More than 17,000 hockey fans made history Friday night when they packed Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, establishing a new United States attendance record for women’s professional hockey.
The sellout crowd of 17,335 spectators witnessed the Toronto Sceptres defeat the Seattle Torrent 5-2 in what marked both teams’ return to action following the Olympic break.
Seattle competed without their team captain Hilary Knight, who recently helped lead Team USA to Olympic gold at the Milan Cortina Games. Knight remains on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury during Olympic competition.
Friday’s attendance figure surpassed the previous U.S. record of 17,228 fans, which was established on January 18 when Montreal Victoire took on the New York Sirens at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Torrent also shattered their own franchise attendance record, which stood at 16,014 fans from their inaugural home game on November 28, 2025, when the expansion team first took the ice at the Seattle venue.
According to league officials, PWHL attendance has increased by 17 percent during the third season, with this growth measured across 61 games played before the Milan Cortina Olympics break.
