Those rare, unforgettable moments of joy
The IX: Soccer Monday with Annie Peterson, July 14, 2025
Sports give all of us plenty of opportunities for celebration. Players loft trophies after winning championships. Olympians cry on the podium as anthems are played. There are dogpiles, touchdown dances, goal dances, ticker-tape parades and, more often than not, lots of confetti.
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But moments of pure joy are much more rare. Sure, there’s a measure of joy in winning. But then there are those moments that transcend sports, those things you’ll remember forever, even though you’ve long ago forgotten the final score.
I remember covering a figure skater named Rudy Galindo. He was an out gay man, when few in the sport were. He couch-surfed because he didn’t have a home and he earned money by giving skating lessons to kids, riding his bike to the rink. When other skaters were in a race to land more difficult jumps, Galindo played up his artistry. Amusingly, USA Today‘s Christine Brennan said he just was just not a very good skater.
Then Rudy showed them all. At the 1996 national championships, Galindo won with the performance of a lifetime, smiling after his opening triple then jumping up and down on the ice after he nailed the finish. You can still watch his performance here. He became the oldest man and first Mexican American to win the title. Watching from the stands, I burst into tears.
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I felt the same way watching the Euros when I saw Jess Fishlock score. I wasn’t even going to watch the game. I had a ton of other stuff to do. And Wales, which coach Rhian Wilkinson referred to as the “minnows” in the field, was playing France. So, the outcome was a given.
Already behind 1-0 after an 8th minute French goal, Ceri Holland crossed the ball to Fishlock, who was holding her hands out pleadingly to show she was right there. She caught the ball with her right foot and pushed it into the goal. Leaping to her feet, she was momentarily dismayed when the goal went to VAR for review, but once confirmed, she ran screaming to the Wales bench, where she was mobbed by her teammates.
In a long career for her country, Fishlock got her moment of unbridled joy.
It was Wales first goal in a major international tournament. She became the oldest woman, at 38 years and 176 days, to score in the Euros.
She has made 165 appearances with the team and scored 48 goals, more than any other woman or man who has played for Wales.
“I love my team and I love my country, and although the results are difficult for us, this is such an important learning curve for us. I’m so proud of our effort, our fans and our passion,” she said in a post-game stand-up interview. “It’s something that we will always have and I’m glad that we’re still showing that.”
Fishlock is one of the last-remaining players in the National Women’s Soccer League to spend an entire career with one team since the start of the league — along with Reign teammate Lauren “Lu” Barnes. Over the course of her time with the Reign, she’s also played out on loan for several clubs, including Lyon.
In so many ways, Fishlock’s goal was more than just that, as you could see by the look on her face. Fishlock put the Welsh national team on her shoulders over the last decade and ushered them into to these Euros. For the Reign, she’s been an ever-enthusiastic hype man, a loyal teammate, and just an interesting and entertaining person.
“She’s at the twilight of her career, and whenever she chooses to call it a day, she has demonstrated what it is to be a proud Welsh woman who will give everything to her country and to her team,” Wilkinson told the media.
To cap Wales’ first appearance in the Euros, Fishlock added an assist against England. Following the game, she said she hadn’t made any decisions about her future with the national team.
Links:
I was on vacation for part of last week for a wedding and I missed a lot.
Independent investigation clears Bay FC coach but recommends changes.
Denver NWSL is going to announce its name and branding later this month.
ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf looks at NWSL’s ambitious expansion hopes.
The Equalizer looks at the NWSL’s rookies at the break.
Evelyn Shores signs with Angel City.
The Athletic’s wonderful tribute to Tobin Heath.
Heath and Press confirm they’re married.
Why the women’s Euros is so appealing. No hooliganism, no tribalism.
What went wrong for the Netherlands.
Olympics.com on what we’ve seen from Spain so far.
Putellas is having a fantastic Euros.
Morocco, Zambia reach WAFCON quarterfinals.
Nigeria’s in, too! But just eked by Botswana.
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The Next |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer |
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