Jess Fishlock gets emotional Seattle Reign send-off after 14 seasons of soccer and LGBTQ advocacy
Seattle Reign and its fans have said farewell to Jess Fishlock by celebrating her talent and applauding her LGBTQ advocacy.
Mark
NWSL legend and gay icon Jess Fishlock has played her final regular-season home match for the Seattle Reign, captaining her team to a 1-0 victory over the Orlando Pride.
“The Greatest Fish in the SEA” departed in the 80th minute of a hard-fought win that secured a playoff spot for the Reign.
More than 16,000 fans filled Lumen Field to say an emotional farewell to the last of the club’s “OGs” following the retirements in recent seasons of her long-time teammates Megan Rapinoe and Lu Barnes.
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Among the supporters in the crowd was a large contingent of the Fishlock clan who had flown in from their native Wales to share in the milestone moment.
Fishlock is hanging up her cleats at the age of 39, but her playing days are not quite over yet. The Reign move on to face NWSL Shield winners Gotham FC in the quarterfinals in Harrison, New Jersey, on Sunday.
She retired from international duty last year after earning a staggering 166 caps for Wales. When it comes to the Reign, her legacy in Seattle spans all 14 NWSL seasons to date. While Fishlock has reached three Championship finals in that time, the trophy has remained just out of reach. She’ll take one more shot at it.
Her wife and former Reign teammate, Tziarra King, was in the stands cheering on the home side in their push for the postseason. Midway through the second half, King watched Fishlock attempt a flick off a corner kick, which led to teammate Jordyn Bugg sneaking home the only goal of the match.
Trans pride flags waved high throughout the stadium in celebration, ensuring a small group of so-called “Save Women’s Sports” activists in attendance remained concealed and irrelevant. Reign fans group the Royal Guard, responsible alongside artist Amy Camber for a special Fishlock tifo, said they knew in advance what was planned, and acted accordingly.
There were plenty of Wales flags too, with red dragons on display all over Lumen Field.
Following a standing ovation for Fishlock’s substitution in the 81st minute, and after the Reign got the job done, she spoke to the crowd.
“It is just a very special moment and one that I will remember for a long time,” she said.
Jess Fishlock has been a trailblazer on and off the pitch
Fishlock’s impact has always extended far beyond her natural ability as an all-action midfielder who honed her attacking instincts to great effect towards the end of her career.
She has always been out, but soon after she moved to Seattle in 2013, her status grew as a gay athlete who routinely speaks up for LGBTQ rights.
Fishlock joined Athlete Ally in the early years of the organization’s ambassador program for professionals in sports, and as social media became more influential, she saw the downsides as well as the benefits of increased visibility. Nevertheless, she said hiding her sexuality was never an option.
In 2018, Fishlock was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to women’s football and the LGBTQ community — a dual citation that gave her immense pride.
She later became a “Sport Champion” for the UK LGBTQ charity Stonewall and more recently, she has signed on as an ambassador for EuroGames Cardiff 2027, too. The multi-sport event will bring thousands of LGBTQ athletes and visitors to her home city next summer.
Speaking to BBC Sport in March, Fishlock explained that part of her motivation for promoting events like EuroGames stems from a desire to strip away the stigma facing trans people in sports.
“Hopefully we can take away some of the fear that creates hate,” she said, highlighting the opportunity to bring more education to a polarized conversation.
Her dedication to youth advocacy dates back years. In 2020, while recovering from a serious knee injury, Fishlock featured in a short documentary and animation project called “La Golda,” in conjunction with Football v Homophobia. I had the pleasure of interviewing her at the time for Sky Sports.
Designed to help kids identify and combat cruel treatment of their peers through teamwork, the animation project hit close to home. Reflecting on the challenges of her own school days, Fishlock described the confidence that comes from self-acceptance as “a secret little superpower” — one you can harness to achieve success.
Her Reign send-off has directly benefitted local queer youth as well. In honor of her commitment to advocacy, the team and sponsor Paula’s Choice have donated $10,000 to Lambert House, the Seattle community center founded in 1981 that provides vital housing, social activities, and support services to combat homelessness and isolation among LGBTQ young people.
Finding love through soccer is a big part of Fishlock’s story
Reflecting on her time with the Reign during a filmed conversation with head coach Laura Harvey, Fishlock singled out her 2021 campaign as a high point both on and off the pitch.
In January of that year, Tziarra King was traded to Seattle. In the months that followed, she struck up a blossoming relationship with Fishlock who was in career-best form, which ultimately earned the Welsh star the NWSL Most Valuable Player award.
King wasn’t a regular in the team, but she made a significant contribution and picked up NWSL Player of the Week honors herself in July.
“2021 was a great year for me,” Fishlock recalled to Harvey. “[I was] MVP, and I scored some good goals that year, too.
“I have to mention my wife in this moment because obviously I met my wife in ’21. She likes to claim the MVP is by default because I met her and I was very happy — and she’s right! She’s right.”
The couple celebrated their wedding in Wales in December 2023, surrounded by family, friends and teammates including Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and Ali Krieger.
When King faced the heartbreak of being released by the Reign a year later, she praised Fishlock as a “superhero” for supporting her through what was a tough time, adding that falling in love with her teammate was “one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.”
King has since joined Brooklyn FC in the USL Super League, and she remains Fishlock’s biggest fan, such as was seen in Switzerland when she was there in the stands for Wales’ matches at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Fishlock capped the team’s first-ever major tournament appearance by finding the back of the net against France, becoming the oldest goalscorer in Women’s European Championship history.
With her Seattle Reign legacy set in stone, now it’s time for Jess Fishlock’s swansong.
She is a skilful and streetwise player who commands enormous respect. She is also a gay sports hero who has energized generations of LGBTQ fans. For one last time in the NWSL playoffs, this Welsh dragon is ready to roar.
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