The boost from the 2026 Winter Games was real and immediate, as fans packed Climate Pledge Arena to the ceiling for a Seattle Torrent game Friday night. Seattle reclaimed an attendance record it set earlier this season with a crowd of 17,335, the U.S. arena record for a women’s hockey game.

The CPA seating capacity for hockey is 17,151, so the first game after the monthlong Olympic break had to be standing-room only.

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Edit: I dunno why, but the Seattle Times published the photos from the game separately: https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/torrent/photos-seattle-torrent-take-on-toronto-sceptres/

Last place in the standings, first place in attendance. You win some, you lose some. Also, loved this for Tejralova:

The captain of Czechia’s team, defender Tejralová was the only Torrent Olympian who didn’t medal. She earned a double roar Friday after she was introduced, then opened the scoring for the Torrent. She tapped a feed from Danielle Serdachny past Kirk (20 saves) to make it 1-1.

“It was a great play from (Gosling) and (Serdachny). I’m grateful for that,” Tejralová said. “But I would rather get the three points.”