As the Seattle Reign FC get ready for the 2017 season, midfield general and dragon Jess Fishlock has plenty to celebrate about already.
After repeating as W-League champions with Melbourne City FC in January where she was player-coach, Fishlock achieved a honor very few soccer players can claim: 100 senior national team caps. Fishlock got the 100th cap in a friendly earlier today against Northern Ireland. In doing so, she became the first Welsh player, no gender caveat needed, to reach that milestone. For those that don’t know, the Wales FA is the third-oldest national association in the world and here’s some more context on Fishlock’s 100 caps.
To give @JessFishlock 's 100cap achievement some context, @FAW_Womens have played 163 matches in their history.
— Steffan Garrero (@SteffGarrero) April 5, 2017
Fishlock got her first national team cap in March 2006 in a friendly against Switzerland. Eleven years of national team duty later and here we are celebrating the milestone. Social media wasn’t short of adulation for Fishlock.
HUGE NEWS TODAY @JessFishlock is 1st Wales player to reach 100 caps! Thanks for being a great competitor & teammate Jess! Wish you 100 more! pic.twitter.com/6tPEapedvt
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) April 5, 2017
Massive congrats to my twin @JessFishlock for caps!! Incredible accomplishment!!! #wearenttwins ♂️
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) April 5, 2017
Beyond fitting. @JessFishlock https://t.co/nxIsF0h58y
— Haley Kopmeyer (@hkopmeyer) April 5, 2017
Congrats to this one on her th national team cap!You're a legend & it's an absolute privilege to call you my teammate and friend!❤❤ pic.twitter.com/fPpUcUtJzy
— Beverly(Goebel)Yanez (@beverlygoebel) April 5, 2017
Goal on the standard. Eyebrows in this photo are very dark but it's ok. @JessFishlock ok come back now! https://t.co/KgyOh1QMhW
— Laura Harvey (@LH1505) April 5, 2017
First Welsh player EVER to reach a caps #baller #soproud❤️ https://t.co/dV4rG4Ckz6
— Lauren Barnes (@laurenkb31) April 5, 2017
What an achievement!! You led us out today like the true leader that you are! Honoured to share the pitch with you @JessFishlock ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qjBXKC7E8o
— Sophie Ingle (@sophieingle01) April 5, 2017
"Do what you love&love what you do, you never know what dreams you will inspire in others" @JessFishlock ❤ #100 pic.twitter.com/04D1TeG5UG
— Loren Dykes (@loren_dykes) April 5, 2017
Game day!! It's always about the TEAM..but today is about a Friend,teammate,great player & HISTORY MAKER!A true inspiration @JessFishlock ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JlA9oL2lCA
— Natasha harding (@tashharding09) April 5, 2017
Super player.Absolute Winner.Congratulations @JessFishlock incredible achievement 1st Welsh International to 100 caps Hard Work pays off https://t.co/VMtYzsuXUM
— Mark Sampson (@Mark_Sampson) April 5, 2017
And because she is The Dragon, she made her 100th cap a stylish one, smashing home a volley from inside the 18 yard box for a goal. As the saying goes, you could not write a better script than this.
Fishlock was on BBC Radio Wales a couple of days ago, reflecting on when she got her first cap and the evolution of the women’s game. It’s a professional career that’s entering its 15th year that she says is nowhere near hanging up the boots and in an interview with us last year said, “I can’t leave Seattle without winning a championship.”
The quest for Seattle’s first NWSL Championship starts next Saturday at Memorial Stadium against Sky Blue FC and no doubt #10, The Dragon, Jess Fishlock will do what she can to keep the good times on the field rolling in 2017.