Jess Fishlock’s wife ‘couldn’t be more proud’ after historic goal for ‘gayest team’ at Euro 2025
Wales’ first-ever goal at a major women’s soccer tournament was scored by their oldest player, who is an icon of LGBTQ sports. The post Jess Fishlock’s wife ‘couldn’t be more proud’ after historic goal for ‘gayest team’ at Euro 2025 appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
For an agonizing minute, it looked as if the greatest player in the history of women’s soccer in Wales might be deprived of a goal at a major tournament.
The Welsh were trailing 1-0 to France early on in their UEFA Euro 2025 clash in St. Gallen, Switzerland, when 38-year-old Jess Fishlock turned the ball over the goal line from close range. She turned to see that the offside flag had been raised.
However, a check on that call was in progress. When it was communicated that the video assistant referee (VAR) had given the goal, it sparked delirium among players and fans.
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This was more than just an equalizer. It also put Fishlock in the record books as the oldest player to have scored at a Women’s Euros. She is in the 20th year of representing her country on the international stage, and has become synonymous with Welsh football.
Her status as a queer icon cannot be argued with either. When she was awarded an MBE in 2018, it was officially listed as being for “services to women’s football and the LGBT community.”
That legacy of leadership is evident within the Wales squad. No team at these Euros has more publicly out LGBTQ players, which is remarkable when you factor in population size.
Overall, just 3.2 million people live in Wales; from the other nations competing at the tournament, only Iceland (400,000) is smaller.
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At least 78 out LGBTQ players are competing in UEFA Women’s Euro 2025
There are 368 players in the squads for the UEFA Women’s Euro in Switzerland. More than a fifth are publicly out as LGBTQ.
Since 2013, Fishlock has played her club football in the NWSL with Seattle Reign FC. It’s also where she met her wife, Tziarra King.
Their wedding in December 2023 drew the likes of Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger to the small town of Abergavenny, Wales, to see these “forever teammates” tie the knot.
King was watching from the stands on Wednesday, as Fishlock and friends lost 4-1 to the French, a result that makes progress beyond the group stage highly unlikely. But that wasn’t so important for the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.
“Couldn’t be more proud of you,” wrote King, in a caption accompanying a photo of a post-match hug. In another Instagram story post, she added: “No one deserves it more.”
Fishlock played down her achievement afterwards. “I’m very grateful, and maybe after the tournament I’ll let that sink in a little bit more,” she said.
Ever gracious, she instead took the opportunity on her Insta account to highlight the moment she was substituted off the field in the 87th minute.
That was because her replacement was Sophie Ingle, making her first competitive appearance for more than a year after rupturing her ACL in pre-season.
Posts of praise from teammates Hannah Cain, Lily Woodham, Ffion Morgan and Ceri Holland underlined the high esteem in which Fishlock is held.
The star of the show also commented on a post from Wales skipper Angharad James, who was of course wearing an LGBTQ Pride rainbow armband, saying: “I’d follow you into the depths of Mordor, my captain.”
Back home, she is equally revered. Before the Euros kicked off, a giant mural of Fishlock was unveiled on a five-a-side football pitch in her hometown of Cardiff, along with a message of “Diolch,” which means “thank you” in Welsh, written beside her name.
(@copa90)The day after her historic goal, one of the most glowing tributes came from her dad, Kevyn.
In a heartwarming interview with BBC Sport Wales, he calls her “Jessica… my little petal” and says scoring at a major tournament was “something she always wanted to do — now she can tick that box.”
Fighting back tears while speaking to the reporter, he adds: “We were in a bar before the game, and two American supporters from Seattle have come all the way over here, just for Jess.
“She’s just one beautiful human being.”
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The post Jess Fishlock’s wife ‘couldn’t be more proud’ after historic goal for ‘gayest team’ at Euro 2025 appeared first on Outsports.
