<\/a> Clubs averaged 11,044 fans per match during the first half of the 2026 season, up 10 percent from the same period last year. The league reached one million attendees faster than in any previous season and is on pace to average more than 10,000 fans for the fourth consecutive year.<\/p>\n<p>The season&#8217;s largest crowd arrived in Denver back in March 2026, where expansion club Denver Summit FC hosted the Washington Spirit at Empower Field at Mile High. The match drew 63,004 fans, setting a league attendance record and becoming the largest crowd for a professional women&#8217;s sporting event in the United States.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DNyeko\/status\/2037970175392170309\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Denver Summit and Boston Legacy FC both joined the league in 2026, expanding the NWSL to 16 teams. The additions created local clubs for fans in two new markets and gave the league more matches, players, and storylines to feature across its platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Matches are available through CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video, ION, Victory+, and the league&#8217;s NWSL+ service. Highlights and other clips then extend the life of those games across YouTube and social media.<\/p>\n<h2>Fans are also buying more merchandise<\/h2>\n<p>The league&#8217;s retail numbers offer another sign of increased engagement.<\/p>\n<p>Combined merchandise sales across NWSL clubs rose 72 percent during the first half of the season compared with the same period in 2025. Sales through <a href=\"http:\/\/NWSLShop.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">NWSL Shop<\/a> increased 207 percent.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitterEmbed twitter-tweet\"><p>\n    <a class=\"text-gray-600\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NWSL\/status\/2052872030823842223\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab) (opens in a new window)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n        This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The league didn&#8217;t disclose total revenue, but attributed the growth to rising demand for club merchandise, player products, and league-branded apparel.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s also been plenty for fans to follow on the field. Every NWSL club has defeated a higher-ranked opponent at least once this season. At the midway point, the league has recorded 10 percent more upsets than during the same period last year, and twice as many matches have been decided in the final 15 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Those late goals and upsets create a steady stream of can&#8217;t-miss highlights. For the NWSL&#8217;s growing fan base, sometimes one highlight is all it takes to get the ball rolling.<\/p>\n<section class=\"mx-auto max-w-7xl\">\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National Women&#8217;s Soccer League (NWSL) is finding new fans in more places than the stadium. According to new data from the league, views across its YouTube channels increased 41.7 percent through the first 10 weeks of the 2026 season, reaching 11.2 million. Watch time climbed nearly 50 percent, while subscribers grew 17.9 percent. Those&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13114,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/01vTz5xmtBAWjpjkY1haAM2\/hero-image.fill.size_1200x675.v1784662198.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13113"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13113\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}