SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Jess Fishlock, who has played for the Seattle Reign since the first National Women鈥檚 Soccer League season in 2013, will retire at the end of the season.
Fishlock, who signed a one-year deal to remain with the club, will be honored when Seattle hosts North Carolina on Oct. 2. The 39-year-old midfielder’s final regular-season match is set for Nov. 1.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put into words what Seattle and this club mean to me,鈥� Fishlock, the Reign captain, said in a statement Tuesday. 鈥淭his is where I鈥檝e grown, where I鈥檝e fought, where I鈥檝e experienced some of the best moments of my career. We鈥檝e built something that goes far beyond football, and I鈥檓 so proud to have been a part of it from day one. I鈥檒l never take for granted the people, the fans and the city that have supported me through it all, and I鈥檓 going to give everything I have in this final season.鈥�
Fishlock’s 49 goals rank second on the club鈥檚 career list and her 30 assists rank first. The Welsh international was the 2021 NWSL MVP and is a seven-time all-league selection.
鈥淪he鈥檚 not only one of the best players in NWSL history, but one of the most influential figures our game has seen,鈥� Reign general manager Lesle Gallimore said.
Fishlock played 19 years for Wales before retiring from international play last October. She made 166 appearances and scored 48 goals, the most for Wales among women or men.
Last summer, she led Wales to its first appearance in a major international tournament at the Women鈥檚 European Championship and became the oldest player to score in the competition with her goal against France.
鈥淛ess is one of the greatest players to ever play in this league, but what makes her truly special is who she is every single day,鈥� Reign coach Laura Harvey said. 鈥淪he sets the standard with her work ethic, her competitiveness and her love for the game, but it鈥檚 also her football brain that sets her apart. She sees things others don鈥檛, and that understanding of the game has been invaluable to this team for so many years.鈥�
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