Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Days after announcing that she would retire at the end of this National Women’s Soccer League season, midfielder Jess Fishlock had to be stretchered off the field after suffering an injury in Seattle Reign’s 0-3 loss to Utah Royals.
Around the 65th minute, Fishlock was hit in the leg by her teammate’s shot on goal and went down in pain. An air cast was put on her left leg, and the stretcher took her down the tunnel.
Reign head coach Laura Harvey did not have an update to share after the game, saying, “I think she’s gone to get checked out,” and agreeing with the reporter that “it didn’t look great.” Team PR confirmed Fishlock was getting further evaluations with team medical staff at a nearby hospital.
The Reign original is the only player remaining in the league who was on a roster opening day in 2013, never was off a roster, and played every season. The 2021 NWSL MVP won three NWSL Shields (2014, 2015, 2022), made three NWSL Championship appearances (2014, 2015, 2023) and earned seven Best XI selections (second-most in league history) with the Reign.
The club scheduled a celebration of Fishlock’s career for the club’s second annual Queen’s Match on Friday, October 2.
The injury was the painful cherry on top of a devastating loss for the Reign in their return to Lumen Field. It took less than a minute for the Royals to find the back of the net through captain Paige Cronin. Narumi Miura doubled the lead six minutes later, and Cloe Lacasse added a third in first-half stoppage time. The victory is just Utah’s second win away at Seattle, the first coming in 2019 when Harvey was leading the Royals, and was the largest NWSL road victory in Utah’s team history.
The Royals were forced into a goalkeeper substitution in the 82nd minute. Mia Justus had gone down requiring treatment not long before, but was able to continue to play for a bit before being replaced by Mandy McGlynn.
