Jess Fishlock, the last remaining member of Seattle Reign's inaugural 2013 roster, is giving Seattle a long goodbye. The veteran Welsh midfielder announced Tuesday that she will retire at the conclusion of the 2026 NWSL season, closing out nearly 14 years in the city as one of the franchise's most steady and outspoken leaders.
Per a team announcement first reported by The Seattle Times, the Reign plan to host a formal retirement party for Fishlock on Oct. 2, 2026, at Lumen Field. Her final regular-season match is slated for Nov. 1, 2026, at the same venue. The news dropped just as the club returned from the FIFA women's international break and geared up for its weekend fixture.
A club career by the numbers
Fishlock will leave behind a club record book with her fingerprints all over it. She is the Reign's all-time leader in regular-season assists (30) and sits among the franchise's top scorers with 48 regular-season goals, a combined 78 goal contributions. According to the club's own "By the Numbers" summary, she has made more than 200 regular-season appearances for the Reign and remained a constant presence through changes in ownership and home stadiums. Reign FC highlighted those milestones in a recent team release.
International legacy and one-club status
Fishlock stepped away from international play with Wales in October 2025 after nearly two decades, finishing as the country's all-time leader in caps (166) and goals (48). She is also the last active player in the NWSL who has remained with the same club she joined in the league's inaugural season, a distinction that makes her impending exit feel like the end of an era in Seattle. ESPN has detailed her international career and contract history.
What it means for Seattle
The timing of the announcement is no accident. With the Reign back from the FIFA women's international break and heading into a stretch of league matches at Lumen Field, fans now have months to plan their goodbyes and soak in what amounts to Fishlock's farewell tour. The club will also have to juggle honoring its longest-serving star while gradually giving more minutes to younger midfielders, a balancing act the team flagged in its own messaging around the news. The Seattle Times outlined the schedule and broader context.
General manager Lesle Gallimore praised Fishlock's imprint on the club in a team statement, saying she has "been at the heart of this club since day one." The Reign say they plan to spend the rest of the season celebrating Fishlock's work on the field and in the community as she winds down a singular Seattle career. Reign FC
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