Wales and Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock has announced her retirement from playing after a record-breaking career that spanned more than two decades. The 39-year-old's final match came on Sunday when Seattle Reign were beaten 1-0 by Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) play-off quarter-finals. Fishlock left the field in the 74th minute to a standing ovation.
Remarkable International Record
Fishlock retired from international football in October 2025 after scoring 48 goals in 166 appearances for Wales, both national records for any player, male or female. She helped Wales qualify for their first major finals at the 2025 Women's European Championship, where she became the tournament's oldest scorer in a 4-1 defeat by France.
Club Career Across Eight Countries
Fishlock began her career with hometown club Cardiff City in 2002 and went on to play in eight different countries. She won UEFA Women's Champions League titles with FFC Frankfurt and Olympique Lyonnais. In the NWSL, she spent 14 seasons with Seattle Reign, joining for the league's inaugural season in 2013, and collected three NWSL Shields. She also played for Bristol Academy in the early years of England's Women's Super League, winning the league's Player's Player of the Year award in 2012, and had a loan spell at Reading in 2020.
Emotional Farewell
"I've loved it," said an emotional Fishlock after the loss to Gotham. "And the truth is I've loved that my last year was with this group, because they have just given me so much, and not just on the field." She added that she is devastated not to spend more time with the team, but accepts the end of her playing days: "I'm ok with that, I've played enough."
Transition to Coaching
Fishlock will now join Rhian Wilkinson's Wales coaching staff for December's two-leg World Cup play-off against Norway. She has previously held player-coach roles at Cardiff City Ladies and Melbourne Victory.
Tributes from Teammates and Mentors
Reign defender Sofia Huerta described Fishlock as the best player she had ever seen and said playing with her was her greatest honour. Former Wales captain Kath Morgan, who coached Fishlock from age nine, called her the best player to come out of Wales and lamented that the Women's Super League missed out on her presence.
