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Fishlock out to keep career alive in NWSL play-offs
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- Fishlock out to keep career alive in NWSL play-offs
Jess Fishlock will retire at the end of the 2026 NWSL season [Getty Images]
On Sunday, 1 November, Wales legend Jess Fishlock will take to the pitch for Seattle Reign against Orlando Pride, not knowing whether it will be her final match.
The Reign, the club Fishlock has called home since 2013, are competing with NC Courage and Denver Summit for the final National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) play-off spot.
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Beat Orlando, and Seattle - with whom the 39-year-old has won three NWSL Shields - guarantee an eighth play-off berth in Fishlock's 14-season stint in Washington state.
NC Courage and Denver Summit boast a higher goal difference than Reign and sit two and three points behind them respectively, but face each other on the final day.
"I've been in this league long enough to understand how this works. I think we've had a couple of situations like this before," said Fishlock.
"The beauty of it is you just get to focus on football, which is ultimately all we want to do as players.
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"All I want to do is get this group into another round of play-offs and see what happens after that. There's a lot going on, which is so fun and so exciting."
Fishlock called an end to her international career in October 2025, having represented Wales 166 times - a record for men and women.
She signed a new contract in Seattle a month later, before confirming in April that she would retire at the conclusion of the 2026 NWSL campaign.
Fishlock has never won the NWSL play-offs, finishing as runner-up on three separate occasions in 2014, 2015 and, most recently, in 2023.
Progression to the eight-team knockout stage would extend her glittering club career, which includes two Champions League titles, and offer the chance to bow out in style.
Jess Fishlock was named the NWSL's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2021 [Getty Images]
Reign will honour the veteran midfielder, with several activities planned around the stadium, including a commemorative photo booth and dedicated merchandise.
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Several members of Fishlock's family have flown out to the Pacific Northwest so they can be among the expected 16,000-strong crowd at Lumen Field.
"I don't think I've had this many family out, ever. It's been a little crazy," Fishlock added.
"I'm not used to having little Rugrats running around everywhere, taking all of my spare energy that I need. But it's been great.
"I will really be able to enjoy it post-game. I'm focusing on the match itself and [reaching the] playoffs to keep the season going a little bit longer, which would be nice.
"I'm extremely grateful and so appreciative of everybody showing out for me. Everything that the Reign has done has been undeniably incredible and beautiful.
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"But without sounding ungrateful, I am still very much focused on the game itself. I'm sure post everything, it will hit me far harder than I'm allowing it to hit me right now."
Fishlock's retirement will close a chapter in Reign's history, as she is the last of the club's original three stars to step away, following Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Barnes.
It will also mark the end of an era for the league. She is one of the division's most recognisable figures, and bounced back from a serious-looking injury to go out on her own terms.
Hanging up her boots will afford Fishlock, who is always vocal about her Welsh pride, the chance to return home much more often.
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The next visit to Wales is in the diary, as she will return to the national team as part of Rhian Wilkinson's coaching staff for their World Cup play-off final against Norway.
Before Wales' semi-final triumph over Albania, Wilkinson revealed a message sent to her by Fishlock urging the boss to "call her up".
Fishlock noted that her message was tongue-in-cheek, and knows that Wilkinson would not call upon her for another Wales bow, despite injury concerns.
"I know that Rhian would not do that to me, bless her. She is too understanding as a coach. That message was in jest, and she understood that," Fishlock added.
"I'm excited for Wales and their game against Norway. I believe they can do it, and I hope that they believe they can do it."
