“She epitomizes everything that we've tried to do” Fishlock continues to shape Reign FC through her last NWSL season
Reign FC would not be the club it is today without Jess Fishlock.
As announced today, the legendary midfielder will be hanging up her boots at the end of the 2026 NWSL season, marking the last of the “Reign Originals” to retire. The impact she has had on the club since she took the leap of faith to join Seattle back in 2013 is truly immeasurable.
This news comes on the back of her retirement from international football, as she played her last match for Wales in October, ending her career as the record holder in caps and goals scored for the small but mighty nation.
The 2026 NWSL season will allow her the unique opportunity to focus on just club soccer for the first time in her career – and that’s a decision she made intentionally, allowing herself to complete her career on her terms.
“I think for me, it was something that I wanted to do this season, but I think I knew really early on that this was going to be my last. Announcing it just makes sense to me because I don't really want to go the rest of the season kind of evading all of your questions, which I'm sure will come, about what I'm going to do and things like that. I just wanted to get it out there real early to help run my process of it all, but to also to just allow myself to be fully present for the season with the group that we have,” shared Fishlock.
The 2026 season has gotten off to an electric start for the Reign, a tenacious squad that has battled through five matches away from Seattle to begin the campaign. Fishlock, the most veteran player on the roster, has been a key component of the team’s success. Fittingly she recorded the first goal of the season for the team, on the road in Orlando, to lead the team to three points.
Though she’s in her 14th year in the league, she is showing no signs of slowing down, re-energized by the up-and-coming young core of the team.
“I think ultimately, I probably felt that last year retiring was kind of probably in my plan. But the truth is that I have so much joy and excitement with this group that we have right now, and I wasn't ready to leave the group that we have and the journey that we're on,” she said.
“I wanted to give that another year and I think that is just really a credit to the group that we have and obviously what Laura is doing, that I wasn't ready to say goodbye to that yet. And this year already has just proved to me with our growth that it was the right decision because I get to go into work every day and I really enjoy it.”
As she leads the team through one last season, it is not lost on anyone how large of an impact she has had – and continues to have on the Reign. For Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey, who has been by Fishlock’s side nearly every step of the way, Fishlock’s passion has never wavered.
“I just think she epitomizes everything that we've tried to do, really. It's never been about her. It's never been about what she needs and what she needs to get out of it. It's always been about being really passionate about the collective responsibility and what she can do to help elevate that,” said Harvey.
“I think that's why all three of the OGs lasted the way that they did because they've always cared about that. I remember coming back in 2021, in August and being like quite nervous, you know, to go back in and what was it going to be like? And it had not changed one bit. The people had; Loads of the people were different. All the staff was different. We were in Cheney. So many things were different, but walking into the actual locker room and the meeting room, it was no different.”
And Harvey attributes that to the culture that players like Fishlock have worked to cultivate and maintain in Seattle.
“People go, ‘oh, how do you create a culture?’ And yeah, coaches try to create that, but I can't make that happen. And I think Jess, Lu [Barnes], [Megan Rapinoe], they were the ones that have kept the culture going. And still now, that culture, I believe, will live on because of how influential they've been.”
There’s no denying that Fishlock’s role with the team has evolved over time. Regardless of the number of minutes she spends on the pitch or the number of goals she scores, her impact is evident in the Reign’s identity on and off the field, and will be for years to come.
"Even last year when her role on the field was different than it had ever been before, much to her disappointment at times. But for young players to see someone like Jess not change at all in how she approached every day and how important the culture was and how important the collective was, that's where I think It's hard to give people flowers for that, but that's where she should get the flowers,” said Harvey.
The next chance to see Reign FC and Fishlock in action is Sunday, April 26 at Lumen Field as Seattle takes on Utah Royals FC in their first match at home this season. Don’t miss out - single match tickets and special ticket offers to attend the match are available now!