Lu Barnes Award presented by Paula’s Choice Nominee Spotlight: Jess Fishlock
In 2025, Seattle Reign FC, in partnership with Paula’s Choice Skincare, launched the Lu Barnes Award to honor the legacy of club legend Lu Barnes. Barnes played for the team from the inaugural 2013 NWSL season to the 2025 season before hanging up her boots. Though she may not be on the field anymore, Barnes defined what it meant to wear the Reign crest through a combination of world-class performance on the pitch, leadership, integrity and her impact in the community.
Barnes herself was honored with the first-ever award in 2025 and in 2026, the recognition continues to evolve. This season’s process began with Reign FC players and coaches voting for their top three award nominees. Jess Fishlock, Phoebe McClernon and Cassie Miller were selected.
Jess Fishlock was an obvious nomination as the club original approaches the finale of her professional soccer career.
The Welsh star has been a mainstay at Seattle Reign FC since the very beginning. Through her 14-season tenure with the club, she has established herself as a leader, both on and off the pitch. With well over 200 appearances for the club, three NWSL shields and an MVP award, the Reign’s all-time leading goalscorer, Fishlock’s dominance on the field is only part of what makes her so special.
“I knew I wanted to have one more year with this group specifically,” said Fishlock. “I was excited for things to kind of be the same. I wanted a full season of just club, not international. I was so excited about that. The most important thing is just enjoying it and giving my best. That’s all I’ve wanted to do this year.”
You truly can’t tell the story of Seattle Reign FC without Jess Fishlock. A longtime captain of the squad, she sets the standard for what it means to be a Reign player and works to elevate everyone around her. Especially as Seattle’s squad becomes younger and younger, Fishlock has worked to develop a robust set of leadership skills, catered to the team around her.
“Leadership really has been an evolution. The most important thing about leadership is your ability to evolve and adapt to the situation and circumstances that are around you. Last year things shifted a little bit. We really leaned heavy into the youth, which has been a different strategy for the Reign.”
“So of course, the way you lead has to change. You have to spend more time getting to know the group. You have to give a little bit more to the group. You have to have a lot more patience, but still hold standards but still allow room for learning, which happens a lot more. So that has been something that’s been very different, obviously. Historically, we’ve always kind of had experienced international kinds of groups, but adjusting and adapting to the difference has been a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed it and they’ve kept me young, so I’m not complaining.”
Off the field, Fishlock has established herself as an advocate across the globe. From Seattle to Wales, she has been a champion for the LGBTQ+ community and people experiencing homelessness. She has been honored in very obvious ways, like becoming a Member of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace for her contributions to women’s football and services to the LGBTQ+ community, and also in the person-to-person relationships she has built.
“I’m a firm believer that the legacy piece is for everybody else to decide. It’s not up to me to decide, or hope, or think. It’s something for others to comment on and to feel themselves.”
The veteran midfielder has nearly perfected the art of balance as it relates to leadership, as her profound impact off the field is felt by those around her, while her focus remains on the soccer.
“My goal the rest of the season is for us to achieve success, whatever that looks like for us. I would love us to make the playoffs and even better if we get a home match. We fell short last year, but there was a base we can push on from. We need to keep improving and keep the squad together. We are not only evolving as individuals, but now we are also developing as a collective.”
To learn more about the Lu Barnes Award, presented by Paula’s Choice and cast your vote now, visit https://www.reignfc.com/lu-barnes-award. The voting period ends on October 15 and just for voting, you will be entered for a chance to win four tickets with scarves to the November 1 match where the Lu Barnes Award, presented by Paula’s Choice winner will be recognized!
