Expanding to Southern California has reaped a quick windfall for the top women’s soccer league in the world.

The preseason match April 2 between the San Diego Wave and Los Angeles-based Angel City drew the sixth-largest television audience in the NWSL’s 10-year history, the league reported.

Was the surge the start of a trend? Just a blip?

Too soon to know.

Behind U.S. national team star Alex Morgan’s two goals and an assist, the Wave won the Saturday afternoon contest, 4-2. On hand at the University of San Diego were 5,180 fans.

At 456,000 viewers, the CBS audience exceeded the 436,000 who, per sportsmediawatch.com, saw the New England-Portland Major League Soccer season-opening match in prime time Feb. 26 on Fox. MLS is the top U.S. men’s league.

For the 2021 regular season, MLS said it averaged 276,000 viewers over 31 games on ESPN channels, including ABC.

Angel City, formed in 2020, has raised the NWSL’s profile. Hollywood celebrities Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria are team investors. The club has reported 13,000 in season ticket sales. Banc of California Stadium is popular with soccer aficionados.

At soccer, Morgan gives San Diego an edge over L.A. She created the Wave’s first goal with a clever pivot and lofted pass. In the second half, her right-footed blast inside the post capped an artistic sequence: Taylor Kornieck, nearing the sideline, heeled the ball backward, ahead of Christen Westphal, whose crossing pass Morgan belted out of the air.

Deadpan-adept, too, Morgan said afterward: “We pretty much scored the goals for CBS. We knew it was a TV game.”

L.A. didn’t spell much D, giving the TV audience more scoring opportunities to watch. Wave coach Casey Stoney’s reconfigured front line had its way, as did the team’s midfielders.

“We looked dangerous,” said Stoney. “I would say in other weeks we haven’t looked as dangerous.”

The Wave (1-1-1) is at Seattle and Portland on Thursday and Sunday, for preseason matches. The next home match is April 23, against Seattle-based OL Reign.

Newcomers helping Loyal

A brilliant goal from Kyle Vassell, who pinpointed a 20-yard shot after creating an opening, fueled San Diego Loyal’s 4-1 homefield victory Saturday against Charleston. Vassell had two goals, giving the Englishman four this season. Fellow offseason acquisition Thomas Amang, from Cameroon, notched his second assist. It was the Loyal’s third win in six days. Next for Landon Donovan’s team (5-1) is Wednesday’s match at Oakland.