Fishlock Likely to Return After Negative X-Rays, Reign Look to Bounce Back

It was a moment no Seattle Reign fan wanted to see.

Mere days after the announcement of her retirement at the end of the 2026 season, star midfielder Jess Fishlock came down badly on her left ankle in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Utah Royals to drop Seattle to 3-2-1 (10 points, fourth in NWSL).

Fishlock immediately signaled to the sideline for help and shouted in pain, only for the medical staff to place an aircast on her ankle. As she left the pitch on a stretcher with her face buried in her hands, fans and coaches alike couldn't help but think they had just watched the final minutes of the 39-year-old Welsh legend's career.

Fishlock was taken to a nearby hospital for an X-ray, with her football future hanging in the balance.

It came back negative, and that was enough for head coach Laura Harvey to start planning for Seattle's most consistent offensive force to return.