Fishlock was born inCardiff,Wales to Kevyn and Sharon Fishlock. She has two brothers and three sisters.[12] As a child, she began playing football with her sister[13] before joiningCardiff City Ladies F.C. at age 7.[3] She later played for Newport Strikers.[3]
Fishlock started her career playing forCardiff City Ladies F.C. and made her debut for the senior side at age 15.[14] Fishlock made her debut against Reading Royals on 29 September 2002 and scored 19 times in 23 appearances in her first season at the club.[3]Laura McAllister, who was captain of Cardiff City when Fishlock joined the squad said, "Jess joined the junior team but she was so good we fast-tracked her. Jess is just a fabulous player. She is technically superb with fabulous skills and among the 2 or 3% in Britain. She's ambitious and adventurous and to be a top, top sports-player you've got to be like that."[15] At age 16, she was a member of the senior side that won the 2004–05SW Combination League Championship without losing a point. The team later beatEverton en route to the last eight of theFA Cup and won theWelsh Cup to move on to theUEFA Women's Cup.[12][16]
As of February 2013, Fishlock remained the club's record goalscorer.[17]
Fishlock playing for Dutch clubAZ Alkmaar, May 2010
In 2008, the Dutch ChampionsAZ Alkmaar approached Jess to join them and become the first overseas player in theEredivisie. Jess won back to back league titles during the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons, and was on track for a third straight title during the 2010/2011 season when she left to come back to the UK.[18][19][20]
In 2011, Fishlock joinedBristol in England'sFA Women's Super League (FA WSL).[14] During the2011 season, Bristol achieved a higher-than-expected final league position, and also reached theFA Cup Final where they were defeated byArsenal 2–0.[21] Fishlock was awarded the 2011 Club Player of the Year, 2011 Fans Player of the Year, and was named to the league's All-Star Team. She was namedWelsh Women's Footballer of the Year the same year.[22]
During the2012 season, Bristol achieved their highest final league position, reached the semi-final of the FA Cup and Continental Cup. Jess was awarded the 2012 Club Players Player of Year, 2012 Fans Player of the Year and 2012 FA WSL Players Player of Year, voted on by managers and players of the FA WSL.[23][24]
In November 2012, Fishlock joined W-League sideMelbourne Victory for six weeks on a guest player contract helping the team reach their first ever grand final. During the 94th minute of a match against former champions, Canberra United, she scored the game-winning goal boosting Melbourne to the top of the league table.[25][26] During her six games with Melbourne, she became a favourite with the fans and was also nominated as one of four players for the league-wide Player of the Year Award.[27][28]
In September 2013, it was announced that Fishlock would return to the Victory for the2013/14 season on loan from theSeattle Reign FC.[29] During her 11 appearances for the team, she scored three goals and helped lead the team to the Grand Final where the Victory defeatedBrisbane Roar 2–0. Fishlock served an assist toLisa De Vanna in the 38th minute for the game-winning goal. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Match. The win marked the Victory's first Grand Final title in the history of the team.[30]
In February 2013, Fishlock joinedNWSL sideSeattle Reign FC for the league's inaugural season.[31][32] During their second league match against thePortland Thorns FC, Fishlock scored her first goal in front of a record-setting 16,479 fans at Jeld-Wen Field, establishing herself as a powerful force for the Reign.[33][34] The media named herNWSL Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2013 season.[35] Fishlock started in all 21 games that she played during the regular season, missing only one game due to Wales national team commitments. She was a leading scorer on the team with four goals and tallied a total of 1,879 minutes.[6]
Fishlock returned to the Reign for the2014 season. The team set a league record unbeaten streak of 16 games during the first part of the season. During the 16 game stretch, the Reign compiled a13–0–3 record.[36] The Reign finished first in the regular season clinching theNWSL Shield for the first time.[37] After defeating theWashington Spirit 2–1 in the playoff semi-finals, the Reign were defeated 2–1 byFC Kansas City during the championship final.[38] Following the regular season, Fishlock along with teammatesKendall Fletcher,Kim Little, andNahomi Kawasumi was named to the league's Best XI team.[39] Fishlock finished the 2014 season, having scored four goals and provided 8 assists. She started in all 22 matches in which she played.[40]
During the2015 season, Fishlock scored her first goal of the season during the team's home-opener againstWestern New York Flash. Her goal in the 25th minute was the first of the match and assist toMegan Rapinoe in the 86th minute contributed to a 5–1 win for the Reign.[41] During a match against theWashington Spirit on 2 May, Fishlock scored a goal in the 75th minute off an assist from Kim Little resulting in a 3–1 win over the Spirit.[42] During a match againstSky Blue FC in New Jersey, Fishlock received a controversialred card in the 90th minute that required her to sit out the team's next match against league-leadingChicago Red Stars. The controversy stemmed from a scrum in the box after a Sky Bluecorner kick and Fishlock's last-minute save on the goal line. Fishlock stated the ball bounced off her head, but Sky Blue forwardNadia Nadim said she blocked it with her hand and the ref awarded Sky Blue the penalty kick.[43][44] Both matches resulted in 1–1 draws. During the team's second match against Sky Blue FC in Seattle on 6 June, Fishlock scored a goal and an assist earning Player of the Match after leading Seattle to a 3–0 win.[45] She was named NWSL Player of the Week by the media for the ninth week of the season.[46] The Reign finished the regular season in first place clinching the NWSL Shield for the second consecutive time.[47] After advancing to theplayoffs, Seattle faced fourth-place teamWashington Spirit and won 3–0, advancing to the championship final.[48] Seattle was ultimately defeated 1–0 byFC Kansas City during the championship final in Portland.[49] Fishlock, along with teammates Kim Little,Beverly Yanez, andLauren Barnes were named to theNWSL Best XI team.[50]
After the conclusion of the NWSL season in August 2013, it was announced that Fishlock would joinScottish Women's Premier League championsGlasgow City on loan until November 2013.[55] Of her signing Glasgow City head coachEddie Wolecki Black said, "This signing is significant, not only for the club but also the country. Whilst we continue to set new records at home, our aim is to make progress on the European stage and the signing of Jess highlights this. She will bring experience, versatility, pace and intelligence to the team and most importantly will raise the standard of the players around her. That's what top players do, they make good players better players both on and off the park."[56] She scored two goals in her six appearances for the club helping the club finish in first place during the regular season and win theScottish Women's Cup.[57] She also competed in four matches in the2013–14 UEFA Women's Champions League with the club reaching the Round of 8.[58]
Fishlock (second player from left) warms up forFFC Frankfurt, September 2014
Fishlock spent the 2014–15 Seattle Reign FC off-season on loan in theFrauen-Bundesliga withFFC Frankfurt.[59] She was a vital part of the team's success, starting in all available matches. Frankfurt was unbeaten in the second half of the season, a run which led them to be crowned the champions of Europe.[60] Although Fishlock returned to Seattle prior to the2015 UEFA Women's Champions League Final, she was considered a huge part of the team's journey to the championship title by players, staff and fans and subsequently earned a UEFA Women's Champions League medal.[61]
Fishlock played on loan forMelbourne City FC in the AustralianW-League during the2015-16,2016-17, and2017-18 seasons.[6] During the club's inaugural season in 2015-16, Fishlock was a starting midfielder and helped the new expansion team win a historic Premiership and Championship double.[62] Fishlock worked as a player-assistant coach during the season.[63] After returning on loan the following season, Fishlock helped the club win the first-ever consecutive W-League titles.[64] During the 2017-18 season, Fishlock was instrumental in City winning its third consecutive championship title and was named Player of the Match.[65]
On 19 August 2020, it was confirmed that Fishlock had joinedReading Women on loan from Seattle Reign FC. The deal was signed as doubts remained about when the NWSL would resume.[66] During a match against Brighton & Hove Albion, she scored two goals lifting Reading to a 3–1 win.[67]
Fishlock made her debut for the U-19 national team at age 16.[68] After captaining the U–19 team, she was called up to thesenior national team and made her debut againstSwitzerland in 2006.[69] She captained the senior team from 2012 to 2015.[70] After a 1–0 win over Mexico during Wales' first match at the2013 Algarve Cup, Fishlock scored the game-winning goal of the match during the 11th minute.[71] After Wales tied Hungary 1–1 on 11 March 2013, the team faced Portugal in the knockout stage. Fishlock scored Wales only goal in the 77th minute. Portugal scored an equalizing goal in the 93rd-minute leading to penalty kicks to determine the victor. Portugal won after scoring three penalty kicks over Wales' one.[72]
In February 2015, incoming Welsh managerJayne Ludlow unveiled her squad for the2015 Istria Cup which did not feature long-time captain Fishlock.[73] Two months later, she was re-called to the team.[74]
On 5 April 2017, Fishlock became the first Welsh player to earn 100 caps for the national team.[10]
On 9 April 2024, Fishlock became the first Welsh player to earn 150 caps for the national team.[75] As of June 2025, she is currently the most capped Cymru player with 162 caps to her name.[76]
On 14 July 2024 - with her goal against Kosovo marking her 45th goal for Wales - she became the Welsh national team's all–time record goal scorer, surpassing previous record holderHelen Ward.[5] As of June 2025, she currently holds the record with 47 goals.[77]
In June 2025, Fishlock was named in Wales' squad for their first major international tournament,UEFA Women's Euro 2025.[78] She scored Wales' first ever goal at a major tournament during the second group game in a 4–1 loss toFrance. In doing so, she became the oldest goalscorer inEuropean Championship history.[79]
On 15 October 2025, Fishlock announced that she would retire from international football after Wales' game againstAustralia later that month.[80]
In 2012, Fishlock was the first team coach for her former team, Cardiff City Ladies FC, alongside Manager Jamie Sherwood.[12]
InMelbourne City FC's inaugural season in 2015–16, Fishlock was a player-assistant coach alongside head coachJoe Montemurro.[81] She returned in the same role for the 2016–17 season.[82]
Midway through City's 2016–17 season, head coachJoe Montemurro became the chief assistant coach ofMelbourne City men's team, and Fishlock was promoted to player-head coach.[83] In February 2017, she coached Melbourne City to its second consecutiveW-League Grand Final title and scored a goal in the 2–0 win overPerth Glory.[11] With the win, she became the first player-coach to win the league title in the W-League's history.[84]
In October 2017, Melbourne City FC announced that Fishlock would be returning for the 2017–18 season as a player-assistant coach.[85]
Fishlock has stated she knew she was alesbian at the age of 12, and was bullied at school for her sexuality.[86]
Fishlock has been featured in a column forBBC Sport since 2013.[87] She gave an interview in October 2015, during which she described her struggles as a high-profilegay athlete. Demanding greater "respect", she railed against social mediahomophobia and threw her weight behind the work ofAthlete Ally.[88]
Fishlock appeared in an advertisement forAdidas in 2016 along withBecky Sauerbrunn.[89] She had an endorsement deal with natural sports beverage company, Golazo, Inc. prior to the company folding.[90]
^"Jess Fishlock Receives MBE". Football Association of Wales. 20 December 2018.Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved9 February 2019.
_032.jpg)
.jpg)
Women's association football portal
Sports portal
Association football portal
Biography portal
Wales portal
